The Step Construct Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Alpha LifePowerful Words The Step Construct by Chris Shugart September 27, 2007June 8, 2021 Tags Opinion, Powerful Words, Strong Words Everything you do, every single decision you make, either takes you a step closer or a step further away from your goal. You either grow or you regress; nothing stands still. Got that? Good. Now, let's apply that to your training goal. First, what's your primary goal? Lose that blubbery gut? Build mountains of muscle? Bench press a Buick? Look hotter than that slut your husband left you for? Whatever your goal, get it in your head right now. Whatever you want your body to look like, visualize that physique. Maybe it's one of these below: Got it? Good. Now, imagine that you're standing on a long path that's stretching out before you. Go ahead, do it. At the end of this path is your ideal body: lean, muscular, powerful. Got it? Good. Now, imagine that every decision you make during your day regarding your diet, your training program, or your lifestyle in general, will cause you to either take one step closer to that ideal physique or one step further away. Every single daily decision every minute of the day. Everything! It should be easy to imagine this because, well, it's true. What does that mean exactly? Let's break it down: • That meal you just ate? Did it take you a step forward or backward? • What about your last scheduled workout? (Or did you skip it and take a step or two back?) • What about the substances you chose to put into your body last weekend? • Sleep levels? • Recovery methods? (Did you even use any today?) • Energy systems work and NEPA (non-exercise physical activity)? • Supplement choices and consistency of supplement usage? • Did you take the stairs or the escalator today? • Did you choose to educate yourself about something today or watch re-runs on TV? • Did you choose to perform triceps kickbacks or close-grip dips? • Right this very second, how's your posture sitting in that chair? • Did you drink a sugary cola today? Do you think that took you one step forward or one step backward? Negative actions or behaviors, even small ones, accumulate into regression — you get fatter, weaker, smaller, dumber, and sicker. Positive actions or behaviors, even small ones, accumulate into progression — you get more muscular, leaner, stronger, smarter, and healthier. I'm not trying to turn you into an anal retentive OCD sufferer. This is just a mental technique that creates both awareness and accountability. It's a construct that can keep you on the path to reaching your goals. Whether you achieve that ideal body or not is up to you and the decisions you make daily. The fault, if you fail, is yours. The success, if you achieve, is yours too. Embrace the accountability. How many steps did you take forward today? How many steps did you take backward? They add up. Got that? Good. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Alpha Life Your Doctor Your Dealer 2 I was on a journey for greater knowledge regarding our friend "Mr. T." This journey took place on foot, in person, and online. It was also well worth it. Living Better, Pharma, TRT Douglas Kalman March 7 Alpha Life Playing With Steroids Whenever a steroid story breaks, the first person they call is Dr. Charles Yesalis. Oddly enough, based on the interviews over the years, we've been led to believe that Dr. Yesalis is rabidly anti-steroid. We may have been wrong. Living Better, Pharma, TRT Chris DiEugenio November 12 Alpha Life Steroids for Dummies Everything you ever wanted to know but was afraid to ask. Living Better, Pharma, TRT Cy Willson January 5 Alpha Life Tip Good Advice on Offering Advice at the Gym That guy over there is using terrible form. Do you step in and help or not? It depends. Check out these guidelines. Opinion, Strong Words, Tips Charles Staley October 22