What's one vital component you prefer?

[titanxvx]

I would like to hear about that one component or supplement of your bodybuilding-fitness lifestyle that if removed, would have a hard time substituting to obtain the same results. Try to avoid general answers like "protein" or "hard work". But if you have a certain type or brand of protein or workout procedure, supplement, steroid, stimulant or voodoo. No limits here, just honest answers hopefully.
This is a question that everybody has an answer for. So hopefully we will get a response from every member of this forum.

I'll start it off with mine..It's cycling. Mostly outdoors but also spin classes indoors. I found that riding a bike (no, I don't wear the tight fitting shorts!) was a pleasant way to get my needed cardio-fat burning without feeling like I was being punished.

What's yours?

[Grim83]

the weights or food

[BendtheBar]

Rest-pause. I limit rest between all sets, even if it's as long as 2 minutes between squat sets. It keeps my head in the game, my heart pumping, my joints and muscles warm, and increases my strength endurance.

My entire body is never given a chance to recover. I love rest pause, and if I couldn't do it, my workouts would be dull as hell.

Good question BTW.

[BendtheBar]

I want to add some things, as this thread has me thinking.

Food wise, when I'm cutting I eat a boat load of pickles, apples and tomatoes. Take those away, and I binge eat.

I also NEED a morning protein bar with coffee. I need sugar out of bed. Generally it's a Clifs bar, or a South Beach Cinnamon protein bar.

[TitanWIP]

I eat a Met RX Big 100 bar after working out. If I don't have one, I get pissy.

[kman025]

Originally Posted by TitanWIP

I eat a Met RX Big 100 bar after working out. If I don't have one, I get pissy.

for some reason when i have one before a hard workout i feel like im gonna puke, even if its like an hour or me before.

just sayin

[kitarpyar]

Milk.

Wasn't much of a milk drinker earlier. But then ran a couple of cycles of milk and squats, and all of a sudden that is THE most essential component for me. Milk after waking up, milk in the afternoon, milk pre-workout and milk post-workout. Milk before bed, to end my day. Usually, I take in another glass with lunch and sometimes one more with a snack, so that's at least 5 glasses of milk a day, sometimes 7, which amounts to somewhere between 0.5-0.75 gallons a day.

[kitarpyar]

Originally Posted by titanxvx

I'll start it off with mine..It's cycling. Mostly outdoors but also spin classes indoors. I found that riding a bike (no, I don't wear the tight fitting shorts!) was a pleasant way to get my needed cardio-fat burning without feeling like I was being punished.

What's yours?

gotta agree with this. Love cycling, especially outdoors. Good cardio, but does not feel like a cardio. Plus the woods and the fresh air. Possibly with the exception of swimming (although I dont swim much) and rowing a boat, cycling is the most fun cardio for me.

[kman025]

Originally Posted by kitarpyar

Milk.

Wasn't much of a milk drinker earlier. But then ran a couple of cycles of milk and squats, and all of a sudden that is THE most essential component for me. Milk after waking up, milk in the afternoon, milk pre-workout and milk post-workout. Milk before bed, to end my day. Usually, I take in another glass with lunch and sometimes one more with a snack, so that's at least 5 glasses of milk a day, sometimes 7, which amounts to somewhere between 0.5-0.75 gallons a day.

this i driink about a half gallon a day(more or less). only i mostly drink chocalte milk. Its also my post workout "supp", but i cant have it before or i'll puke.

[Bodybygamma]

Music/Mp3 Player, my gym plays such shitty music for a place that has all this awesome powerlifting and strongman equipment. Any time I set a pr, its 90% attributed to my MP3 player. If I have to here shit crap music I go insane and can't focus on my lifts with the same intensity.