Susan Boyle Inspires Bodybuilder

Bodybuilders should be inspired by Susan Boyle. She represents the classic story of judging a book by its cover. Talent is a combination of good genetics (notice I said "good" and not "perfect"), hard work, and perseverance. Talent is not merely what you see on the outside. This goes for singers, but bodybuilders as well.

The sport of bodybuilding is judged by many criteria. But what may not be in the rule book, is definitely in the mind's of the judges. What they're looking for is someone with confidence. Someone that knows who they are, where they've been, where they're headed, and what they're worth. You can look great on-stage, but if you haven't been meticulous enough in your mental preparation... this can easily bring you down to the bottom of the echelon.

So why is Susan Boyle a great source of motivation for anyone who's been thinking about competing, however doesn't quite believe in themselves enough to say I look good... and I'm gonna win!? Well, the mind can affect your performance as a bodybuilder... and Susan Boyle is a perfect example of that. On the hit TV talent show "Britain's Got Talent", she had everyone against her from the very moment she walked on-stage. They immediately judged her by the way she looked. She introduced herself, and still received a negative response from the audience. But when it came time to sing, just as a bodybuilder would pose on stage, she wowed everyone in the room. Their idea of her changed because she was ready, embraced the moment, and did her best. Susan Boyle later spoke about her faith in God, and how this has helped her to focus, and to believe in herself. I truly believe that if she would have given the exact same performance... but this time displaying slightly less enthusiasm in her face, and did NOT believe in herself... she would've gotten thumbs down from the three judges. Simon probably would have said something along the lines of "I don't think you're ready to take on the best in this competition", instead of holding his face like a little kid in a candy store.

In any case, many young bodybuilders don't understand the importance of being mentally strong... to be disciplined enough (with their training, eating, sleeping) during the off-season and pre-season as well as to ultimately pose better on stage. Most natural bodybuilders seem to compete and get their pro cards at an older age, which doesn't surprise me at all. This is because I know that it takes a great deal of dedication to the sport to eventually arrive at the top. Susan Boyle probably had the entire village where she's from, tell her to stay home and not make a fool out of herself. Well, her mind was strong enough to form a resistance to that sort of criticism... and if your goal is to compete as a bodybuilder, you should be training your mind just as much as your body.

Bodybuilding is a 24-hour sport. This sort of commitment takes a toll on your family, social life, work life, and even on your body at times (as the physical preparation could be detrimental to your health in those last few days leading up to a bodybuilding competition). You're going to be lean, but also dry (meaning extremely dehydrated). With all of this going on, you still have to manage enough energy to pose on stage (and keep a smile OR a straight look on your face). You need to connect with the audience, but especially the judges. Your sugars and salts will be so depleted that once the competition is over, you'll only be able to slowly integrate specific foods in your diet. Eating high-sodium potato chips, for example, would dehydrate you even further... and may kill you (but let's stay positive, most aspects of natural bodybuilding are great).

I just wanted to post this article to show you that you can achieve all of your goals and dreams, but you have to be ready for them. Start preparing, and most importantly, believe in yourself. The person that looks the best, or has the best genetics is rarely the one that ends up going the furthest and winning the competition. Champions are made, not born. First see it in your mind... then, DO IT! (By the way, you can improve your brain chemistry by taking in quality nutritional supplements)