When searching for the right weight lifting program, you have to consider many personal factors. Note that the emphasis is on personal factors precisely because for a weight lifting program to be effective and efficient, it must answer to the personal needs and goals of the bodybuilder concerned. All other individuals from the trainers to the judges serve secondary functions in your muscle building and weight loss efforts.
With that said, the first step in finding the right program is an honest personal assessment in terms of your needs and goals in weight lifting. This is because your weight lifting program will vary depending on whether you want to gain muscle mass or lose body fat.
You must also take into account your lifestyle. Often, beginner bodybuilders think that weightlifting exercises can produce fast results when done 7 days a week and, hence, sacrifice their professional work and personal relationships just to adhere to this misguided belief.
Actually, an effective weightlifting program is more than just lifting weights on a 24/7 basis This is an exaggeration, of course, but necessary to stress a point because correct rest and nutrition are also considered. Instead, let your lifestyle guide your weightlifting goals.
When you have determined your weight lifting program goals, you must write them down preferably in a chart. You want to be able to monitor your progress, correct mistakes that inevitably happen along the way, and even take inspiration from it. Also, you have to start keeping workout and diet logs for this purpose.
The second step in finding the right weightlifting program is to determine what level you are on in terms of bodybuilding. There are only three levels – beginner, intermediate and advanced – so choosing which level you are on should be an easy task.
You will acknowledge that this second step is important because weightlifting techniques, equipment and workouts differ from one level to the next. For example, jumping to the intermediate level when you ought to be in the beginner level can lead to muscle injuries and body stresses, which could have been avoided had you started your weight lifting program in the right level. In an opposite manner, going down to beginner level programs can lead to boredom on your part, which can lead to your quitting prematurely from the program.
The third step, which is the most important, is to prepare your personal program with the assistance of an expert in the science of weightlifting and/or bodybuilding. It must incorporate the three vital elements of weightlifting programs, namely, proper nutrient program, optimal recovery cycle and appropriate muscle stimulation.
All these three elements must complement each other and must always be present in your weight lifting program no matter what level you are on. Not one, not two, but all three elements. You will recognize the wisdom of this advice as you change your weightlifting goals, say, from bulking up on body mass to cutting down on body fat to achieving a ripped body.
In conclusion, your weight lifting program must answer to your specific needs and goals precisely because it is your body at stake. Regardless of the weight lifting program chosen, however, you must ensure that it incorporates proper nutrition, muscle stimulation and rest periods to get the most benefits out of it.