PERSPECTIVE- THE KEY TO PROGRESS

As I am spending a few days in Germany for some rest and recovery, I can not help it but to be amazed at the discrepancy of what is written in the press and what I see.

According to the media, the end is nigh…Euro zone breaking apart, being overrun by Muslims, meteor strikes imminent…
Just to give you an idea, my hometown took in a number of refugees that amounts to about 10% of its population . Imagine NYC having to host 800 K Syrians…hello, Mayor Trump!

And yet as I look around I see well kept houses, the Autobahn still has no holes, people are clothed and well fed ( some a bit too much ) but there are no signs of the impending apocalypse.

What is going on? Perspective, or lack thereof.
Everyone only knows his/ her reality ( expect me, of course), so the slightest change or perceived threat can easily be blown out of proportion.
Add to that that we can make our own news today by allowing Google or Facebook only to show us what we like/agree with and you have a homemade psychosis.

What does this have to do with bodybuilding?

A whole lot. Bodybuilding is very subjective. Sure, you can write down your weights, reps, body weight, body fat but in the end what matters is what we look like or what we think we look like.
Therein lies the danger, especially if you are prepping for a big event or are feeling like you are stuck in a plateau. You end up evaluating yourself every 30 seconds which is pretty much a sure fire way to driving yourself and your coach insane.

What is do be done? You are asking the poster boy for body dysmorphia for advice?

Ok, I shall do my best.
For starters, you could go to a public pool and feel like superman but that sounds snobbish , even by my standards. But leaving the bubble is a good start.
1. Keep pictures from when you started, ideally taken at the same spot. Every 6-8 weeks would be a good time interval a good to spot significant differences

2. Give yourself some credit for the things you do. It is not easy to make always the right choices, so if you are 80 % on track you are doing great.

3. Evaluate and test. Ideally programs should run for 4-5 weeks with one specific goal per micro cycle. Once you complete the program, rest for a few days and move on to the next.

4. Leave the gym and do something else. Take a walk, talk to people, bring the cortisol down…trust me  you ll look great.

Happy Labor Day!

NYC Personal Trainer Maik Wiedenbach

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