It’s been a long summer. You were away from school, or you spent some time away from your job. You had a lot of fun – there is no doubt about it. Maybe you did a bodybuilding show in the spring then just bounced around the gym for a few months. Your tan is fading. Your nonstop penchant for training abdominals to keep them looking good for the beach has dwindled, and your midsection appearance is suffering as a result. Whatever your reasoning is, you’re now looking at the arrival of fall and your physique isn’t what it used to be. You haven’t completely fallen off of the wagon – but it is time to get refocused. Here are some ideas for doing so.

Plan your bodybuilding goals for the next year
Training without your eye on a particular prize can be hard. Get out your calendar, check the NPC website, and select a show in which you plan to compete next year. Then, get back in the gym and train with a renewed sense of focus!

Buy new equipment
There is nothing less inviting than attempting to warm up some rice in a rice cooker that is dirty, chipped or otherwise dilapidated. Nobody likes cooking eggs, but when the Teflon is scraped from your pan and they cook unevenly, it can be way less fun. And using a blender with some miles on it that isn’t working as it should is one major deterrent when it’s time to make a mid-morning shake. You can alleviate these problems by picking up some new equipment for your cooking needs. A new blender, rice cooker, and Teflon pan can be purchased for under $60. Heck, the simple act of buying a new favorite cup from which to drink your protein shakes or a nonstop supply of water or Crystal Lite all day might be enough of a kick in the pants to invigorate your bodybuilding efforts. You’ll be a more positive chef, and you’ll follow disciplined cooking and eating patterns as a result!

Pick up some new flavors
Every year, manufacturers produce new flavors of protein bars, MRPs (meal replacement packs) and whey protein. They know that chocolate is always going to reign supreme with vanilla and strawberry close behind, but they are also aware of the fact that bodybuilders get very tired of eating those same foods day in and day out. Try a few new flavors of these products. You’ll always have your favorites, but you might be surprised how much a cookies & crème or mocha flavor will brighten up your day!

Put a mirror in a new place
One of the most ingenious inventions of the modern era is the blender with the chrome front that looks like a mirror. Sure, it won’t be winning any design awards, but the bodybuilders (who are known to be vain) who have to face this blender 2 to 4 times per day to mix a protein shake surely welcome the opportunity to see themselves as they prepare food. Use this nudge and purchase yourself a new mirror or two for motivational purposes, placing them somewhere in your home where they’ll have the most impact on you.

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