1 / Follow the "Help-Hurt Rule"
    This strategy is nothing more than a question that you keep on the tip of your tongue all the time. When in doubt, always ask, "Will this decision move me closer to my goal or farther away?"

    This may sound like a passive step, but the important decisions you make about your body aren't always big decisions. Often, they are small choices we make daily—things like if you should do a workout or skip it, what to eat for breakfast, or whether to drink just one beer or a few.

    Other decisions may be bigger, like whether to get a coach, or if you should train for a physique competition or another competitive event. Regardless of whether the decision is big or small, you need to always ask yourself if it will help you or hurt you. Does it fall in line with your goals or does it veer off the path? These decisions all add up, and the bad ones add up on your stomach.