Be Successful in the Gym: Have a Plan

We've all done it. You walk into the gym with no plan. You do a little of this, a little of that, but ultimately, you do a lot of nothing. Other times you tell yourself "Self, today I'm doing arms". Still, you end up bouncing from random bicep and tricep exercises not resulting in shirt busting guns. This is one of the main reasons people aren't successful in the gym. My Dad has this saying, the Six P's he calls it, proper planning prevents piss poor performance. I always thought it was kind of corny, but it makes sense in many aspects of life, especially in the gym. Thanks Pops.

Having a day that you work a particular muscle group is a decent start, but in order to see real results in a decent amount of time, much more thought is required. What I'm referring to is an "ultimate plan" if you will, a program. A plan that is based on a particular goal that isn't just for one day, one week, or a month. Programs worth a damn will usually last 12-16 weeks and very by phases. So you won't be doing the same thing every single month. Each phase should build on the one before it in order to maximize results and performance. 

People that just started hitting the gym, all the way to professional athletes rely on other people who have more experience than them to create a program. How many boxers train for a fight without a coach? I think back to when I first started and my ego always got the better of me. I told myself I knew what I was doing and I don't want some cookie cutter program designed for soccer moms. I was wrong. Sure I saw some results here and there but it wasn't until I honed in on my goals and stuck with a solid program for an extended period of time that I saw my abs for the first time. The benefits of a program are two fold. Not only will you see results faster, but you can shut your brain off and just do the work. You won't be second guessing yourself or wondering if you should do 10 or 15 reps. You just do it. (stole that from somewhere) 

Everyone's goals are different so there isn't "One Program to Rule Them All" that will turn you into a jacked beast or a beauty queen. So start with a clear goal. I recommend everyone start by getting leaner and focusing on form. It's a lot easier to build on a strong foundation, than jump into trying to be a powelifter when you're 28% body fat and move like shit. When you get leaner, you help your body perform better by being more efficient. Think of it like a sports car after a good tune up. You wouldn't take an old Vet with 100,000 miles on it, drop a super charger in that bad boy and head to the track. Do the same with your body by setting yourself up for success. 

On the other side of a good workout program is a good nutrition program. In a 24 hour day you spend 23 of it NOT in the gym. So make sure when you look for a program it includes nutrition. If it doesn't include it, find a nutrition plan that compliments your workout program and your end goals. In fact, I believe your diet is even more important than the work you do in the gym. Especially for newer gym goers and people who just want to get in better shape. 

So next time you head into the gym, don't walk around aimlessly. Attack your workouts by being prepared, built proof your diet by zeroing in on you goals. I promise you will see significant improvements all around if you plan properly! Sound off in the comments with your favorite programs and what has worked for you!