5 do’s/don’ts of bodybuilding that will make or break you

top 5 dos and donts

Top 5 do’s and don’ts of bodybuilding

When it comes to the bodybuilding world there is an incredible amount of detail in regards to how to obtain your goals and what to do inside and outside of the gym. From the types of workouts, to the diets, and even to your mindset, the variables are plentiful while the end goal is constant. It’s easy to become quickly overwhelmed with all the choices and options of what to do, and how to do it. The internet has an opinion on everything, with different ways of achieving things and different schools of thought. Right, wrong, or indifferent, there is something for everyone. With the bodybuilding world, everyday should be a learning experience, and if you ever get to the point where you think you know it all, you couldn’t be more mistaken. In this article, we are going to be sharing what we’ve learned through the years that helped us, hurt us, and just all around shaped our physiques into what they are today. With that being said, lets dive into it.

Top 5 DON’TS

top 5 donts

DON’T expect results to be instantaneous

One of the most common areas of frustration with anyone in the fitness world, is the struggle of patience. Let us tell you right now, that anything worthwhile having, will not come quickly, and it will not come easy. Changing your body takes time, it’s not meant to come into fruition quickly. The physique you want, and the work you put in, is a continuous testament that you had the patience to make your goals a reality.

DON’T get down on yourself

The simple fact with this is that we all have bad days. We all have moments of weakness, sadness, doubt. It comes with being human. Having feelings and rough times are acceptable. What is NOT acceptable however, is living in those moments too long and letting it define you. It is good to be critical of yourself, just as it’s good to hold yourself accountable. But if you fall short, or come up against a hurdle that slows you down, remember it is just a moment that will pass. Your mindset determines it all.

DON’T forget to breathe

It’s no secret that in order to make what you want happen with goals, you have to put in some hard, intense work. On the flip side of that, don’t work yourself so hard that you burn yourself out or worse, injure yourself. We all need to take a break sometimes to have “me time”. Taking time for yourself to do something you enjoy (besides lifting) is crucial. Having that balance of work vs. play is important not only to your overall happiness, but also to the overall success of what you want.

DON’T let others discourage you

Want to hear an uncomfortable truth? Not everyone wants to see you succeed. Whether from jealousy, lack of understanding, or their own insecurities, you will always have people waiting and hoping you will falter. But since when do we let others opinions determine our success? We don’t. Having people not wanting you to achieve your goals is a privilege. Why? Because it means you’re doing something worthwhile, something that others know they themselves can’t do. Remember that the next time someone tries to bring you down.

DON’T MAKE EXCUSES

For us personally, this is the most important rule. Excuses are one of the biggest destroyers of any goal or dream. Simply because they come from within. It’s so easy to tell ourselves we can sleep in a little, or eat that one piece of junk food. It’s so easy to let ourselves skip that one workout, or skip that cardio. But what’s not easy, is falling short of your goals, and even failing, because of something you had control over but chose not to. Speaking from experience, there isn’t a single excuse that is worth you not reaching your goals. It’s a choice. Either you choose to rise above the excuses, or you let your excuses define you.

TOP 5 DO’S

DO set goals for yourself

As with any journey, it begins with a want and a desire. But without a specific goal to work towards, most of us will become lost along the way. You have to have something continually to strive for. Setting a goal is like signing a contract of commitment to yourself. It’s a promise to yourself that you’re going to work towards something, and who are YOU to let yourself down? It’s important to check in with yourself and see how much you’ve progressed.

DO continually learn

We all know an individual who thinks they know it all, seen it all, and done it all. We also know that individual that falls miraculously short of all of those. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to strive to learn something new every day. Whether you learn a new exercise, a new recipe to cook, a new workout, make sure you’re always open and willing to learn. Having that humility will catapult you that much faster towards your goals.

DO push past your comfort zone

One thing we’ve learned is that if something scares you, or makes you think twice, it’s usually worth it. One of our favorite quotes is, “Get comfortable, with being uncomfortable.” Having big dreams is awesome, wanting more for yourself is normal. But not everyone is willing to do what it takes to achieve that. We all have that line we come right up to, and then we back down. Except that’s not you. You walk up to the line and then push past it. “comfort zone” is just a phrase others who make excuses for failing themselves use. In order to make things happen, living outside your safe space must become a habit for you.

DO hold yourself accountable

Personal accountability can be your biggest asset in your fitness endeavors, and with your life in general. Being able to hold yourself responsible to the good days and the bad will create that healthy habit of accountability. Yes there are things that happen in our lives that are outside of our control, but for the majority of what we do, it’s all on us. How far you push, how well you succeed, what you learn and who are, is on you. Some people aren’t willing to accept this fact, and that’s why they remain the same, and never achieve their goals.

DO remember why you started

As with anything in life, we occasionally need to bring it all back to basics and remember where we came from. There are those days where we inevitably become discouraged, and one of the best ways to get past those moments is to remember how far you’ve come and why you started. Focusing on your “why” helps to bring clarity, and to re-motivate yourself back onto the path of success.

Like we said before, the bodybuilding world can be a scary and complicated place. The more knowledge you obtain, the more confident you can be, that you’re on the right path to success. With this list, you’ll be able to navigate your way more successfully towards your goals. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at it even longer than we have, we all can relate to the fact that we’re a different breed and we all want more. And why shouldn’t we? We’re bodybuilders after all.

Body Spartan Genesis, Gabe Tuft, 2nd Edition

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