“The secret to being successful at something you really want to do is to try, try and continue to keep trying until you succeed.” – Kai Greene
KAI GREENE: WORK OF ART
The human body is a work of art, and when an artist like Kai Greene pushes the human body to its limits, the result is nothing short of a masterpiece.
TOP 5 WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF
Stay motivated this weekend with these helpful tips.
We’ve all been there before. We’ve all had that voice in our head telling us, “Not today. You’re too tired. You deserve a day off. There’s always tomorrow…” That voice can be a persuasive one and it can be hard to shake once it’s wedged its way into your thoughts.
But you also know that in order to be your best, you have to ignore that voice. You have to always push yourself, especially on those days when you just don’t feel like it. So how do you do that? Below, we’ve listed the top 5 ways to motivate yourself and ensure that you never let negativity or laziness stop you from working your body to its fullest potential.
#1: CREATE A ROUTINE AND STICK TO IT
Consider your daily schedule and decide where you can fit in your workout. Move things around or cut out something less essential if you need to but find at least one hour a day you can dedicate to working out. It is important to work out at the same time every day if possible so that you can get into a steady routine. This way, you can never tell yourself you have something else to do. That hour is for working out and nothing else.
Once you have your routine started, stick to it and don’t make exceptions. Consistency and regularity are the most surefire ways to get results.
#2: START WITH THE HARDEST
After you’ve finished stretching and warming up, tackle your toughest challenge first.
Whatever exercise you dread the most, start there. Once you’ve done that, you’ll notice two things. One, you’ll feel great having beaten your biggest challenge. Two, the positive energy you create from doing that will give you the downhill momentum to finish the rest of your workout. End on your favorite exercise so that you have something to look forward to.
#3: SET SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM GOALS
When you work out today, try to top what you did yesterday. How many reps did you do yesterday? How far did you run? How much weight did you lift? See if you can reach a given goal for each exercise by the end of the week.
Set monthly goals too. What do you want to weigh by the start of next month? Which specific muscles do you want to see improvement with? Write down specific goals, post them in the room you work out in and check them off as you complete them.
#4: TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF
Arnold Schwarzenegger said that bodybuilders are like sculptors. They look at their bodies, decide which muscles need work and then chisel away until their vision for themselves has been achieved. Take a picture of yourself and study it. What muscles do you want to chisel? Once you know where you need to improve you can begin designing your workout routine around those goals. Take a picture the first day of every month and keep these pictures in one place so you can chart your progress.
#5: CHOOSE A MANTRA
This will be the phrase you say to yourself when you’re lying in bed and don’t want to wake up and start your workout. This will be what you say to yourself when your body is struggling to do that last rep. “Don’t quit now.” “This is nothing.” “Another.” These are just a few of the mantras from our Generation Iron athletes. What’s your mantra?
Let us know on Twitter or Facebook the word or phrase that gets you going and motivates you when your body desperately wants to quit but you refuse to let it.
DENNIS WOLF SPOTTED WEARING GI APPAREL
Guten Tag, GI Nation! Generation Iron star Dennis Wolf was spotted in an orchard sporting his GI Monsta Gym Hoodie. Grab your GI Apparel today!
HIDETADA YAMAGISHI SPOTTED WEARING GI APPAREL
Greetings, GI Nation! Generation Iron star Hidetada Yamagishi was seen working out at Gold’s Gym in Venice, CA. He was sporting a white Generation Iron Signature T-Shirt and a Monsta Hat. If you like the way he looks, don’t wait! Grab your GI Apparel now!
CREATE YOUR ULTIMATE WORKOUT ZONE
All the best bodybuilders and fitness athletes understand that once you’ve decided what muscles you are going to work and how you are going to work them, a more practical question enters the equation. Where do you work out? Not everyone has the time to drive to the gym every day or the money to plunk down for a monthly membership. So what do you do then? The answer is simple. Create a personalized workout zone at home.
Where to Work Out
Choose a room in your house where you know you won’t be interrupted and where you won’t disturb others. Basements are an ideal choice because of their seclusion and natural soundproofing. If you have the luxury of a spare room, take advantage of it. Soundproof the walls and stock the room with all the necessary gear. Dumbbells, a bench press and a treadmill are all staples of any home gym, but as you improve your strength you’ll want bigger and better machines to work out with.
Temperature is an important factor to consider. While some people swear that nothing beats sweating bullets during an extreme workout, plenty of others feel perfectly comfortable in a cooler environment. A middle ground temperature between 68 and 70 degrees is a smart move and will reduce your risk of overheating and passing out. Don’t worry; you’ll still get your sweat on if you’re truly working hard enough.
What to Work Out On
Go to any home supplies store and buy some padding. This will come into play when you’re doing crunches or other floor exercises. A large mat with a nonslip bottom is best, particularly if you’re working out in a room with a hardwood floor or tiling. Don’t have a mat or pad available? Just grab some thick towels from the bathroom and lay those down instead for now.
The Best Workout Music
Want to know the best part about working out at home instead of going to the gym? You can play whatever music you want, as loud as you want. (Of course, the volume might be an issue if you have neighbors but this is why you should choose a relatively secluded room or get some soundproofing.) Hook your iPod up to some speakers or – if you’re old school – keep a stereo in the room.
Once you’ve got some solid speakers that you can crank the jams on, choose what music you’re going to listen to. Whether it’s the abrasive energy of hardcore metal, the infectious rhythm of hip-hop or the steady pulse of electronic music, choose the style or genre you know will motivate you to work hard. When your body is shaking and begging you to quit, what do you need your soundtrack to be to push you through those moments?
The Ultimate Workout Zone
Make sure you have a few essential items handy in your home gym. A towel or cloth is a good item to keep around, especially if you’ll be sweating on your equipment. Also keep a glass of water or a water bottle nearby so you stay hydrated.
No need to worry about locker rooms or public bathrooms when you’re working out at home. Just hop into the shower, wash up and you’re good to go. Now you can relax with the knowledge that your ultimate workout zone is right in the next room waiting for you to push yourself even further tomorrow.
KAI GREENE SPOTTED WEARING GI APPAREL
Kai Greene was spotted by the Hollywood paparazzi over the holiday weekend wearing some Generation Iron apparel.
VICTOR MARTINEZ – FITNESS. ATTITUDE. LIFESTYLE.
“I had choices… Stop and quit now, or recover and continue. And I chose the hard way because quitting is easy and overcoming [your obstacles] is not.” – Victor Martinez
Victor Martinez explains how bodybuilding helped him get through difficult periods in his life, and reflects on the future of bodybuilding as a sport and a lifestyle.
GENERATION IRON INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
Generation Iron Official store is proud to offer international shipping for all our customers world-wide.
Our rates varies depending on location and the total weight of your package.
WELCOME TO GI OFFICIAL!
Welcome to the Generation Iron Official Merchandise Store where you will find a wide selection of G.I. merch gear and Memorabilia. Generation Iron is the #1 Documentary in America and has captured the eyes and the hearts of its audience members. Be sure to check out Generation Iron in select Cities.
