You’re probably aware of the 7 Deadly Sins.
What you may not be aware of are their counterparts, the 4 Cardinal Virtues:
* Prudence – exercising good judgement by weighing the situation plus the outcomes and consequences of all potential choices.
* Justice – remaining fair and honest in thought, word, and deed.
* Courage – being prepared to stand up for what is right, despite fear, uncertainty, and intimidation. And,
* Temperance – practising self-control, moderation, and a willingness to delay gratification.
Traits of mind and body originally derived from Plato’s “Republic”, and later built upon by Aristotle and Cicero before being further refined by Ambrose, Augustine, and Aquinas. (The latter of which added a further three supernatural virtues – faith, hope, and charity).
All highly relevant in the pursuit of building a powerful physique, that’s for sure.
But none more so than the last on the list:
Temperance.
Why?
Everybody with a triple digit IQ understands that getting into shape takes time.
However, what few realise (through no fault of their own) is just how long it actually takes to get from where you are to where you want to be.
To give a simple example, I’ve lost count of the number of people who have told me they “just need to lose a few kilos” to get a six pack.
Losing a few kilos is something almost anyone can do quite quickly – we’re talking weeks, not months. So, they hop on some variation of a “6-week shred” and, in many cases, lose the fat.
A sterling achievement, for sure. (Most will never do anything serious to get rid of body fat – even when they acknowledge they have a problem).
However, when the six pack they so desire inevitably doesn’t materialise because it’s more than “a few kilos” away, they get disheartened and slip back into old habits or, in some cases, quit altogether.
Not interested in getting a six pack?
Fine.
The same principle applies to any goal you might want to pursue whether that’s a new personal best on the bench press, a faster 5k, anything.
They’re almost always *much* further away than you anticipate, and you should train – and think – accordingly.
Another great reason to start training for summer now instead of scrambling to get into shape (and potentially injuring yourself) a month before the weather is due to get good.
That’s why April’s issue of The Phil Tyreman Letter features a system called “Operation: Beach Body” that you can use to build a physique that looks every bit as good as it performs in preparation for the summer.
It’s a 12-week programme revolving around the most efficient and effective lifts for building strength and power, supplemented by plenty of arm, trap, and ab work because nobody argues with a man who has a thick neck, huge arms, and a strong midsection.
The deadline to subscribe in time to receive April’s issue is midnight GMT on Friday the 29th.
A subscription works out at £3.29 per day, which includes the newsletter, and direct access to me for any assistance I’m qualified to give, amongst other things.
None of this is to say you should subscribe, necessarily.
Read the below page (and subsequent Terms and Conditions page) very carefully to make sure your decision is a properly informed one:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/information/
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman
P.S. Subscribers will also enjoy a bonus in April.
Specifically, a paper-and-ink copy of my report, “14 Lessons from 14 Years of Training”.
Concise to a fault, this little gem contains fourteen of my finest nuggets of wisdom you can apply to your own training to accelerate your results (and, most importantly, retain them for years to come).