Get Into The Zone!

As a natural bodybuilder, you know you must recruit all of your physical capabilities to build a great physique. What is also very important is utilizing your most powerful tool -- your mind. How well you use it will determine if you will acquire the body you strive for -- or if you will become just another "bellyaching" drug-free lifter wrongfully believing it can't be done without steroids or other illegal drugs. Here are 14 tips to help you develop and sharpen the mental power it takes to be a drug-free success story.

1. STOP WASTING TIME AND ENERGY THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD DO IF YOU TOOK DRUGS.

There are no reasons for natural bodybuilders to spend any time learning of the "amazing" things that steroids and other drugs can do for their physiques. Doing so will surely lead to eventual failure. This sport is tough enough to excel at without being constantly reminded of how much easier it would be by incorporating shortcuts. Instead, spend your time learning what it takes to build your body without drugs. You can't even name five different types of steroids, let alone describe what they are used for? Good! Keep it that way! Don't frustrate yourself.

2. DON'T CONCEDE YOU ARE INFERIOR TO ANYONE.

Never assume that you must be smaller or weaker than people using drugs. Don't concede you are inferior to anyone! Just because someone uses drugs does not guarantee that he or she will have a better physique or outperform you in the gym because you are natural. Don't sell yourself short. Your genetic potential and mental strength may determine that you can eventually have bigger arms or squat more weight. It will never happen however, if you do not believe it is possible. Others may rely too much on the drugs -- and not enough on the knowledge of training, nutrition, and supplementation. Although they may look good, they could still be greatly underachieving their real potential. If you let these slackers set limits on your development, you could be an underachiever also -- maybe even worse because you are drug-free. You won't have the drugs to compensate for your inadequacy.

Challenge yourself to look better than the people on drugs and train more efficiently in the gym. Your own genetic potential may determine it is quite possible -- so go for it!

3. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS.

You can't hit a bull's-eye without a target. So, you want to have a better physique? What do you specifically want to improve and exactly how much? In how much time do you want to accomplish it? List your goals! Write them down in specific detail. Instead of saying, "I want bigger arms," say "My arms are 14 inches right now but I want them to be 16 inches by the end of the year. I can accomplish this by working harder on both my biceps and triceps and use mostly heavy dumbbells and barbells. I'm going to use the Ron Coleman routine I read in All Natural Muscular Development and will read everything I can get my hands on about the subject."

Once you have committed to such a detailed vision, you should automatically see the intensity and desire during arm workouts dramatically improve. You have targeted certain performance goals that will take all your effort if you plan on succeeding. Every workout will become much more efficient. Your brain will work like a magnet attracting information to facilitate your effort. Read what you have listed as goals frequently to continually "fuel your fire."

If you are sincerely dedicated to reaching your goal, every day will be an opportunity to get closer to it. Every workout, every set, and even every rep, will be more meaningful. Everything outside the gym will also be seen as opportunities, such as each meal, each supplement, or every hour of sleep.

Listing your goals in specific detail will help you become more efficient at doing the things everyday that help dreams become reality.

4. NEVER STOP LEARNING.

The point at which you think you "know it all" is usually the time when all progress stops. Never stop learning and experimenting with new ways to do things. Bodybuilding is a sport that is constantly evolving. Over the years, many new and more efficient ways to train, eat, and supplement what you eat have been developed. Anyone who doesn't at least entertain new concepts is foolish. Why are the bodybuilders of today light-years ahead of those of just a couple of decades ago? Is it entirely because of the drugs? No way! It is mainly because of increased state-of-the-art information. You may not be able to benefit from the drugs, but you can benefit from that information. Don't be left behind -- never stop learning.

5. VISUALIZE SUCCESS.

The mind is a very powerful tool. Using visualization techniques helps you tap its tremendous potential. Using these methods properly can help you use better form and lift more weight -- which will ultimately lead to muscle gains. Using visualization techniques will get your mind ready to do everything possible to achieve your goals. Visualize having a bigger sweep on your quads before your leg sessions or bigger upper pectorals during your chest workout. See yourself lifting the heavy weight while using perfect form and thus stimulating the muscle building process. Try playing that awesome workout in your mind over and over again.

6. HAVE YOUR WORKOUT ENTIRELY PLANNED BEFORE YOU GET TO THE GYM.

Don't wait until you get to the gym to plan your workout. Try planning it the night before or at least on your way to the gym. Mentally put yourself through every exercise and every set. You will be amazed how prepared you will be to have a great workout. Don't let someone else do your planning for you -- be proactive! No other person has as much desire to improve your physique as you do -- so no one else should be planning your workouts. Take 100 percent responsibility for your progress.

Be structured with your workouts -- not instinctive. Instincts can sometimes misguide you. What if your instincts sometimes tell you to be lazy and cut your workouts short? Would you cut them short? Having a structured plan will help you steer clear the "path of least resistance" which will undoubtedly tempt you from time to time.

7. SHUT UP AND TRAIN!

If you are engaged in casual conversation in the gym, then you cannot possibly be fully focused on your training. To maximize your workouts, minimize your talking! Try not to talk between your sets. In that downtime, you can do things such as really try to feel if you actually hit the intended muscle in the right spot or study your training partner's habits to learn from either their positive or negative example. If you can’t resist, then do your talking between exercises – not sets.

8. BEFORE EVERY SET, GET IN THE HABIT OF ASKING YOURSELF, "WHAT EXACTLY AM I TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?"

If you ask yourself that question before you perform every set, you will constantly remind yourself of the need for proper form, strength, and intensity to be successful. Consistently performing each repetition of every exercise in such a manner over an extended time will surely lead to unbelievable gains. Get in the habit of asking yourself this question before every workout, every exercise, and every set. Also consider trying this with many things in your life outside the gym. Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish before every important conversation, special assignments at work, etc.

Each major goal is accomplished usually after many smaller goals are reached. Think through those smaller goals and become 100 percent efficient at them.

9. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND FEEL THE MUSCLE GROUP YOU HAVE JUST WORKED AFTER EVERY SET.

It does not matter how much weight you have just lifted if you did not work the intended muscle group properly. So many of us fail to see results due to the fact that we worry too much about getting the dumbbell or barbell from "point A" to "point B," instead of training the specific muscle we are targeting during the exercise. This may be okay for the gym showoff, but for those of us who are trying to build muscle intelligently and efficiently, this method is unacceptable. How do we know for sure that we have worked the intended muscle properly? Our bodies will tell us -- but we have to get in tune with it to hear what it is telling us. This can be accomplished simply by closing our eyes and feeling where we feel the most muscle "burn." Is this exactly where we wanted to work, or did we incorporate additional body parts? Learn from your body and get familiar with the way proper exercise is suppose to feel. If you are not feeling it where you should, don't get discouraged. Just keep trying until you get it right. You may need to lighten the weight a bit, but that's fine. You will probably stimulate growth with less weight due to the increased efficiency.

10. SWITCH TO A ONE-BODY-PART ONCE-A-WEEK TRAINING SCHEDULE.

Physically, my training exploded to new heights after switching to training one body part a day and that body part only once a week. I became significantly stronger and recovered much more efficiently -- which led to a lot of new muscle. But what was even more amazing is how this training regimen affected me mentally. My intensity went through the roof because I no longer had to pace myself through long workout sessions. I had more confidence to go heavier and heavier. Concentrating on a single muscle group that day, I became more focused. And I developed a do or die attitude towards every training session because this was my only chance all week long to stimulate that particular muscle group to grow. It had to get done efficiently if I was going to improve in the way I so badly wanted.

There are many people training in the gyms today who still believe that "more must be better." They refuse to believe training one body part only once a week will lead to significant muscle growth. If not for its physical benefits, try it for the mental benefits for a couple of weeks. I discovered that my intensity that I thought was so great before was pale in comparison. Once you have felt this level of intensity, use it as a standard to apply if you should switch back to your old routine. You will learn that it will be very difficult to match that standard of intensity.

11. STRIVE TO LIFT MORE WEIGHT.

Lifting big weights equals big muscle. Don’t let anyone try to tell you differently! It is very important for the natural bodybuilder to lift heavy weights on a consistent basis if he or she hopes to build quality muscle. Sometimes the weight you are able to lift is "all in your head." This could be a good thing or a bad thing -- depending on how well you use your mental power.

We have all seen the gifted people in the gym who can lift a tremendous amount of weight as compared to their body weight. How is it that some people can be so powerful? Before you start assuming that they must be on drugs, consider the fact that they may have developed a level of confidence or possess a burning desire that is worthy of your admiration. Use these people as inspiration and use the example they have set to propel you to new heights.

It is indeed possible for you to make tremendous gains in strength -- especially if you break them down into "bite-size" pieces. Start by challenging yourself to lift just five pounds more. Once you have built the confidence needed, try making it ten pounds and so on. Get some help if needed -- but try to lift heavier. A reliable training partner who is ready to grab the weight in case you fail provides a simple way to be more comfortable as you challenge yourself to lift more weight.

12. FIND OUT WHAT WILL CONSTITUTE A GREAT BODYBUILDING DAY. LIST ALL ITS COMPONENTS -- AND DO THEM CONSISTENTLY.

Nothing builds confidence and enthusiasm for building your physique like success. Ultimate success is attained sometimes only after dozens of smaller victories have been secured. This is especially true in bodybuilding. Only after you have become proficient in the areas of training, nutrition, and supplementation can you expect to have a physique of which you can be proud. It is the synergy of doing many things correctly and consistently that leads to ultimate success.

Invest time writing down ten things that will get you closer to the body you want. I call this my "accountability checklist." I make myself accountable to do these ten things every day. If, for example, I do not properly perform one of these tasks, I have to be prepared to log it down as an "empty box." Usually, I only have to do that two or three times before I get so frustrated with myself that I vow never to leave its box unchecked again. Once you have mastered the ten items on your list, add ten more -- and get even more specific. You will soon discover when you properly monitor yourself, you know exactly how hard you are working towards your goals. This type of self-monitoring will put you in the frame of mind to do everything it takes to improve your physique -- and do it every day.

13. CHOOSE A MENTOR.

Finding inspiration in a person can help you get -- and stay -- in the right frame of mind. There are so many different opinions on the best ways to do everything in the areas of training, nutrition, and supplementation, Whose advice should you follow? Choose someone whom you respect, admire, or identify with in a special way. Learn his or her opinion on everything. You will be surprised when you see how their success inspires you to do the same.

14. ENTER A CONTEST.

Competition can sometimes bring out the best in what people can accomplish. In life, it is when you put your butt on the line and leave your safety zone that you achieve outstanding results.

I believe that a big reason for my development over the last several years is due to all the contests that I have entered. When there is always a contest around the corner, there is never time to ease off intense training. Pretty soon, that "contest intensity" becomes the regular standard -- not the exception. Training and eating right takes on a whole new meaning when you have to get up on stage in nothing but a tiny posing suit. Knowing that you have a show to prepare for always seems to bring out more intensity and will ensure that you are doing everything possible to build your physique.

Successful bodybuilding is only attained by those who are mentally strong. Being drug-free means you have to be even stronger mentally. Use these tips to help you develop your mind and expect a better-developed physique -- it is sure to follow!

Available NOW!
Skip La Cour's
MASS MACHINE II
Training and Instructional Video

In this amazing two-pack video presentation, Skip La Cour delivers two hours of his best bodybuilding training, and motivation expertise to help you take your training to the next level--and every higher level afterwards!

If Skip La Cour's original training video, Mass Machine: Hardcore, Heavy, and Intense!, helped you raise your standards and level of motivation in the gym, you are going to absolutely LOVE his latest contribution as a coach, role model, and motivator to passionate lifters around the world.

~~Regular Price $59.99~~

Special Introductory Price
Only $49.99

You Save $10.00 Buying This NOW!

In this two-pack video presentation, Skip La Cour delivers over two hours his best of bodybuilding training, and motivation expertise to help you take your training to the next level--and every higher level afterwards!