Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Most Hated Man in Bodybuilding - An Interview with Greg Valentino

To normal, untrained people, those who choose to lift weights to get bigger are considered freaks. Why, they say, would anyone put themselves through all that just to get bigger biceps and more defined abs? Are they obsessed? Do they suffer from low self-esteem? To the people who lift weights recreationally, professional bodybuilders are the real freaks. Why do they risk their health to look like that when most people think they look disgusting anyway? Do they have psychological "issues?" Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Small penises?

But who is it that the professional bodybuilders call a freak? Who is the freak's freak? Answer: Greg Valentino. If you don't know Mr. Valentino, check out the pics below (and no, there's no Photoshopping involved):

Greg is not a liked man. In fact, he's quite possibly the most despised man in bodybuilding. Mention his name on an internet forum and this is what you'll hear: "Why would he destroy his body with Synthol like that?" "Does he think he looks good?" "Who does he think he's fooling?" "He's a laughingstock." "An idiot." "An embarrassment to the sport." "He gives bodybuilding a bad name."

When TC told me that Greg had offered to do an interview with T-mag, I wasn't sure what to think. When I was asked to conduct the interview, I really didn't know what to think. You see, although I'd never spoken to the guy, I didn't like him either. In fact, I pretty much agreed with the statements above. I wondered if it would be wise of T-mag to draw attention to this guy. I wondered if he deserved a forum in which to speak. But I also couldn't help but wonder what he had to say.

The old psychology student in me has always been interested in the motivation of self-professed freaks. People with full body tattoos, people with ten pounds of piercings, women with breast implants the size of beach balls… I find them all fascinating. What would bodybuilding's biggest freak have to say? What motivates him? And most of all, is Greg Valentino a glimpse into the frightening future of bodybuilding, or is he the death nail in a "sport" gone too far?

It was time to find out.


Testosterone: Greg, I heard you were arrested, you're not talking to me from jail are you?

Greg Valentino:

T: I also heard the other day that you were dead.

GV:

T: Really?

GV:

T: I recall seeing some pictures of you from back in the eighties and you looked like a normal bodybuilder.

GV:

T: After so many years of natural training, why did you start using steroids?

GV:

T: Do you use steroids or other drugs now?

GV:

T: You're not using anything right now? No type of site injections or anything?

GV:

T: You were busted with steroids and they put you in a drug rehab program?

GV:

T: So after your initial experiences with steroids, when did you decide to go all out with the arms and site injections?

GV:

T: People always want to know why you do it because it's just not symmetrical.

GV:

T: So you're saying that much of your arm size is the result of genetics and if someone wanted to do what you're doing they probably wouldn't be able to get the same results?

GV:

T: Have you ever thought about doing an X-ray or an MRI to prove your critics wrong?

GV:

T: Now, you say you don't use Synthol, but I read where you said that you have your own blend of MCT oil and other stuff that you use. True?

GV:

T: Give us an idea of what you did exactly to get your arms that way.

GV:

Greg as a steroid free young man of 20, Greg right before be started using steroids (according to him), Greg with 23-and-a-half-inch arms, and finally Greg with 27- inch arms.

Now, I would mix up the drugs. I'd throw sten in there sometimes in place of the propionate. People give sten a bad rap, but I happen to love it. It made me hard and ripped. You seem to grow a little more body hair from it and it's definitely androgenic. There are some pro-bodybuilders who used to get drugs off me and they happen to love it.

T: Is selling drugs what got you arrested?

GV:

T: You owned a gym right?

GV:

T: What was that all about?

GV:

T: Now, you've told me that you know a lot of the pros like Ronnie Coleman and are friendly with them, but Lee Priest has said some nasty stuff about you, right?

GV:

Shawn Ray was fucking flipping out on me at the Night of Champions too, saying he didn't understand what I was doing. But you gotta' understand, I'm big all over. I'm a lot bigger than him. My arms were bigger than Shawn's before I did roids!

T: Have you lost much size since you were forced to go off?

GV:

T: You say that as if you don't like the attention.

GV:

T: So what's your motivation? You've got to expect that kind of attention.

GV:

T: Do you think you motivate people?

GV:

T: You know, I'm thinking about titling this piece "The Most Hated Man in Bodybuilding." No offense, but that's the impression I get from listening to people talk about you.

GV:

T: I have to ask, are there any daily activities you can't do because of your arm size?

GV:

T: Now, you have an arm-training video, but come on, it's not like you got your arms from just training alone. Isn't that being deceptive?

GV:

T: But when people see your arms, the smart ones say, hey, what does this guy know about training, he just shoots a bunch of stuff into his arms!

GV:

T: Any health problems from all this?

GV:

T: What about scar tissue?

GV:

T: Tell me, are you making money off of this?

GV:

T: If you don't do Synthol, why do you sell it on your website?

GV:

T: Where do you see yourself in 20 or 30 years?

GV:

T: Think you'll be around at age 60? I have to wonder given your past run-ins with the law and heavy steroid use.

GV:

T: Just out of curiosity, do you think Synthol should be allowed in professional bodybuilding?

GV:

T: What do you think about the state of competitive bodybuilding in general?

GV:

Bodybuilding is a terrible sport. I like it for me. I like being a freak because it makes up for the fact that I'm a little guy. But as far as who wins the Mr. Olympia, I could give a shit. As long as the Yankees win the World Series I'm a happy man.

T: Any last words for your critics and haters out there?

GV:

T: But if you're not making money off of it, why do you want the publicity?

GV:

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

NO2 Hemodilators, Muscle, Bodubuilding


INTRODUCING NO2… the first of an exciting new category of muscle-enhancers known as a hemodilators. NO2 has the unique ability to perpetually sustain the flow of muscle-building agents to skeletal muscle.

Now get faster, more dramatic increases in muscle size, strength and endurance plus full-body muscle recovery and the stunning new phenomenon known as the perpetual pump… all from the man who brought you creatine!

What is NO2 ?

NO2 has created a revolutionary new category of muscle-builders and muscle-enhancers known as "cell-signaling hemodilators".

Through mediation of the "signaling-molecule" nitric oxide (NO), NO2 induces powerful hemodilation and creates dramatic increases in muscle size, strength, endurance, power output, and load capacity.

With its advanced sustained-release technology pHyser3, NO2 generates a virtual permanent muscle pump, now known as the "perpetual pump."

NO2 was created by the same man who introduced Creatine to the market in 1993 - Ed Byrd, co-founder of EAS™ and now president of MRI™ (Medical Research Institute).

How NO2 works ?

NO2 creates - and sustains - levels of nitric oxide in the skeletal muscles.

Nitric oxide is the muscle's "cell-signaling" molecule responsible for blood flow (hemodilation), oxygen delivery, glucose uptake, muscle velocity, power output, and muscle growth.

By creating and then sustaining levels of nitric oxide in the skeletal muscles NO2 delivers continuous muscle-enhancing benefits around the clock. Like amplifying muscle-growth signals for faster gains in lean mass, accelerating both fast and slow twitch muscle fiber for greater strength, providing complete "full-body muscle recovery", and increasing endurance index (EI).

In addition, NO2's sustained hemodilation (continuous and amplified blood-surge to the skeletal muscles) generates a "perpetual pump".

Before the introduction of NO2, hemodilation occurred only during intense exercise, and lasted for a relatively brief time. Now, with NO2's extended-release delivery system pHyser3, it is possible for hemodilation to last all day long! That means greater results and faster gains for you. And, of course, a "perpetual pump."

The NO2 difference

The NO2 difference is this:

  • No other supplement can sustain levels of nitric oxide AND generate a continual and amplified blood-surge (hemodilation) in skeletal muscles.

Until the creation of NO2's extended-release delivery system (pHyser3), generating and maintaining nitric oxide levels was impossible. The human body's pH factor literally dissolved any agent or substance that could help generate nitric oxide inside the body. Now, with NO2's pH-corrected, body-compatible delivery system, pHyser3, the human body is
able to not only accept the nitric oxide delivery agent, but also sustain levels of nitric oxide in the muscles throughout
the entire day.

Now athletes and bodybuilders can finally get all the powerful benefits of hemodilation - all day long! Including faster gains in muscle mass, increased strength and endurance, and the creation of the "perpetual pump".

Hemodilation

Hemodilation means a widening of the blood channels leading to skeletal muscles through the mechanism of amplified blood flow.

The word "Hemodilation" comes from combining 'Hemo' [from the Greek word 'haima' meaning blood] and 'Dilator' [from the Latin word 'dilatare' meaning to widen]. The measure of the widening of the blood canals is calculated by the "dilation differential™" - known as d-delta™.

Hemodilation is initiated by nitric oxide synthesis. Nitric oxide is the cell-signaling molecule responsible for blood flow, oxygen delivery, glucose uptake, muscle velocity, power output, and gene-expression, or muscle growth. By sustaining nitric oxide levels in the skeletal muscles, NO2 generates its sustained hemodilation. The channels that deliver muscle building agents to the muscle cells become forced open and remain that way throughout the day.
The results are faster gains in lean mass, greater strength, increased endurance, complete full-body muscle recovery, and a "perpetual pump."

NOTE: Hemodilation is a new term that came into existence with the discovery of nitric oxide (NO). Under ordinary circumstances, hemodilation lasts only briefly. With the introduction of NO2, however, and the sustained NO levels it generates in the skeletal muscle, sustained hemodilation became a reality. The word hemodilation, as applied to NO2, means sustained hemodilation.

Hemodilation vs cell volumization

"What I started with Creatine, I perfected with NO2." -Ed Byrd

How does NO2's "hemodilation" compare to Creatine's "cell-volumization"?

Because Ed Byrd introduced both Creatine and NO2, he says it best...

"As you probably know, Creatine causes 'cell-volumizing' by pulling water into the small space inside the muscle cell.
It does increase size, but you may look a little "puffy". NO2's hemodilation, on the other hand, creates genuine size by forcing blood into the vast and voluminous spaces between the muscle cells – not inside the cells.
This super-engorging creates massive pumps. What's more, because the blood is between the cells not inside them, the pump is rock-hard – not at all puffy.

And with the extended-release delivery system pHyser3, the pump does not go away. You get what is known as a "perpetual pump".

"Frankly, my recommendation to bodybuilders would be to take both Creatine and NO2. I look at it this way, what I started with Creatine, I perfected with NO2."

What results should I see with NO2 ?

The first result most bodybuilders see (in 5-7 days) is the "perpetual pump."

The perpetual pump is a massive rock-hard muscle pump that literally does not go away. Unlike the exercise-induced pump that quickly fades with time, the perpetual pump is virtually permanent.

Then, 2-3 days after the appearance of the perpetual pump, you'll start noticing increases in strength and endurance.
At the same time, you'll see increases in size in all your skeletal muscles.

Is NO2 right for me ?

Ask yourself these simple questions:

  • Am I happy with my current muscle gains?
  • Would I like to get the great-looking pump I get after an intense workout, and keep it all day long?
  • Would I like to add more reps and more sets to every workout?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, NO2 is the perfect answer for you.

That's because NO2 gives you:

  • Continuous gains in lean mass by triggering forced-growth muscle-signaling action;
  • A perpetual pump through its powerful hemodilating effects;
  • Greater strength by accelerating your fast-twitch muscle strength; complete full-body muscle recovery; and
  • Far better workouts by increasing your Endurance Index (EI).

Is NO2 safe ?

Yes. NO2 generates, and maintains, levels of nitric oxide - a substance that is totally natural to your body.

NOTE: There are now 3 categories of substances that help enhance performance: Drugs; Dietary Supplements; and now with the introduction of NO2 - Nutraceutical Expressors.

Drugs, like androgenic anabolic steroids, are foreign to your body. They work powerfully, but because they're a foreign agent, they have many negative side effects. We do not recommend using drugs unless under a doctor's supervision.

Dietary Supplements are naturally occurring substances in your body. They have a moderate range of effectiveness and usually have no side effects.

NO2 - the Nutraceutical Expressor™ - gives you the best of both worlds: powerful results and safety.

Nutraceutical Expressors work by amplifying both volume and action-time of muscle-building agents that are natural to your body. For example:

  • Keeping nitric oxide in skeletal muscles for extended periods of time to effectively increase muscle-building protein synthesis
  • Inducing sustained hemodilation; and
  • Providing complete full-body muscle recovery

    are all examples of the benefits of Nutraceutical Expressors.

When should I take NO2 ?

For maximum results, refer to the chart below. You should start noticing results in about 5-7 days.

IMPORTANT: Remember to drink at least 64 ounces (that's 8 glasses) of water daily while taking NO2.

Men

Up to 200 Pounds Over 200 Pounds
8 Caplets Daily 10 Caplets Daily
Take 4 Caplets first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Take another 4 caplets 1/2 hour prior to lunch.

 Take 5 Caplets first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Take another 5 caplets 1/2 hour prior to lunch.

Women

Up to 125 Pounds Over 125 Pounds
4 Caplets Daily 6 Caplets Daily
Take 2 Caplets first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Take another 2 caplets 1/2 hour prior to lunch.

 Take 3 Caplets first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Take another 3 caplets 1/2 hour prior to lunch.

Hemodilation

Hemodilation means a widening of the blood channels leading to skeletal muscles through the mechanism of amplified blood flow.

The word "Hemodilation" comes from combining 'Hemo' [from the Greek word 'haima' meaning blood] and 'Dilator' [from the Latin word 'dilatare' meaning to widen]. The measure of the widening of the blood canals is calculated by the "dilation differential™" - known as d-delta™.

Hemodilation is initiated by nitric oxide synthesis. Nitric oxide is the "cell-signaling" molecule responsible for blood flow, oxygen delivery, glucose uptake, muscle velocity, power output, and gene-expression, or muscle growth. By sustaining nitric oxide levels in the skeletal muscles, NO2 generates its sustained hemodilation. The channels that deliver muscle building agents to the muscle cells become "forced open" and remain that way throughout the day. The results are faster gains in lean mass, greater strength, increased endurance, complete full-body muscle recovery, and a "perpetual pump."

NOTE: Hemodilation is a new term that came into existence with the discovery of nitric oxide (NO). Under ordinary circumstances, hemodilation lasts only briefly. With the introduction of NO2, however, and the sustained NO levels it generates in the skeletal muscle, sustained hemodilation became a reality. The word hemodilation, as applied to NO2, means sustained hemodilation.

Perpetual pump

A "perpetual pump" is a muscle pump that remains in its post-exercise, blood-engorged, rock-hard condition virtually all the time! The increased muscle size and muscle density achieved through exercise do not fade with time.

The "perpetual pump" is a brand new phenomenon. It's one of the stunning effects of the sustained hemodilation you get from NO2.

Increased blood flow is responsible for your pump. Your body responds to exercise by releasing nitric oxide, the muscle's "signaling molecule" responsible for increased blood flow.

When you exercise hard, Nitric oxide opens the blood floodgates, allowing blood to surge in. That's hemodilation, and that's how you get a "pump". But the exercise-induced pump is only temporary. It disappears soon after the body realizes exercise has ended.

Now, with NO2, pumps do not go away. Even massive, vein-popping pumps show no sign of diminishing.
That's because NO2 generates a continuous surge of blood that courses through the skeletal muscle throughout the day. So muscles remain engorged and steel-like all day long. The secret of the continuous surge of blood lies in NO2's exclusive nitric oxide extended-release delivery system pHyser3.

Muscle Fiber Twitch Accelerators

These accelerators are any agent or substance capable of increasing the contractile velocity of both fast and slow twitch muscle fibers.

By increasing nitric oxide production, NO2 increases your maximum contractile velocity - in all muscle types.
Fast-twitch fibers get faster. Slow-twitch fibers start acting more like fast-twitch.

The results are immediate and consequential, and include increasing your load capacity, boosting your power output, and quickening your muscle contraction.

Endurance index (EI)

The Endurance Index (EI) is the new measure of the rate of increased endurance during work output.

Current research indicates that the keto-acids, like the ones you find in NO2, can help significantly delay fatigue and dramatically improve your Endurance Index (EI).

In fact, many athletes are now reporting that taking NO2 gives them the kind of endurance they get when they train at high altitude and then race at sea level.

Providing Full-Body Muscle Recovery

Muscle recovery refers to the difference in blood channel diameter between normal conditions and hemodilated conditions. The greater the dilation (d), the greater the blood-surge to the skeletal muscle. The difference between any two sizes of dilation is called the differential (dD).

NO2's increase in the dilation differential is what generates the new condition known as the "perpetual pump."

The new full-body muscle recovery is one that provides all skeletal muscles with a complete recovery.
That includes both the smaller and larger muscle groups.

Full-body muscle recovery allows all the muscles on your body grow in the correct proportion to each other - providing a better and more proportional physique.

NOTE: The continual surge of blood that NO2 supplies muscles gives them the time they need to recover completely. Compare that to the normal recovery time of about 30-45 minutes. NO2's "amplified" surge of blood and the greater dilation it creates (known as "dD" - dilation differential), "forces" blood to all the muscles not just the larger ones.
That gives all skeletal muscles a complete recovery.

Dilation Differential (dD)

Dilation Differential is the difference in blood channel diameter between normal conditions and hemodilated conditions. The greater the dilation (d), the greater the blood-surge to the skeletal muscle.
The difference between any two sizes of dilation is called the differential (dD).

NO2's increase in the dilation differential is what generates the new condition known as the "perpetual pump."

Nutraceutical Expressors

Nutraceutical Expressors dramatically amplify both the volume and action-time of natural muscle-building agents.
For example, NO2 helps keep nitric oxide in skeletal muscle for extended periods of time to effectively increase time of muscle-building protein synthesis, induce sustained hemodilation, provide full-body muscle recovery, accelerate muscle fiber twitch, and increase endurance index.

NOTE: There are now 3 categories of substances that help enhance performance: Drugs; Dietary Supplements; and now with the introduction of NO2 - Nutraceutical Expressors.

Drugs, like androgenic anabolic steroids, are foreign to your body. They work powerfully, but because they're a foreign agent, they have many negative side effects. We do not recommend using drugs unless under a doctor's supervision.

Dietary Supplements are naturally occurring substances in your body. They have a moderate range of effectiveness and usually have no side effects.

NO2 - the Nutraceutical Expressor™ - gives you the best of both worlds: powerful results and safety.

Dillation Differential

Dilation Differential is the difference in blood channel diameter between normal conditions and hemodilated conditions. The greater the dilation (d), the greater the blood-surge to the skeletal muscle. The difference between any two sizes of dilation is called the differential (dD).

NO2's increase in the dilation differential is what generates the new condition known as the "perpetual pump."

Gene Expression (re-defined)

"Gene expression" is not a new term. But it now has new meaning thanks to NO2.

In fact, it is the standard term used to describe the activation of any gene responsible for a specific function - like constructing new muscle.

Gene expression, when used in the context of NO2, however, takes on a new meaning. It refers to sustained gene expression, and therefore, the sustained muscle growth it provides.

pHyser3™ (delivering the undeliverable)

pHyser3 represents a major breakthrough in the effective delivery muscle-building agents. pHyser3 allows the delivery of agents previously thought to be undeliverable.

MRI's new pHyser3 is a pH-corrected, body-compatible delivery system that allows the human body to fully accept the nitric oxide delivery agent, unlocking the full potential of nitric oxide's powerful effect on skeletal muscle.

In addition, its extended-release delivery mechanism ensures that nitric oxide levels are maintained and sustained for the entire day. That's how NO2 creates a steady and continuous blood-surge to the skeletal muscles. Creating greater size, strength, endurance, and the "perpetual pump."

pHyser3 was created by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Northern California. MRI's president and CEO is Ed Byrd, co-founder of EAS™ and the man whose company introduced the last significant breakthrough in sports supplements in 1993 - creatine monohydrate.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Discipline: You Need It To Reach Your Bodybuilding Potential.

We all know real champions are those who push their physiques to the limit and accept nothing but the best from themselves. Their success can be isolated to one point. Discipline! Absolute and unwavering. Read on to find out more about what discipline is.
Discipline: You Need It To Reach Your Bodybuilding Potential.

By: David Robson

Let's face it: walking through our workouts, with a lack-luster attitude, will produce very little in the way of size gains. We all know those who shuffle from one piece of exercise equipment to another in an aimless fashion, looking at their watches and hoping for their session to come to an end so they can drive home and watch television.

One wonders why these people train in the first place. After all, real gains come only from intensive training and their half-hearted sessions, lacking the necessary intensity, more often than not, fail to deliver even minimal results.

We all know real champions are those who push their physiques to the limit and accept nothing but the best from themselves. These people are the ones who move quickly and purposefully around the gym, like human dynamos with expressions of intensity on their faces - their physiques reflect the intensity they apply. These people clearly demonstrate discipline, the essential component that often separates the awesome from the mediocre.


What Is Discipline?

People generally hate discipline because it often means forcing oneself to confront the realities of their life: the dieter for example who must rigidly adhere to a stringent eating plan.

Discipline therefore has negative connotations for many. It is, however, an immensely important variable, as far as developing a phenomenal physique is concerned.

Mental Control
A Life And Death Situation

    Essentially, exercising discipline means having control over ones mind - using our inner voice to force a particular result. Imagine performing a set of bench-presses with a non-disciplined mind-set. The weight lifted and number of reps would probably be at least 25% below what could be achieved with sufficient motivation.


A Non-Disciplined Mind-Set
Can Reduce Achievements By At Least 25%

    Imagine then a raving lunatic approaching with a gun and demanding you load an additional 20kgs and pump out and extra 5 reps. In all likelihood this would be achieved.

    The lifter has disciplined themselves to lift this weight because their life has depended on it. This is precisely the type of attitude needed to excel in bodybuilding, and sport in general. Training needs to become a life or death situation, as extreme as this may sound.

    Before beginning the aforementioned set of benches, the lifter, in the first instance, has taken the easy way out. This is a natural part of the human condition. We are likely, when faced with difficulties, to take the easy option because we are pleasure seeking beings.

    Obeying The Doctrines Of Oneself

      We all love to feel good and this makes sense. However, we need to apply self discipline, and make things hard when training muscle is the aim. Clearly an unpopular concept, discipline (which means adhering to the doctrines of another) must be used to push the boundaries of physical capability.

      Self discipline could be extrapolated to mean obeying the doctrines of oneself. This means we must set goals and continually seek ways to enhance motivation levels. In short, self discipline is the ability to get the job done, regardless of ones emotional state.

      Given its competitive nature and the degree of excellence needed to separate oneself from others of similar proficiency, sport is one arena where self discipline is needed in abundance. One who understood the importance of self discipline was Great coach, Vince Lombardi, who said,


"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."


How To Practice Self-Discipline

Self discipline is essentially a frame of mind. When we think positive thoughts, self-discipline is more readily activated. On the flip-side, negative thoughts promote a sloppy attitude and a weak mind.

The Necessity Of Negative Thinking.
Contrary to what positive thinking devotees say, applying negative thinking is often necessary to achieve your goals and improve your life. Let's start off by going over some of the pitfalls of positive thinking.

This leads to low self-discipline. The key to activating self-discipline through positive thinking is to perfect our inner dialogue - the little inner voice that talks to us all the time, and gives out instructions.

Those who have experienced a negative childhood, generally have a very negative inner dialogue. Thoughts planted in our heads from a young age tend to crystallize into a particular mind-set that leads us into adulthood.

If negative thoughts are planted, it is much harder to activate a positive mind-set and consequently self-discipline is harder to practice.

On the other hand, a positive upbringing will probably lead to a more optimistic voice and a higher degree of self-discipline as a result.

Given training success depends to a large extent on discipline; one will need to try and change any nagging self doubts and negative internal dialogue.

Before attempting a set a heavy squats it is advisable to train your inner voice to say, for example, "this will be the most enjoyable set of squats ever and the weight will be lifted with ease" as opposed to the negative "this weight is very heavy but I will attempt it anyway".


"This Is The Most Enjoyable Set Of Squats Ever!"

By repeating the former, a positive, lasting, thought pattern will be established. This will help to obviate any lingering negative feelings which inevitably impede training progress. Practice the following to ensure your inner voice becomes positive, which will help to forge self-discipline and enhance training.

1: Forget The Past

    Focus on the present, and future if previous negative experiences are holding you back. This will help to establish a positive inner voice and self-discipline.

    Negative thought patterns are often established in childhood. Constantly dwelling on childhood experiences will reinforce negative patterns and dilute the present.

2: Your Inner Dialogue Must Be Specific

    Before training arms, for example, think about exactly what is to be achieved. "I will lift the heavy weight" probably won't cut it. Rather, "I will curl the 85lbs and contract my biceps to develop massive arms" is more detailed and conjures a vivid image of an end result.

3: Visualize

    Repeating positive statements to develop a positive inner voice does not have the same impact as visualizing exactly what you want to achieve while making these statements. Imaging building biceps like mountains, while saying "my arms are exploding with new growth".

4: Try To Avoid Negative Events & People

    Both will sap energy and dilute enthusiasm. Negative people will plant negative thoughts in those of whom they come in contact with. Surround yourself with positive people as this will reinforce your own positive thought patterns.

    A good training partner can help to strengthen self discipline with their insistence that you complete "one more rep".


Surround Yourself With Positive People.

5: Learn To Master Problem Solving

    An important step to establishing self-discipline is taking control of ones emotions. Becoming upset and angry will only serve to derail positive thinking and self-discipline. We all encounter problems. How we deal with them differs depending on a variety of factors. Self-discipline, and control, certainly help when it comes to solving a problem, and moving on.

    Those who find it hard to move on are often those with minimal self-discipline. An injury, for example, might mean weeks, or months, away from the gym. Continuing positive self-talk, and keeping ones eyes on their goals, will assist a smoother transition back to the gym, when the injury has healed. A strengthened resolve and sufficient self-discipline will help in this respect also.

6: Focus On Discipline, Often

    Discipline, by its very nature, is not an easy trait to establish. However, by putting ourselves in challenging situations throughout the day, while resisting the temptation to become sloppy and unfocused, one can strengthen their ability to rouse discipline when it counts.

    For example, when sitting in a chair, one might try to keep their back straight; despite the fact they are tired and feel like slouching back. Another way might be to resist staying up late or sleeping in, excessively. These things might encourage complacency and a resultant lowering of discipline over the long term.

How Your Personality Affects Your Training!
By developing greater insight into who we are, training weak points can be challenged, and overcome. Read below to find out more about different personality types!
[

    Indeed, focusing on discipline, with a view to building it, can be elegantly explained with a bodybuilding analogy: in short, the more you train discipline, the stronger it becomes, and, just as it takes some muscle to build more, it, similarly, takes some self discipline to establish additional levels.

    Progressive Resistance

      The key when using this analogy, to establish self discipline, is to consider the principal of progressive resistance, as it applies to weight training (the lifting of progressively heavier weights, or the addition of repetitions, to increase training intensity, and promote muscular gains).

      Taking on challenges that are close to ones capabilities will promote increases in self discipline, more effectively than unrealistic, largely unobtainable, targets.

      Therefore, to build self discipline, take it slowly and establish it at a progressive rate, rather than diving straight into the heavy stuff and risking injury, metaphorically speaking.

      It is next to impossible to achieve every objective, regardless of how self disciplined one is. It is, therefore, more advantageous to correct the so called smaller problems, such as eating that extra bite of pizza, or stopping short of failure when training with maximal weights, rather than trying to tackle a 300lb behind-the-neck-press, when ones training weight on this movement is 120lb.

7: Work Hard

    This could be the single most important piece of advice pertaining to the achievement of self discipline. To put all of the above into practice, one needs to work exceedingly, and consistently, hard.

    Hard work to some might conjure up images of self denial, and suffering. However, all the good things in life come as a result of the kind of sustained hard work that makes these things worth having, and life worth living.

    The biggest barrier to self discipline is a weak mind, and this often results from failure to set goals, and execute a plan of action (explained soon). As mentioned, self discipline can be strengthened like muscle tissue, and the more one practices self discipline development, the more they will become strong mentally.


How To Apply Self Discipline

Knowing all of the above will undoubtedly help when aiming to strengthen self discipline, but without a plan of attack, the best idea and knowledge base in the world might fail to gain traction. Using the following plan will help to bring ones self discipline goals to fruition.

1: Choose the area of life that needs strengthening.

    For simplicities sake, a basic weight training example will be used. An area that might need addressing could be the amount of weight lifted on the bench press. A lifter might stop short of adding an extra 5-10lb due to complacency, or lack of self discipline.

2: Create a plan of attack.

    The plan would, therefore, be to consciously add weight to this movement, as per the progressive resistance example mentioned earlier. At this point, self discipline is actively being put to the test, as a change in mind-set is being occurring.

3: Execute the plan.

    The execution phase is where the lifter will either succeed, or fail, as the mind-set is challenged to actually put into practice what has been planned.

    Not dissimilar to classic goal setting, this is the essence of self discipline - the execution of a plan to break a negative cycle of self delusion. Indeed, without goal setting, we live our lives floundering in a sea of ill discipline.

The SMART Way To Set Goals!
The SMART Goal Setting principles will help you reduce your chances of setting goals that you wouldn't be able to obtain even if you had some sort of superhuman powers.
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Conclusion

To achieve ones bodybuilding goals, a large degree of discipline is imperative. The sloppy thinking and complacency that result from an undisciplined mind (which is itself the product of negative thinking) may result in a complete lack of focus and low self-belief.

To counter this state, it is advisable to focus on developing discipline. The strategies suggested in this article might sound silly to some, but they will have profound results if practiced religiously.

Anything that encourages a positive inner dialogue is conducive to success in any sphere. Given bodybuilding is an intensive activity, a large degree of self-disciple is needed.

Self-discipline (the strategy we use to get ourselves to do something that does not come naturally) can only be developed through a strong sense of self belief coupled with a positive inner voice.

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