I always had an interest and appreciation of body building and my time at the gym gave me a passion and drive to become a bodybuilder myself. But how to go about it?
From researching the subject and investigating the best ways to go about it, I became exposed to some ideas and proceses which I was unfamiliar with such as NLP, modelling and self-hypnosis. Techniques that were being employed by World Class Bodybuilders to achieve results fast.
So I decided to bring these skills into my own routine to achieve my own set of goals. I would model myself on these bodybuilders. Follow their lead and maybe I would achieve the same results as them.

I needed to know the best way to train in a gym. When to train and how many sets and reps to use. What food to eat, when to eat, how fast to eat. My list was long. But as I explored these amazing self-help techniques I found I could not only focus on training my mind, but understand how my thought processes work. I also understood how easy it was to shape my behaviours in order not to achieve anything I wanted.

I knew that in order to look like my role models, I needed to bulk up. The only way to do that was eating of course. But I didn't want to turn all that food into fat. So I set myself a goal of increasing my weight by just over 2 lbs per month. Using my newfound NLP techniques and self discipline, I was able to stay true to my plan and achieve a self imposed goal of five years.
5 years later I weighed a lean 18.1/2 stone adding 10 stone of lean muscle to my frame. My body was defined and sculpted and I was now able to compete in National Competitions as a bodybuilder. Competitions I am happy and very proud to say I won.

My curiosity now piqued about these skills, I decided to apply them to a different goal. I knew how to increase my weight while staying lean, but could I lose weight using self-hypnosis too?
So I decided to diet down for an upcoming holiday. 8 weeks later, I had lost 4 stone and had just 7% body fat. But I had also lost too much muscle size.
I knew instantly the flaws in my program. Instead of losing 1 lb every day, I should have lost 1 to 2 lb per week.

1. EAT A HEALTHY BALANCED DIET
A good balance of your diet should consist of 30% to 40% 1st class protein needed to build and maintain muscle. 50% to 60% complex carbohydrates needed for energy and 10% to 20% fats, essential for cell development and functions. Include your green leafy vegetables.

2.TAKE REGULAR EXERCISE
You should exercise 3 times a week, the earlier in the day the better, if you do aerobic exercise before breakfast you can burn body fat, after you will burn carbohydrates. Exercise can also speed up your metabolism for up to 6 or 7 hours afterwards.

3. DO NOT EAT LARGE OR UNHEALTHY MEALS BEFORE BED
If you have too much fat or carbohydrates your body will not burn it off as energy but store it as fat.

4. EAT SMALL MEALS FREQUENTLY
If you only have 1 or 2 large meals a day your body’s metabolism slows down but then when you do eat it will hold onto every bit.

5. DRINK WATER
Drink a glass every one to two hours, if you are dehydrated the feeling is similar to being hungry, drink water first.

6. PLAN YOUR MEAL AND BE PREPARED
Having all the right foods in the fridge or at work will help stop temptation.

7. USE A DIARY FOR 7 DAYS
This will help to give you a picture of how much and what you eat.

8. DO NOT DIET
Think of it as changing the way you eat because a diet is something you do to lose weight, then when you come off your diet you generally put the weight back on.

9. TREAT YOURSELF
Once week treat yourself to anything you like.

10. SET A REALISTIC GOAL
Don't try to lose too much too quick.