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We typically will ask a person here when they propose a cycle or training program or even just in an intro thread - "what's the goal?" The answers of course vary as all goals should be very individual. I think most frequently what we see though is "I want to gain 10lbs of muscle drop from 20% to 10% BF, squat and deadlift over 5 and bench 315 for reps."
Now what is so bad about that? Shoot for the starts right!
Not quite. Your endgame can be lofty, but let's talk about how to set real goals and how to frame them.
First - all goals should be positive. "Not eating poptarts intra-workout" is a lousy goal. Not because poptarts are delicious, nutritious, anabolic and anti-catabolic but because you framed it negatively. Removing the word "NOT" from that goal is one way to make it positive; however, you're still eating something you apparently don't want to eat. Substitute it. Instead, maybe say - intra-workout I will have a bcaa dextrose drink.
Second - You need to set a time frame! I have fallen into this trap. I had a goal of tipping the scale at 300lbs. Along the way I would divert from that goal from time to time because my blood pressure would go up, or I would feel fat and my pants didn't fit, or I couldn't tie my shoes. Those diversions happened because there was no day on a calendar anywhere that said "you will weight 300lbs today." After recognizing this fact, I got back to it with a date 1.5 years out. I fought thru every issue that came my way - blood pressure, I cut sugars and sodium and took cialis - Couldn't tie my shoes, so I bought slip ons - getting too fat, I bought new pants. Eventually I reached 287 and my wife was going to kill me and had to bail on it. But at least I understood at this point that with an end date you have some pressure and accountability.
Third - Be realistic! If you bench 185 for 2 sets of 5 on "chest day" stop talking about benching 315. Evaluate your training program to see how you can progress to the next benchmark in manhood - like say 225 for a double. If you don't understand periodization or programming in any way, ask here. There are several guys on this board that can get you where you want to be.
I'm curious to hear how some of you set out your goals...
Now what is so bad about that? Shoot for the starts right!
Not quite. Your endgame can be lofty, but let's talk about how to set real goals and how to frame them.
First - all goals should be positive. "Not eating poptarts intra-workout" is a lousy goal. Not because poptarts are delicious, nutritious, anabolic and anti-catabolic but because you framed it negatively. Removing the word "NOT" from that goal is one way to make it positive; however, you're still eating something you apparently don't want to eat. Substitute it. Instead, maybe say - intra-workout I will have a bcaa dextrose drink.
Second - You need to set a time frame! I have fallen into this trap. I had a goal of tipping the scale at 300lbs. Along the way I would divert from that goal from time to time because my blood pressure would go up, or I would feel fat and my pants didn't fit, or I couldn't tie my shoes. Those diversions happened because there was no day on a calendar anywhere that said "you will weight 300lbs today." After recognizing this fact, I got back to it with a date 1.5 years out. I fought thru every issue that came my way - blood pressure, I cut sugars and sodium and took cialis - Couldn't tie my shoes, so I bought slip ons - getting too fat, I bought new pants. Eventually I reached 287 and my wife was going to kill me and had to bail on it. But at least I understood at this point that with an end date you have some pressure and accountability.
Third - Be realistic! If you bench 185 for 2 sets of 5 on "chest day" stop talking about benching 315. Evaluate your training program to see how you can progress to the next benchmark in manhood - like say 225 for a double. If you don't understand periodization or programming in any way, ask here. There are several guys on this board that can get you where you want to be.
I'm curious to hear how some of you set out your goals...