From Basics to the Best: What Factors Change?

In any sport or hobby, there are inevitably going to be different things that can impact your results, obviously, and there are always different levels of competition and achievement. For example, in football, at the absolute lowest, you have people who just play for fun and play catch, then playing Football in gym class, then you have high school Football, then college level, then NFL or CFL professional teams. As you get further and further along that continuum, the amount of measurable difference between the best and the worst is going to be smaller and smaller--after all, there is a reason those players got to the level that they did, it was because they were better than everyone else when they were at the lower levels.

The interesting thing is, while the gap between the best of the best and the worst of the best becomes smaller, the relative difference that said difference makes becomes proportionally wider. I'll use powerlifting as an example, because the numbers are easy to use.

Let's say that two beginning lifters are squatting: one works his way up to 350 lbs, but the other can only lift 200 lbs. Then, after a while of lifting, they work their lifts up: the first person (A) gets up to 450 lbs, then the second (B) gets up to 400 lbs. The gap is smaller, but the first guy is still lifting less than the first. Then, much later on, lets say they are both competing at a top level powerlifting meet. Person A is squatting 600 lbs, and person B is squatting 575...that's a 25 lbs difference. If they were at this same relative difference earlier on, or something similar, they would be lifting around (for example): A) 300 B) 280-290 (somewhere around there). However, if that were the case from the beginning, then the person B might have actually overtaken the other guy, or at least be on equal terms.

The point I'm trying to make is that things which might seen to make little difference for a beginner, might make even less quantifiable difference to an intermediate or advenced lifter or bodybuilder. However, The impact that these things are going to have is going to be infinitely greater because the calibre of competitor has gone up.

What does this have to do with bodybuilding?

Far too often people take advice from very experienced people in this sport--as they should--but what they don't take in is the context of that advice. Is the person they're taking advice from a national level bodybuilder, or even a pro? Are they really targeting their advice to maximizing the things that matter at your level? Timing your breakfast to be at 7:30 AM instead of 8:00 AM is going to make almost no difference for you at a lower level--but the 2% difference it will make could be a difference of 1st place and 2nd place for a pro.

All you need to know, is don't sweat the small stuff that doesn't need to be. Know what you're trying to accomplish and do that--you can only work up from that.

Alcohol and You: the Meatheads Guide Booze and Living Life

Before I start this article, I want to clarify my stance on booze. Enjoying alcohol in moderation (especially for the off season, non-competitive bodybuilder) is going to be relatively harmless, if you're still accounting for it in your caloric intake, and it's only a small percentage of your calories.

But hey, where's the fun in that?

Unfortunately, that's just the truth of it: alcohol can have a detrimental effect on gym performance, testosterone, your ability to sleep, and everything else. Be honest: have you ever felt like training at all the night after drinking and partying hard? Few people do. However, if you're careful you can still encorporate alcohol into a balanced diet without sacrficing your waist.

1. Hard Liquor

While it sounds counter-intuitive, hard liquor will generally have fewer calories than beer or wine, mainly because of the lower carbohydrate content. This, combined with diet soda, won't pose much of a huge caloric hit and still allow you to enbibe a little bit.

2. Drink with a Meal

Never mind that alcohol will have a lesser effect on entering bloodstream on a full stomach of food, if you're already eating, you'll probably (in my experience) be less inclined to drink more--however remember this is entirely a psychological trick. It's entirely up to you to actually put this into place. While foods like pizza or deep fried fare might be tough, but you'll have to eat less during the day to create a calorie buffer.

3. Drink Lots of Water

A good rule of thumb would be one glass of water per drink, however that's assuming you are not following my recommendations of drinking only as part of a meal. I will generally still drink a lot of water--on the off chance I do drink without food, I will add in more water than is really necessarily for the sake of being safe.

4. Don't Binge!

If you're really serious about bodybuilding (or really any serious, psychologically intense hobby or job), this is one habit you might want to let die. I'm all for the idea that we can unwind and have fun every once in a while, but be really honest with yourself--how much of a favour are you doing your body when you do that? Didn't you get involve in this sport because you wanted to get the best out of your body possible? Doesn't blotting out your mind for a few hours contradict that? Try and think that the next time you take the time to get wasted...if at all. I still recommend and always will, an attitude of moderation and common sense. That's the best way to end up with a healthy life, healthy mind, and healthy attitude!