A Firm Foundation

photo credit: wsilver

I suppose this series is mainly geared toward the newbies.

This is part one of three of my firm foundation series. I feel I must emphasize the importance of building a solid base when it pertains to all things fitness and of course looking great naked. The process is not fast nor easy but I am certain it is well worth your time spent.

A Firm Foundation

Anybody who is successful at anything has taken the time to build a firm foundation in whatever field they are involved with. Look at Olympic gymnasts who started on the high beam at an age that most of us were just learning how to finger paint. Take a peak at the successful bodybuilders, powerlifters, and figure athletes who are in the magazines and on TV. They took the time necessary to get it right, learn how to train properly and just stuck to their guns until they achieved their goals. They knew their success wouldn’t come overnight and because of this belief, they succeeded. In any endeavor it is of utmost importance to get started on the right foot. By doing so you will progress at a much faster rate, ensuring you do not get discouraged and disappointed.

So What Is The Difference?

The difference is one word: experience. Go into any gym and you will see examples of those who have taken the time to build their house atop of a rock and those who have built their house on sand. The guys/gals that have a decent amount of muscle and can push some serious weight are those that took the time and consistently worked towards their goals. The skinny people running around like maniacs doing the same stuff without making any progress for months and even years are those who have not built a firm foundation. Because they lack the knowledge and/or drive to do so, they will likely never succeed. If you are not making consistent progress, lets face it; you are spinning your wheels. Make a change.

The Only Way

I meet lots of people who want to do something great with their physique. They long for that respectable frame that others ponder with admiration. I can relate as I use to envy the statures in Muscle and Fitness as well as my favorite linebackers in the Sports Illustrated publications. The simple fact here that goes without question is all of these people took the time to build a firm foundation. They had to learn the proper technique and had to practice the movements just like everyone else in their respected field. They also either had great coaches and mentors or just stuck to it until they found out what works and what doesn’t. As I meet more people I notice a trend in personalities and results. Those who are open minded to new information and eager to learn are the ones who make the most of their time and end up succeeding. These are the people who do their own research, have an objective mindset and are willing to hear others out. They are especially interested in learning from those with more experience. I find these people will make the most progress because they put their trust in someone who knows what they are doing. Lo and behold they follow the advice, get bigger, stronger and make the improvements they had always hoped for.

Then you have the other group. This group consists of the lazy, impatient population who want results yesterday. They are, for the most part, hopeless and aren’t worth spending your time on. They are the people who frequent fitness forums to ask for advice when in reality they already have their mind made up.  All they want is validation for what they intended to do anyhow. These are the skinny guys in the gym slinging the weights up and down during barbell curls and bouncing the weight off of their chest during bench presses. They are the people lifting the same weight month after month with nothing to show for their effort.  Their actions are in vain.

So while I harped on the reasons why it’s important to build a firm foundation in the first installment, I will cover exactly how to build a firm foundation in part two. Stay tuned.