It’s time to take inventory of yourself.
Sometime soon, stand in front of a full-length mirror and evaluate the person you see. As you study the kid in the mirror, ask yourself some honest questions: Who am I? Is this the best me? Is there room for improvement? What can I change? What must I accept about myself?
Next, vow to God and to yourself to make the most out of what you have. Seek to improve the things that are within your power to change, and accept what you cannot change.
Ask the Lord to help you make up for your weaknesses by concentrating on your strengths. In other words, if you’re not exactly crazy about your looks, tell yourself this: So I’m not male model material. Big deal—I’m not alone! Besides, my self-worth isn’t dependent on the arrangement of my body. I’ll put my energy into a skill that’ll help me feel good about myself. I’m a talented _____ [insert the word that applies to you, such as musician, artist, athlete]. I’ll continue to improve this skill and become the best I can be.
Learn to Focus on the RIGHT Image—Christ’s
As you stand in front of the mirror, think about all the other times you’ve spent in that very spot, flexing your muscles, combing your hair, checking out those new clothes—expending so much effort seeking acceptance. Now consider this: Christ “had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). People were attracted to Jesus because His beauty was internal. His heart emanated unlimited love. The peace in His eyes drew crowds. The joy of His smile was contagious. Seek to make His focus your own.
Get an Attitude Adjustment
Proverbs 15:4 says, “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Begin to replace “I don’t know how” with “Now is the time for me to learn.” Replace “I can’t” with “I will.”
Keep in mind that it’s not where you are at that’s important; it’s where you’re headed. Take Michael Jordan, for example. He got cut from a basketball team during his early years. When that happened, the rejection was probably quite painful for him. Yet he didn’t remain discouraged for long, and he didn’t give up.
Beware of the Company You Keep
Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” In other words, a friend of winners will be a winner but a friend of fools will die. Now check out 1 Corinthians 15:33-34: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” 
BODYBUILDING FACTS
Water is the most important nutrient in your body. So, put down the soda pop and Gatorade and drink some H2O. A 165-pound athlete is composed of 50 quarts of water. Muscles are three-quarters water. Your bones are one-quarter water.
Your body builds muscle only during rest and sleep. Seven and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep a night are recommended.
The best diet for athletes: whole grains and vegetables, especially brown rice, rolled oats, soybeans, and black-eyed peas. Sorry, corn chips and oatmeal cookies don’t qualify. Eating three solid meals a day is good advice.
Protein is the building block of muscle. Foods low in fat and high in protein are great muscle builders. Some of the best foods are egg whites, grilled flounder and orange roughy, tuna, and roasted skinless turkey and chicken. On the other hand, stay away from beefsteak, pork loin, bacon, and butter.
Fast food can be bad for the body. Lean, muscular bodies demand lean food. Fast food tends to have a lot of fat. Fat should make up about 20 percent of your diet.
• McDonald’s french fries are almost half fat, but the McLean Deluxe is only 28 percent fat.
• Arby’s regular roast beef sandwich is 43 percent fat, but the roast beef light deluxe is 31 percent fat.
• Burger King’s Whopper is 53 percent fat, but the chunky chicken salad without dressing is 25 percent fat.
• Taco Bell’s regular taco is 54 percent fat, but the bean burrito is 28 percent fat.
• Boston Market’s one-quarter, white meat chicken with skin is 48 percent fat, but without the skin and wing it is only 22 percent fat.
There is no substitute for proper nutrition. Protein and vitamin supplements are expensive and not necessary or helpful for teens. In fact, if the calories from a weight-gain shake aren’t burned, they’re stored as fat. Plus, some doctors say creatine phosphate—a popular muscle-building supplement—can increase weight but also increases muscle cramps and heat-related reactions.
Stay balanced. Even if you take supplements and eat the perfect diet, it’s important to remember what Dr. Michael Colgan says in his book Optimum Sports Nutrition: “Protein intake doesn’t control muscle growth, but rather the trauma of intense exercise. No one ever grew an ounce of muscle from simply gulping protein. Muscles grow from pushing poundage—period.”
