The 5-Minute Guide to Picking a Training Program
by Marc David
In order to pick the best training program for you, several factors need to be considered. Is the program specific to your goals? Does it take into consideration your body’s individual differences? Warning: Don’t buy a weightlifting program until you’ve answered the following seven questions… Far too many people just randomly pick program in hopes it will work for them. Or they see a program working for a group of people and assume it will work for them too..
Before you pick any bodybuilding program, all you need to do is run through this quick list of seven questions and make sure the program address each one in some capacity or at least the majority of them.
Question #1: Individual Differences
David Q. Thomas, Ph.D. stated, “We all will have similar responses and adaptations to the stimulus of exercise, but the ate and magnitude of these changes will be limited by our differing genetics.”
Meaning if everybody performs the same exercise program, all of us will have slightly different results. Setting realistic expectations and eliminating frustration is the goal. We all ave different genetic blueprints. And while a program that recommends a certain number of set and repetitions maybe work or Joe, it might not work all that well for Betty.
We all have different abilities, weaknesses and bodies and we all respond differently to any given training system. These differences should be taken into account for a given program.
Does the program have you in mind?
Question #2: Overcompensation
Nothing more than a survival code, does the program have build-in training stress? Muscle fibers grow in size and strength in response to training.
To become stronger you have to overload relative to the last workout session. This means you have to work a bit harder either in intensity and/or in volume.
Does the program challenge you in some way?
Question #3: Overload
In order to make progress (strength, muscle size) you need do challenge your body and do more today than yesterday. You must exercise against a resistance greater than you normally encounter. If you use the same sets, reps and weight, there will be no further improvement beyond what your body has already adapted. Some people refer to this as the training plateau.
You may even split your body parts up at this point because as you get more advanced, it’s nearly impossible to workout a particular body part in the time allotted and fully recover.
Does the program you want incorporate overload?
Question #4: Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID)
Your body is a highly adaptive system. If you want to train for strength, then pick a program that address limit strength. If you want to train aerobically, then choose one that is structured precisely for that.
If you are limited on time, look for programs that have you in and out of the gym in under 60 minutes.
Many people want to train for brute strength, muscle size and aerobic fitness. As you know by now, those three objectives are entirely different. Picking a single training objective is what you are looking for when picking a program.
Don’t buy a program that involves lifting heavy weights if your goal is simply to be fit, lean and mean, no training partner or spotter and you want to be in and out in 60 minutes. You might want to look for different programs based on your specific goals.
Does the program meet your needs?
Question #5: Use/Disuse
Nothing more than “use it or lose it.” Make sure whatever training program you pick trains all the major muscle groups in a time frame that you can achieve the expected results.
It’s enough to stress the muscle on a continued basis and keep it adapting and not regressing. But if a program doesn’t train a body part enough, you may not experience the change you’d like to see.
Does the program train all the major body parts?
Question #6: Specificity
It’s as simple as moving from general foundational training to more specific training as your objecting approaches.
For example… if you aren’t strong enough to do pull-ups, you may opt to use an assisted machine. But in order to eventually do pull ups, you’ll need to move from a general exercise to the specific which is doing pull ups.
The same can be said for squats.
At first you might do leg extensions and leg presses to build up general strength. At some point, if you want to get stronger in squats, it will be through doing squats and not the leg press. If you want to be better at running a marathon, you will need to run a marathon and not cycle your training.
Does the program train you for your specific goal?
Question #7: General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
In almost all training programs, people will experience the 3 stages of stress.
1 – Alarm. Your body will detect changes and must adapt quickly to adapt to the new demands imposed. Hormones are on the rise, and the stress hormone cortisol makes its appearance.
2 – Resistance. Here’s where the growth and change can occur. Your training program has increased your stress and your body’s reaction is to build up resistance. Bigger muscles, more oxygen capacity. But at some point, your reserves will run dry.
3 – Exhaustion. This is where overtraining comes into play, where motivation is questioned, and all kinds of nasty derailing training problems can occur.
If the program you are looking at is single sided (heavy heavy heavy) you’ll likely end up in an exhaustion phase. A good training program will go thru stages of heavy resistance followed by periods of lighter resistance to aid in recovery. Some body parts will be training frequently and others not as much depending on the recovery needed.
A good example of avoiding the General Adaptation Syndrome would be one that incorporates periods of heavier resistance and then lighter resistance for recovery. A lot of variety in whatever program you choose is a good thing.
Does the program have built-in periodization?
The important thing to learn is this: if you quickly evaluate a training program, you can decide if it’s something that might work for you. In many cases, people just pick programs randomly or thru web searches. Take the time to do some preliminary evaluation and ensure the program you are choosing will meet your needs.
Head to the gym today, but don’t just take any program with you. Take one that works for you. That’s your real secret weapon.
Check out my website: No Bull Bodybuildng.
About the Author:
Marc David is an innovative fitness enthusiast and the creator of the “NoBull Bodybuilding System” method on www.nobullbodybuilding.com
He can show you how to reduce your body fat thru diet, how to gain weight or create more muscle thru an abundance of workout tips by training LESS, not more! Once a self-confessed skinny, “135-pound weakling.” Today Marc is a 200 pound bodybuilder who teaches thousands of people to gain weight, build muscle and reduce body fat with a workout and nutrition system so simple that even a complete beginner can understand it! Marc dispels many “bodybuilding myths”, tells you what most people never realize about nutrition, and what the drug companies DON’T WANT YOU to know. Visit www.nobullbodybuilding.com
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