The 10 Most Dangerous Pitfalls To Making Bodybuilding Progress In Your Physique

8. Not Competing: Not everybody wants to become a competitive bodybuilder. Competing bodybuilders are those who enter bodybuilding competitions such as those sanctioned by the NPC around the country. But there are other ways of competing that don't involve stepping onto the posing dais.

You should compete against yourself at least once per year. But if not on the contest stage, then how do you compete against yourself? Quite simply, set a 10-12 week timeline to get into the best condition possible.

During this time, commit to restricting your calories and increasing your aerobic activities and training to shed excess body fat, just like you would if you were competing against others in a bodybuilding show. Take before pictures and after pictures.

The best time of the year to do this is in the spring after a heavy fall and winter phase of mass building. It is my experience that I have become a better bodybuilder after each of my competition periods. Why? Because "cutting up" does several things for you:

First, it gives your digestive system a break from all of the extra calories during the year. This makes it more efficient, so that when you do start increasing your calories again, your absorption of nutrients is improved.

Secondly, dieting down combined with hard training results in the release of growth hormone, which helps the physique to grow again in the post diet phase.

Third, muscle quality improves. Most pre-contest training consists of higher repetitions and more sets, which contributes to muscle quality, i.e., muscularity, vascularity, and separation. Most importantly, competing gives you a clear idea of just how good your physique truly is, and helps you identify weak points and strong points.

If you want a forum to help you compete against yourself, enter the 12 week Lean Body Challenge by visiting www.leanbodycoach.com and signing up for my free weekly on-line newsletter. I will help you.

9. Skipping Workouts: If you want to grow, consistency is the key. Your system is a biological organism, and as such, it needs stimulation at regular intervals. For maximum progress, you must keep a regular schedule. Skipping workouts just retards progress, and at the very best is a step backwards.

Now, every so often I will either skip a workout or do a lighter workout intentionally if I'm feeling that my body is not completely recovered. However, skipping multiple workouts for no reason other than it didn't fit in your schedule or you just didn't feel like it is a losing proposition.

This sets you up for failure both physically and mentally. Physically because you won't see the progress you desire and mentally because it creates a bad habit. Stay consistent with your workouts and you will enjoy the best results.

10. Failing To Expand Your Horizons: This is a pitfall that primarily plagues bodybuilders who are well advanced in the number of training years. What happens is that these advanced bodybuilders get set in their ways and develop hard and fast habits, which are hard to break.

Most of these advanced bodybuilders are so sure that what they're doing is right and that their way of training is the only way of training that they fail to expand their horizons by trying new things. New techniques should be incorporated from time to time. By trying out new things, you can break out of training plateaus and enjoy new muscle growth.

While it's important to keep your base of fundamental exercise, it is also important to try new things to jar muscle growth. It is also important to use a variety of exercises both to round out your physique and keep your workouts fresh. Keeping your bodybuilding workouts fresh not only helps you to develop more muscle in but also keeps the workouts interesting, an important factor in keeping your motivation high.

Bodybuilding is a journey. It takes time to do it right and learning how to identify and avoid these common pitfalls can speed you along your way. Take stock of your workout, nutrition and rest habits today and challenge yourself to improve. By doing so you can bet that you will improve your physique.

About The Author

Lee Labrada, is a former IFBB Mr. Universe and IFFB Pro World Cup winner. He is one of few men in history to place in the top four in the Mr. Olympia seven consecutive times, and was recently inducted into the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Hall of Fame. Lee is President/CEO of Houston-based Labrada Nutrition.