Ok, so this isn't my list, but after reading it I can say that I agree with pretty much every item on it. It's good stuff.
I tend to post a lot of references to others work, some may say it's because I have no original thoughts of my own (fair enough.....thinking is hard work!) but the truth is I read a ton of stuff and continue to stumble across things that I feel are important. Alright, enough rambling, here's the list, and the original link:
Testosterone Nation - Things I've Learned
* Keep a detailed food log, at least until you get the hang of eating right. If you aren't willing to keep a food log, don't bug me with questions about your diet and physique goals.
* Training harder will not make up for a poor diet. You can't out-train a bad diet.
* Most people will never look like a pro-bodybuilder, even if they trained the same and took the same amount of drugs. (And who wants to look like that anyway?)
* Health matters.
* Smart training is better than hard training. Ideally, you'll train hard
intelligently.
* Most people have no business using steroids. Most steroid users don't have enough knowledge to be using them. The negatives outweigh the positives with illegal usage.
* Genetic limits exist, but you're probably nowhere near yours so stop using that as an excuse.
* There is no "best" workout or diet. If someone tells you that, they're selling something.
* Listen to the experts. Read the studies. Keep up with the science. But in the end, do what works best for you.
* Stay open minded. Today's golden rules may be tomorrow's tragic fallacies.
* Protein is great. Many fats are good. Carbs are tricky little bastards.
* Squat, deadlift, chin-up, dip, bench, row. The rest is secondary.
* The effectiveness of a diet is not related to how miserable you feel while on it.
* 1RM's are overrated and often pointless, unless you're a competitive powerlifter.
* A high quality low-carb protein powder should be the first supplement you purchase every month.
* Using good form, even if you have to lift less weight, is more productive than "ego-lifting."
* Use free weights a lot. Use machines a little.
* Soft drinks and cold breakfast cereals are physique killers.
*
Weight training will not make a woman "too big" unless she's using a buttload of steroids. Those women who say that are either misinformed or making excuses. Those men who tell women that are just afraid of strong women. Weights makes women
firm, not big.
* The worst place to get advice about training or nutrition is from a professional bodybuilder.
* Until they start advertising basic free weights on TV, don't buy any training device you see on TV.
* Some people won't try certain exercises or
training programs because they're too worried about what other people in the gym will think. Don't do that.
* Being muscular won't make up for the fact that you have no social skills with women and no personality. But it's better than being a lard ass and having no social skills with women and no personality.
* You know that guy in the gym that looks the same month after month and year after year? Don't be that guy. If you are that guy, it's probably your diet, stupid.
* People who get on message boards and forums and rudely tell others that their way is the only way and everyone else is wrong are usually the most ignorant, fattest SOBs out there.
* Listen for a change in her breathing. That's the first sign. As climax nears, don't change the motion or tempo of your tongue. (Oh wait, wrong subject.)
* Overanalyzing and over-planning a future diet or workout plan can often be an excuse for not starting it. Sometimes you just have to toss the book out the window and pick up the damned weights.
* Dissatisfaction is the basis of progress. Once you become satisfied, it's over.
* You're going to get criticized no matter what you do, especially if you're trying to achieve something and rise above the flock. Do it anyway. Negative criticism from others is often a sign that you're on your way up in the world.
* People often confuse stagnation with stability.
* Building the body you want is never as easy as you think it's supposed to be. It'll take much longer than you think too. But do it anyway. The rewards are worth it and the effort can change your life for the better.
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