Catch and Release

We all know the human body is lazy.  And while the degree of laziness can vary from person to person, even the most dedicated and well-trained individuals will still fall victim to the body's own energy saving techniques.  If you're seeking an adaptive response, that is, if you want to grow, you'll need to actively counteract these tendencies.  Here are my thoughts on the subject.

Snap Out of It

After bailing on the Nevada State back in May, my interest in bodybuilding and blogging has been waning.  A few days ago, I fielded some advice from a few different friends and colleagues, some of whom also train or bodybuild.  Some suggested to let it go and pick it up again when it felt right.  One suggested to get myself into the gym more often to avoid the habit of laziness.  Another suggested shorter workouts.  But it was my training partner (of course) who needled me into the proper perspective:

After patiently listening to me complain about being fat and gross and generally un-motivated, he suggested to simply eat less and stop working out.  His point was this: Exercise isn't necessary if you want to be in decent shape; you can diet your way to skinny if you want to.  This was the wake-up call I needed.  It made me realize that I didn't want to be in "decent shape," or "skinny," I wanted to be in excellent shape--I wanted to be a shining example of human power, strength, and dedication.  

I still wanted to be a bodybuilder.   

And there it was.

I've said this before, standing on the other side of the equation, but it holds equally true on this end: You either want to do something or you don't--there's not a lot of gray area in between.  For me, this simply meant abandoning my excuses and doing the hard work necessary to get where I wanted to go.  And let me just say, it's amazing the improvements you can make in just a week when you stick to it.   

Homeless?

In the midst of falling off the wagon, bailing on my original competition plans, and trying to get my shit together again, I've also switched gyms.  There's so much to love about my new "home" and I can't wait to shoot some sweet-ass videos there!  Here are a few things to look for in a gym if you're in the market.

The Healthy Bodybuilder

Want to know where I learned everything I know about bodybuilding?  From the guy who literally wrote the book on the subject!  My training partner just finished writing The Healthy Bodybuilder, and you can find a sneak peek here.  I read the book several times during the proof-reading phase and it is chock-full of very valuable knowledge.

Finishing Touches

Well, I'm 8 weeks out from the competition, and that means it's time to start thinking about the finishing touches.  To be fair, if you don't have your diet and training on track, none of these little details will make or break your performance, but a polished and professional appearance and presentation certainly can't hurt!  A few things to think about as the competition nears...