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I see it every day. Young bucks come into gym in their high school years and train and make astounding gains and begin to think about bodybuilding. Testosterone is at its peak during these years and just seems they cant get enough of the gym or the results they are achieving. By the time the senior year rolls around, they are at their peak physically. It came so easily, it seems, that development will stay forever.

However life begins to change after high school. College starts in the fall or perhaps you start a full time job. Distractions are everywhere. Many football, baseball and wrestling jocks of high school no longer shine above their college competition and most do not continue disciplined organized sports that once brought you to the gym in the first place.

Besides not playing the sports, studies are now more time consuming. The food is all you can eat at the student cafeteria and, well, beer parties are everywhere. This is the most fun ever, you think. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, no time was found for the gym and you are well on way to the freshman fifteen. That is the fifteen pounds of smoothing fat that you picked up during the first year on your own away from home. Bodybuilding was but a memory back home.

Spring rolls around and you are back home for the summer. But wow have you changed? Heavier, smoother and where did those muscles go? You return to the gym for the summer to get in shape. You find it is next to impossible to return the body to its former ripped state much less building up this summer.

My point here guys, bodybuilding is not for the weak willed. If you want to continue to be in shape you must plan the discipline of working out if you are going to have the better body. Bodybuilding is tough. Dont kid yourself. If it was easy everyone would be in shape.

So what should you do? Well if you are college bound do the following:

-During campus visit check out the gym facilities. Determine if the equipment is suitable to meet your bodybuilding needs.

-Do your campus visit during the normal school year to get a feel for the people that are going. Is the gym too crowded (undersized for the campus)? What is the attitude of those training, motivational or passively active.

-How close is the gym to the living quarters? Is it convenient?

-What are the food choices at the cafeteria? Can I get the high protein foods? Is food overly processed? What are the off campus choices?

Now I am not saying that you make your college selection based solely upon the gym facilities but it should be a factor if you are serious about your training.

-Finally once you arrive at college, review your class schedule. Then clearly plan a workout time along with your study and class time. If you have to put a routine in the morning, just do it.

-Settle into a routine and stick to it.

-Dont stay up so late. You need your rest to recover from workouts and besides late nights will cause you to want to sleep through that morning routine.

-Lay off alcohol. Its catabolic; meaning it works to strip your muscles off. It acts on the body the opposite of steroids. Its bad news. It will take you places you dont want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you can imagine.

-Eat right. Do I need to say more?

-Read a bodybuilding magazine periodically to keep your focus.

-Hang out with those that are in the gym. They are a better influence in keeping you disciplined.

Okay there you have it. Stay with your training and your freshman fifteen will be MUSCLE not flab!