Under recovering - There are many people out there who are lazy when it comes to training . These people will never maximize their potential . But there are also those who work extremely hard and have all the tools they need to be their absolute best . Unfortunately , many of these individuals biggest flaw is that their mindset works on the principle that “ more always equals better .” In bodybuilding , this is rarely the case . I often see people with the mindset of :
“ If a 500-calorie deficit is good , 1000 is better .” “ If 500 mg of x supplement is good , 1000 mg is better ” “ If 10 sets of chest works well , 20 sets will give me more muscle ” “ If 60 minutes of cardio is burning fat , 120 minutes will have me shredded ”
Unfortunately , displaying a great physique is not about who is the biggest mass wise or who has the lowest body fat . It is about an overall look and balance of symmetry , condition , muscle mass and presentation . The body can be pushed hard for short periods of time , but a lot of times , pulling back slightly will ensure that you maintain more muscle mass , speed up your fat loss and overall have a better look on stage . I see a lot of people doing more and more volume as they get deeper into their preps and dig an even bigger hole as they cannot recover from the amount of stress the body is going through . When you push so hard and under rest for a long time , your physique ends up having a tired deflated look . I have been through this myself and this can be very discouraging . This is why the help of someone experienced during your preparation can be crucial to your success .
Focusing too much on statistics ( weight , measurements , body fat %) - As physique competitors , we strive for a certain look on stage , not a certain number . It frustrates me beyond belief those who are obsessed with weight , measurements , and most of all body fat percentages . Some people love to brag that they are x body fat , and that the scale at their gym told them they had this amount of fat free mass etc . This information is all useless if you still do not look a certain way . These markers when done in a controlled , consistent setting can be good to gauge progress in the long term , but that is all they are , a statistic . Statistics change and can be skewed by many factors . Not to mention , especially when it comes to body fat percentages , most methods have a major margin of error if measuring at your local gym or at home . FOCUS ON YOUR PICTURES AND HOW YOU LOOK . Use only statistics as a small marker of progression .
Relying on supplements - Supplements will be such a small part of your overall look that although they may help slightly , the majority of your results will come from training , nutrition and proper recovery . If you are more concerned about the timing of your preworkout and the mg of x ingredient in your fat burner , you are wasting energy in a place where it is inefficient . Even when it comes to stronger than usual supplements , more is rarely better . Many of these supplements will help you recover better and improve your overall physique , but do not rely on these to lose the fat for you , build the muscle for you or train hard for you .
Being mentally weak - THIS IS A BIG ONE . You want to do amazing at your show ? You want to look amazing ? GET MENTALLY STRONG . Getting ready for a show is a privilege . Choosing to go to a gym and train to look amazing is a privilege . Choosing to deprive yourself from food when we live in a continent where food is in abundance is a privilege . Choosing to devote so much effort to a sport you love is a privilege . Bodybuilding is not suffering . If you see it as suffering , you are going to have a very miserable and sad journey . You must see it as a beautiful journey of self-discovery . I
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