It might seems strange that building a great set of six-pack abs can be motivated by a World War II General. However, upon closer inspection George Patton was a decorated war hero who led thousands of American troops to victory against overwhelming odds, and his words can help us overcome our training challenges. The following Patton bodybuilding quotes are provided with comments for context.

“You’re never beaten until you admit it.” You’re in the last sets of the workout and as tired as a dog. The question is will you throw in the towel or will you push through the pain and make it happen? Thoughts lead to word, words lead to actions, and actions lead to results. It is your word or self-talk that can get you through the tough situations, in the same way that giving your word to do your best keeps an honorable person going even when his body says he should quit.

“Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” When you think about it, everything that we truly value has come to us at some sacrifice. Your plan for diet and exercise provides the biggest challenge of all. Are you up to following the plan day-in and day-out or do you take short cuts some days because it is easier?

“Better to fight for something than live for nothing.” Take a good hard look at yourself and your goals while you look at others around you. Your ambitions of a physically fit body and a set of six-pack abs is a goal that everyone wants but few are willing to fight for. Each time you think of quitting or jumping off the diet remember that you stand FOR something while others around you that are chomping down on Big Macs live for nothing (and may not be living that long when all is said and done).

“If a man does his best, what else is there?” We are all guilty of going off the diet or cheating on our exercises, and we often beat ourselves up for days and weeks over it. This is a human response and we have to accept our human frailties. The difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is that those who succeed take these unproductive feelings and channel them into positive action.

“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” Eating a Big Mac is easy and provides instant gratification. Getting a great set of six-pack abs is difficult. It requires a plan for caloric discipline that keeps calories in less than calories out and for exercise that will increase the percent lean body mass. It is NOT easy to do this, so the test of your character is the ability to stick to the plan through the tough times when you want to give up. You have given your word that you will adhere to the plan and, in the final analysis, your word is who you are.

Everybody wants a great set of ripped abs, but few are willing to do everything it takes to get them. If you are one of them, the words of General George Patton should inspire you to do what it takes to win the war and savor the victory which will be the reflection of your six-pack abs staring back at you in the mirror. Gen. Patton’s words create a bridge from the military to the fitness battlefield.