Since bodybuilding is a lifestyle, not just a physical activity, it’s hardly surprising that it comes with its specific values, principles and concepts. And if you keep an open mind, this discipline can teach you a lot more than how to make your muscles grow – it can add true value to your life. In this article you will find the 7 basic ideas in the world of bodybuilding and learn how to apply them in order to improve your bodybuilding experience.
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Determination
Only a few bodybuilders are lucky to have genetic advantages that allow them to achieve outstanding results rather quickly and with little effort. Don’t rely your training on wishful thinking – the reality is that for most of us, building muscle is a long and exhausting process that demands perseverance, patience and tons of self-control.
There are no magic pills and shortcuts that will work in the long term – real, sustainable progress can be only achieved with determination and continuity in terms of an adequate training routine and a strict diet plan. That’s why bodybuilding is a lifestyle, not a short term goal. In order to get great results, you have to change many aspects of your way of living and make many sacrifices as well.
In the end, if you’re not truly determined, you won’t last long in this game. On the other hand, the gym is a place where willpower and mental endurance can grow as much as muscle tissue. This new mental fortitude will naturally transfer to your life outside the gym and make you more effective at reaching other life goals as well.
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Vigilance
Building muscle basically revolves around intensity and going beyond your limits. As some bodybuilders would explain in a poetic tone, becoming great in the sport of pumping iron is all about “blood, sweat and tears” – you have to be willing to do whatever it takes in order to maximize your gains. While this is mostly true, there’s another side of the coin – carefulness.
If you don’t keep a watchful eye on the possible risks of injury and don’t do your best to prevent them from happening, all of your progress could easily go down the drain. A difficult injury can severely damage your efforts and harm your health in the long run, so treat weight training with respect and minimize the potential for training injury by properly warming up and maintaining adequate form in all exercises.
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Health
Bodybuilding in itself is a lot more than a health-conscious lifestyle. Long-term bodybuilding changes your body composition and makes your body stronger and leaner, increases your bone mineral density and prevents you from losing muscle mass as you age. In addition, it protects you from the harmful effects of excess body fat, enables you to cope with stress more effectively and helps your whole body function better as a whole.
All of these benefits are yours to claim as long as you take good care of your diet, supplementation and training intensity. If you go too far in the endless pursuit of bigger muscle size, your health can be endangered from unwise nutrition choices and placing too much pressure on the body, especially the joints. To reduce the likelihood of an overuse injury, use proper form for each lift. Also, include cardio in your training to strengthen your heart and protect it against the cardiovascular issues linked with long-term heavy lifting. Remember, bodybuilders are supposed to be an example of the perfect combination of health, aesthetics and strength.
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