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One of the reasons that people get discouraged with their bodybuilding program is lack of realistic goals.  I always say, aim high but you need to be realistic. For instance, if on the next 12 weeks you plan on losing 50 lbs of fat and replacing them with 50 lbs of muscle, then that is unrealistic.

Instead, settle for a loss of 1.5 to 2 lbs on the average per week and that will equate to 18-24 lbs in 12 weeks! After that, with twelve more weeks of dieting you will accomplish your long-term 50-lb fat loss.

When it comes to muscle gain however you really need to be patient. If you have 14-inch arms, do not expect them to be 18 by the end of 12 weeks. Instead settle for ¼ - ½ of an inch. If however, you are an advanced stage, like myself for instance, it took me a year and a half to get my arms from 18 inches to 18.5 inches. Therefore, the more advanced you are, the more patient you need to be.

In bodybuilding, patience and perseverance will be your best allies. For more information on goal setting and having the right bodybuilding mindset, please take a look at my articles below:

• The Power of Goal Setting
  
  
• The Mindset of a Successful Bodybuilder
  
  
• The Formula For Boybuilding Success
  
  
• Mind Over Muscle
  
  
• Top 5 Reasons Why Bodybuilders Fail to Achieve Bodybuilding Gains
  
  
• Bodybuilding FAQ - How Can I Get Big and Lose Fat at the Same Time?

Set Realistic and Measurable Goals for Bodybuilding Success originally appeared on About.com Bodybuilding on Thursday, May 17th, 2012 at 16:05:25.

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One of the most powerful tips that I can share with you for fast bodybuilding results is to keep a food journal. You can either use pen and paper or a program like Microsoft Excel (which is what I use). But being able to know what foods you eat and in what quantities is what differentiates the people that make the quickest bodybuilding results from those that do not. By having a food journal you can keep track of how many protein, fats and carbs you take in on a daily basis and thus, you can start adjusting your nutrition in order to make gains in muscle without gains in body fat, or in order to lose body fat while gaining muscle. You can also make notes as to which foods your body responds better.

At first, it takes work to set the journal up and you may not be used to measuring your food and then writing down the proteins, carbs and fats of every item but I promise you that the work is well worth it (as any competitive athlete can tell you) and it gets easier with time. So even if you don't do bodybuilding competitions but want to get in the best shape possible, implement this tip that us competitors use and you will see the difference that it makes!

Keep a Food Journal For Fast Bodybuilding Results! originally appeared on About.com Bodybuilding on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 10:00:03.

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