Bodybuilding.com - Training For A Purpose!

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Do you want a better body? How much are you willing to pay for it? Many people are willing to pay a lot of money but NOT willing to pay in terms of effort. Check out these tips from the babyboomers on how to get your dream body...

By: Babyboomers

Training For A Purpose!

Do you want a better body? How much are you willing to pay for it? Many people are willing to pay a lot of money but NOT willing to pay in terms of effort.

Richard: One of the things that always amazed me was how much waste of time I see in health clubs. People pay good money to train at a professional health club, and yet year after year they look the same. Some look as if they never picked up a weight. I know we all have different genetic potentials for building our bodies, and that some people will never have a "great" body no matter what they do, but everyone can have a better body through proper training than they would otherwise.

The single most important project you should do for yourself is figure out the specific changes you want to make in your physique. Once you have those in mind, you must determine a precise program that will bring about those changes.

Diane: After watching people make physique changes and comparing those that achieve goals with those that are working hard while remaining the same, the difference is in the commitment to the goal.

Those fellow gym rats that train with a purpose at each training session, attack each cardio session with a vision to burn fat AND stick to a nutrition program are achieving success. Think about it? Are you training for a purpose? Are you completely committed to altering your physique?

Most failures to achieve progress seem to me to stem from the following mistakes:

Staying Loyal To Exercises That Don't Work.

Many gym members continue with the same weight lifting exercises week after week, month after month, and year after year, without getting results.

Richard: When questioned about continuing with the same exercises, here's what we've learned from our fellow baby boomer readers.

"I saw the exercise in a magazine."
"Joe (shown to right) told me that this was the "secret" to building big delts."
"This exercise worked for that guy that just won the local contest."

Joe said, "...this is the secret to building big delts. Look at how I can raise my hands up like this... If I didn't know how to build big delts, why would I be doing this...?"

Diane: Remember Baby Boomers, if an exercise is not producing the desired results, you need to do some research. Hit the books and start looking at alternatives. Or, check with a certified AND qualified fitness trainer (more on this topic coming real soon!) that can help you develop alternative exercises that will produce a legendary physique.

Changing Exercises That Do Work.

When lifters find exercises that produce desired results, stick with it!

Richard: I've seen lifters change their workout every week. I preach periodization myself, but there is no set time to change an exercise or entire routine. The rule of thumb I use is "if it ain't broken, don't fix it."

In other words, if an exercise is still producing results, why remove it from your training program? I'll never understand that. Sometimes I'll use a certain exercise for YEARS without dropping it out of my routine. Other exercises may only be there for weeks.

The deciding factor is "body signs." Learn to listen to the signals your body is giving you. Are you still getting a good pump or a full exhaustion in the particular muscle group you are working? Are you still excited about do the exercise in question? If the answers to these question is yes, then don't change a thing!

Diane: This is a common problem! Many baby boomers start making great progress toward physique goals and are unsatisfied with the results. Often, the hard work gains towards an efficient metabolic machine that is gaining lean muscle mass is compromised with an attempt at a fad training theory.

Learn more about different diets and find out which diet would be best for you, click here.

Not Understanding How To Determine Which Exercises Work Best For The Individual.

Just because a particular exercise works for Dave Draper, Larry Scott, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cory Everson, or Juliette Bergman, doesn't mean it's going to work for you.

Juliette Bergmann at the 2003 Arnold Classic.

Richard: We all have different bone lengths and tendon insertions that determine leverage and therefore which exercises work best for us as individuals. At this point, the only way you can determine which exercises are biomechanically suited for your particular physiology is trial-and-error.

Diane: Think about slow and fast twitch muscle fibers that determine athletic success as an endurance or power athlete. Genetically, some of us will have more success as power athletes, while others will have more success in endurance sports.

If your physiological framework is composed of muscle fibers for endurance sports, you will not make the same gains as the power athlete following high weight, low rep routines. So, don't make a change simply because fellow Baby Boomer gym rats with different genetic make-ups are making gains. Stick with what works for you.

Lack Of Focus On The Goal While Doing The Exercise.

Another major cause of little or no progress in developing a superior body is lack of goal setting and lack of focusing on each exercise as it is executed. In order to drive the body to achieve the desired results, a clear focus on those goals is absolutely essential.

We've addressed motivation and focus in previous articles:

Ignoring The Importance Of Accelerating Progress With Increasing Intensity & A Progressively Tighter Nutrition Program.

We've also addressed the overload principle and the importance of nutrition on a number of occasions. If you are not going to pay attention to your food intake you are spinning your wheels as far as attaining that ideal physique.

As baby boomers with time crunched schedules we need to be efficient and effective in the gym. Training with a purpose will help create and reach your legendary physique goals.

Bonus:
Daily Calorie Calculator & Fat Loss Tips

Caloric Needs Calculator

Not sure how many calories you need to take in daily? Use this easy calculator to find out.

Be sure to check out Diane and Richards site www.legendaryfitness.com.

Train hard, train smart and train with a purpose!
Diane Fields, Member. Legendary Fitness, LLC.
Richard Baldwin, Member. Legendary Physique, LLC.

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All submitted photos become property of Legendary Fitness, LLC; submission shall constitute a grant to the use of your photos and information as we deem appropriate.

The advice given in this column should not be viewed as a substitute for professional medical services. Before undertaking any exercise or nutrition program, Legendary Fitness, LLC advises all to undergo a thorough medical examination and get permission from their personal physician.

Babyboomers
fitnessgirl56@yahoo.com

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