| Discipline is very important when you do natural | | | | results you seek. Kurt Elder, coach of the Gold's Gym |
| bodybuilding workouts. Too much exercise will keep | | | | Venice powerlifting team and the 1998 California state |
| your body from recuperating and growing as rapidly | | | | powerlifting champion in the 205-pound class for the |
| as it otherwise could. Too little exercise or an | | | | Natural Association of Strength Athletes, puts it this |
| undisciplined approach to your diet will also hold you | | | | way: |
| back. By harnessing your knowledge and energy | | | | Understanding + energy = results |
| toward the fulfillment of your training goals, you can | | | | "Many athletes waste a lot of time because they don't |
| provide your body with the ideal amount of growth | | | | understand how the body works," says Elder. "You |
| stimulation. | | | | don't need a biochemistry degree, but you do have to |
| Discipline is essential to achieving your goals in natural | | | | appreciate what stimulates the body to grow. Yet, it's |
| bodybuilding and life in general. There are always | | | | what you do with this information that really counts. |
| plenty of distractions around and never enough time to | | | | Find the time to apply this knowledge in a disciplined |
| do everything you want. Being disciplined helps you to | | | | way to your workouts and follow the formula |
| sift through these difficult choices and establish | | | | consistently. Harness your energy so that it becomes |
| priorities. This allows you to keep to the goals you | | | | a tool for achieving your goals. Without this controlled |
| have set without impulsive deviations that could take | | | | approach, much of your training energy will be |
| you off course. Once you have set a training schedule, | | | | wasted." |
| you keep to it without skipping days. You follow your | | | | Discipline is necessary to make sure that your natural |
| diet plan, recognizing that if you eat too much now | | | | bodybuilding workout program is geared to your body's |
| you'll only have to over-diet later to make up for it. You | | | | ability to respond and recuperate. Instead of impulsively |
| choose your path and stick to it. | | | | doing every exercise you can think of, you recognize |
| Discipline also gives you the stamina to persevere | | | | your limits at a particular point of time. This way you |
| through bad times without giving up. There will | | | | don't feel compelled to keep up with the training |
| inevitably be times that you reach sticking points when | | | | volumes of your fellow athletes, which may or may |
| you do natural bodybuilding workouts. A disciplined | | | | not be optimal even for them. Muscle growth takes |
| approach will keep you on track, helping you to | | | | time, but the results are well worth the effort. |
| overcome periods of moodiness or depression. A | | | | Remembering this can give you the discipline to restrict |
| journey of a thousand miles, as any disciplined person | | | | the frequency and duration of your workouts. Your |
| will tell you, begins with a single step. | | | | motto should be not too little, not too much. In the long |
| You need to integrate the various aspects of your life | | | | run, this disciplined approach will bring you the greatest |
| into a disciplined, rational system that will produce the | | | | rewards. |