May 16, 2008
The Step Construct
The Step Construct
by Chris Sugart
Everything you do, every single decision you make, either takes you a step closer or a step further away from your goal. You either grow or you regress; nothing stands still. That’s life plain and simple, now, let’s apply that to your training goal. First, what’s your primary goal? Lose that blubbery gut? Build mountains of muscle? Bench press a Buick? Fit into that red dress, or two piece bathing suit? Look hotter than that than that girl next door?
Whatever your goal, get it in your head right now. Whatever you want your body to look like, visualize that physique. Now, imagine that you’re standing on a long path that’s stretching out before you. Go ahead, do it. At the end of this path is your ideal body: lean, muscular, powerful.
Now, imagine that every decision you make during your day regarding your diet, your training program, or your lifestyle in general, will cause you to either take one step closer to that ideal physique or one step further away. Every single daily decision every minute of the day. Everything! It should be easy to imagine this because, well, it’s true.
What does that mean exactly? Let’s break it down:
• That meal you just ate? Did it take you a step forward or backward?
• What about your last scheduled workout? (Or did you skip it and take a step or two back?)
• What about the substances you chose to put into your body last weekend?
• Sleep levels?
• Recovery methods? (Did you even use any today?)
• Energy systems work and NEPA (non-exercise physical activity)?
• Breakfast, did you eat it or skip it?
• Did you take the stairs or the escalator today?
• Did you choose to educate yourself about something today or watch re-runs on TV?
• Did you finish your workout out or throw in the towel?
• Right this very second, how’s your posture sitting in that chair?
• Did you drink a sugary cola today? Do you think that took you one step forward or one step backward?
Negative actions or behaviors, even small ones, accumulate into regression — you get fatter, weaker, smaller, dumber, and sicker. Positive actions or behaviors, even small ones, accumulate into progression — you get more muscular, leaner, stronger, smarter, and healthier.
I’m not trying to turn you into an anal retentive OCD sufferer. This is just a mental technique that creates both awareness and accountability. It’s a construct that can keep you on the path to reaching your goals.
Embrace the accountability, and start to work, I mean really work.
How many steps did you take forward today? How many steps did you take backward? They add up.
Got that? Good.
It’s not the will to win that matters...everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.
—Paul “Bear” Bryant
This is for your Rick, oh and WAR EAGLE by the way.