There are many different workout strategies. Almost all of them will create positive results for certain individuals. For you personally, there will be a variety of workout strategies that can produce positive results for you, whereas others program that simplydon’t make since for your situation. Remember that a program that worked for oneperson might not work for you. Having the wrong strategy can leave a variety of negative results, including getting injured, losing strength, gaining fat, and feeling burned out.Own Strength Training ProgramI’ve made my living developing workouts that I hope are ideal for each individual. I’ve tried a lot of different ideas, seen many trainers trying different ideas, and seen manyclients and how they respond to those various training programs.The following the basics keys to program design that I’ve learned since I initially became obsessed with strength training programs around thirteen years ago.

#1. The program must reflect your goals.

integrated in a way that fits your specific goals and preferences. For this article, we will

focus on strength training alone).

(Cardio and strength training should be

#2. The program must reflect your level of workout experience.

common mistake for trainers to put a beginning exerciser on a program which works for

the trainer themselves – the advanced trainee).

(It’s a big and

#3. The program must take into consideration your current lifestyle stressors.

stress in relationships and job, your nutrition status, sleep status, and more impact how

your body recovers from exercise and how your program should be designed).

(Your

#4. For maximal results, the program must integrate a nutrition program that is

designed for your specific goals.

#5. You must recuperate between workouts or you are wasting your time.

#6. If you are training “drug-free”, do not try to copy a program the works for a

athlete or exerciser who is training with the aide of performance-enhancing drugs.

Strength Training Guidelines (for drug-free exercisers and athletes)

Strength Training For Beginners (up to 3-6 months of consistent training for most

trainees)

Start with whole-body strength training 2-3 days per week.

Pick 1-2 exercises for each muscle group.

•for your workout.

For the fist month of training, perform one to two sets of each exercise you pick

•routine” (where you train different body parts of different days), stick to two to

three sets for each exercise.

Starting at the beginning of month two and ending if and when you begin a “split

Strength Training For Intermediates (usually start between 3 to 6 months of

consistent training experience)

•three to six months of training until person is willing to commit to four to six

days of strenuous strength training per week (if they desire to go to the

“advanced” level).

Person remains at the intermediate level for at a very minimum of an additional

•(Even college level athletes can improve with this type of program design)

Many people will never want or need to move out of the intermediate level.

•who have been lifting for years.

Intermediate workouts are ideal as maintenance training programs for even lifters

•this split will be between upper and lower body.

Once a person is intermediate, they will split their workout routines. Generally

Here are a few typical intermediate splits:

Each Week:

Monday: Lower body

Tuesday: Upper body

Wednesday: off

Thursday: Lower body

Friday: Upper body

Saturday: off

Sunday: off

OR

Week 1:

Monday: Lower body

Tuesday: off

Wednesday: Upper body

Thursday: off

Friday: Lower body

Saturday: off

Sunday: off

Week 2:

Monday: Upper body

Tuesday: off

Wednesday: Lower body

Thursday: off

Friday: Upper body

Saturday: off

Sunday: off

•the intermediate phase you must perform more exercises and sets for each muscle

group.

Since you are allowing the muscles more recovery time between workouts during

•sets for each exercise) for each muscle group, as an intermediate, you will pick

two to three exercises for each muscle group and generally perform three to four

sets of each.

Whereas as a beginner, you may have been performing 1-2 exercises (and 1 to 3

Strength Training For The Advanced Strength Trainee

*You can be an advanced exerciser and not need an advanced strength training program.

In fact, this type of program would be ideal for less than 5% of the public. (Less than 5%

of my clients would use this type of program).

*Advanced programs are generally best for advanced bodybuilders. A common mistake

made by beginning exercisers (and beginning bodybuilders who aspire to be like people

who make their living as bodybuilders) is training like an advanced bodybuilder.

*Many personal trainers who have backgrounds in advanced bodybuilding forget that the

program that works for them after 10-20 years of training experience is not the

appropriate program for someone who is just starting a program, no matter what their

goals are.

two bodyparts for each training day in the week. Currently, it’s popular to train

the body in a way where you train each body area once per week. This allows for

maximum recovery time, which is of critical importance for the advanced, but is

simply not needed and is possibly detrimental to beginning and intermediate

exercisers.

Advanced bodybuilding is characterized by split routines that isolate just one to

Here’s an example of an Advance Bodybuilding split:

Monday: Legs

Tuesday: Back and Biceps

Wednesday: Abs and calves

Thursday: Chest and triceps

Friday: Shoulders and traps

Saturday: Abs and Calves

Sunday: Off

for each major muscle area and perform three to four sets for each. This amount

of total sets for each muscle group, although not necessary and possibly

detrimental for beginners and intermediates, allows the advanced trainee to

continue stimulating their muscles to continue becoming stronger, more shapely,

and in better condition

For advanced bodypart workouts, you will typically choose four to five exercises