| With 20 years experience as a natural weight trainer, I | | | | Overtraining is your biggest enemy. It almost always |
| have made many mistakes. Especially in the first two | | | | happens when natural bodybuilders train too frequently |
| years. I fell for many of the fads made the rounds at | | | | and for too long, with too many exercises and sets |
| the time, in the same way that novice natural | | | | per muscle group. If you're training hard (BE HONEST) |
| bodybuilders do today. It was that search for | | | | more than 4 days a week and 45 minutes per |
| bodybuilding's 'holy grail' that made me basically waste | | | | session, then you're overtrained or well on your way |
| the first 2 years. And it's not like I didn't put in a really | | | | there. Drop that routine you got from that freak in your |
| solid effort either. | | | | gym. That point brings me to probably the biggest |
| Fortunately, I came to my senses and got good advice | | | | mistake that natural bodybuilders make... |
| and also used some common sense, which got me | | | | 3. Believing the hype in the bodybuilding magazines |
| the muscle growth I wanted. If you remember to avoid | | | | To be blunt, the routines in the bodybuilding mags are |
| the following 3 mistakes, then you will already be | | | | meant to sell you those snake oil 'magic' supplements I |
| better off than 90% of the other natural bodybuilders | | | | mentioned above. Each and every major bodybuilding |
| out there: | | | | mag owns a major supplement line - check for |
| 1. 'Magic' supplements | | | | yourself. Oh, and that huge 'natural' bodybuilder who |
| I'm sorry to disappoint, but they don't exist. If they did, | | | | gave away his 'secret' routine? Don't believe it for a |
| then they'd stick around on the market for much longer | | | | second. S/he is not natural, or did s/he even write the |
| than they do. Stick to good nutrition and use a good | | | | article. Don't follow any routine from a bodybuilding |
| quality protein supplement, and you're set. | | | | mag - unless its from the 60s maybe. |
| 2. Over training | | | | So what to do? |
| I'm sure you'll hear the line: "there is no overtraining, only | | | | Well, you do need a guide, but most books and |
| undereating" at some point. Do NOT believe it. | | | | ebooks are crap too. |