10 Reasons You Are Not a Successful Bodybuilder

Photo Credit: Pasma

Most people want to be successful. They set goals and then the hard work begins to reach those goals. But the real question is what is success? Bodybuilding success can mean different things to different people.
For example, my friend Jeff Anderson doesn’t define success as himself being some mass monster. He defines it thru the e-mails, phone calls and letters he receives from clients that are thrilled with their results from the programs he creates. Other bodybuilders are focused on their own personal progress and only consider something a success if they win a bodybuilding show. Again, another defines success based on how they look and what personal records they can beat. Or a person might define success as losing fat and once again enjoying life and being able to do things with their children.
Success comes in all different shapes and sizes but has one thing in common with all the above examples regardless of race, gender, age, religion, etc.

Success is important and it takes work to reach.

No matter how you define your specific success when it comes to building muscle, burning fat or just getting into better shape, here’s a list of 10 things that can make you into your own bodybuilding success story. These are ways to better yourself as a person, proven methods that all the pros use to reach their success potential.
1.  Realize Your Potential
In order to succeed at anything, you need to see that you have the potential to reach your goals. Just think about that for a second. You cannot change your potential – but it’s probably greater than you think. Sure, we classify people into ectomorphs, mesomorphs and endomorphs but you can change that quality. Just the other day, somebody referred to me as “the big guy.” When I was 130 lbs soaking wet in high school, I never ever was called the big guy. In any situation! I’ve learned in 17 years of bodybuilding that I’ve still not reached my potential.
2.  Don’t Look Back
Who doesn’t have mistakes when it comes to training or nutrition? I’ve made my living telling other people how to avoid the same ones I did. But don’t dwell on them. Be sure to learn from them but don’t get stuck in the past and focused on all the things you did wrong as that leads to you just staying put where you are and in a rut. Look forward and vow the next meal or the next workout, you won’t make the same errors. Learn from your mistakes but don’t relive them.
3.  Dare to Dream
Let me explain. When I was in the gym last Friday, I overheard this one guy telling his buddy he’d “never reach 230 lbs because nobody natural our size can do that.” If you believe that, more than likely it will come true. You’ve squashed your dreams and you’ve put a limit on your potential. Both things nobody, not even a gene specialist can tell you! You want to be ripped, huge, muscular.. then dream it. Ever night when I was living at home with my parents I dreamed of two things. First, to own a ride a motorcycle. Second, to be muscular and big. In my opinion, I got both. I rode for many years and I’m 190 lbs today, something I never ever thought was possible because I was just too small from the start.
4.  Body Plan
Create a Bodybuilding Plan as your very first step if you are planning to build a house. The Body Plan will consist of nutrition, training, mental and mindset techniques and supplement options, everything about your goal. This is by far the most important aspect of all. In order to reach your goals, you need to know exactly where you are today and what you intend to do to reach your goals. Know what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, how to train, what to train, and more. You’ve heard a million times that you never want to step foot in the gym without a plan. Having a plan for all aspects of your bodybuilding endeavors ensures you will get there. Every single person I know who’s failed, frustrated and complained, when I asked them for their specific plan. Didn’t have one!
5.  Don’t Give Up
Heck, if I gave up after making all the mistakes I did, getting e-mails from people telling me I don’t know jack crap about fitness, I’d yank the cord on my computer, eat all day, watch TV and just work for a paycheck. Oh wait.. then I’d be like most people who give up. Don’t give up. If you are 120 lbs or 400 lbs reading this right now, it’s totally possible for you to change and shape your body as you desire. To reach success, you have to persevere.
6.  Your Attitude Might Be Holding You Back
Listen, if you want to lose 40 lbs or more of fat or become the best bodybuilder you can in your weight class, you can’t let other people or little things get in your way.  Or if you prefer, give up and then talk about how you tried your best to build muscle or off the fat and just be happy at home complaining. Fact: Every single person who’s lost the weight or went from zero to hero in terms of muscle has not be stopped by somebody else. They wanted it so bad that the frustrations and failures didn’t deter them. They kept at it until they found that “ah-ha” moment like learning how to ride a bike for the first time.
7.  Wine is Okay, Whining is Not
Let’s face it, you start talking negative and telling somebody how you are just too busy at work to get in shape or you are too tired to hit the gym, then it’s not really a shock if you never reach your goals. Take that negative energy and if need be get mad! Then direct it towards doing something about it.
8.  Focus on Something You Like
It’s simple. If you like nutrition, focus on learning more about it. If you hate it, then learn the very basics and leave it at that. As much as I love bodybuilding, I don’t care for the scientific mumbo-jumbo these meatheads use when it comes to building muscle. Nobody truly knows to be honest and I couldn’t care less. I focused on the exercises, workouts, and meal plans I like and make it interesting. To increase your chance of succeeding, you should concentrate your efforts on something you enjoy. If you HATE doing cardio on the machines, then swim, play basketball, hike. Find an activity you like and make it into a workout. Make it fun. If you dislike doing something so much, you’ll come up with a million excuses not to do it.
9.  No Shortcuts
Make no mistake, bodybuilding isn’t for the lazy. If you have no time for it, you won’t succeed. If you can’t make time for health, health will make time for you soon enough (and not in a good way). I receive several e-mails a month from people telling me why they can’t do something but they want to be the next Jay Cutler or America’s Top Model. So sorry guys and gals but there’s no shortcuts to something that requires hard work. Even you males out there that think.. “He’s on steroids.” Still, it’s not like they are lazy and not working hard.
10.  Share Your Success
Although this may be more at the end of the process, it is important. When you finally do reach your goal, use your experience to teach, guide, and mentor others so that they too might succeed. What worked for you? How did you do it? People learn from others and while you might think you struggled, most of us who have reached a goal, struggled to get there as well. Lend a helping hand, give some tips and tricks you used to get where you are today.
There is no better gratification than being successful. Accept that you are in for some hard work but the results will be incredible. Use these tips as guidelines and step outside the box. Take action and succeed!
Got a success story of your own? Post a comment below and Share It! I’d love to know if these tips or what tips you used to reach your goals. So would others.
Here’s to your NoBull Unstoppable Attitude,
Marc David

4 Replies to “10 Reasons You Are Not a Successful Bodybuilder”

  1. Hey man,

    Definetely agree with everything you've said. Although, not a success story yet, I can certainly attest to the fact that I'm taking pride in my journey, analyzing my mistakes, and moving forward.

    Really motivational!

  2. I agree with everything you've said here. People think they can take the easy road and suddenly they will be ripped, jacked, or what-have-you. This is not reality. I recently wrote a piece on 12 ways athletes are making mistakes while training, and I think you'd agree with most everything I have to say as well. Thanks for the informative blog.

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