Planning is a methodical, scientific process that helps individuals achieve their fitness, health and sport-specific goals. It is essential for developing a well-organized training program and is the foundation of all Truestar Exercise Plans. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your level of fitness, lose weight, increase strength or prepare for a competition, planning is the key to success.

A well-structured training program gives guidance, direction and scope to fitness enthusiasts. It replaces rhetorical claims such as “no pain, no gain” and “intensity all the way” with intelligent training methods.

In training, you do not plan work; you plan the physical reaction to your training program, or predict what your body’s reaction will be. Will you be challenged to the extreme and to the point of fatigue? Did you allow time to replenish your energy sources and recover for the next training session? Try to view the planning process as a way to tailor your training to your fitness goals.

Exercise leads to fatigue. With proper nutrition, supplements and recovery your body slowly returns to its natural energy level. If your next training session occurs at the appropriate time, your body will be optimally challenged and your fitness level will begin to improve.

A training program should reflect knowledge from all areas of physical education. You must consider your health status, your level of fitness, how quickly you are progressing and the facilities and equipment that are available to you. A training program must be simple and flexible so it can be modified as your knowledge increases and your fitness level improves. All training programs should also offer contingency plans, so that if a proposed training plan is too difficult an alternative plan is available. Furthermore, if a suggested exercise causes discomfort, pain or boredom, an alternative exercise must be available.

Not all fitness enthusiasts have the luxury of being able to train six times per week at a fitness center. On average, you may be willing to travel to the gym one or two times per week. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you purchase some simple equipment (such as a set of dumbbells, a barbell, a medicine ball or a weighted bar) so you can exercise at home during your off days from the gym. You may also consider purchasing cardio equipment (such as a treadmill, stair machine or rowing machine) so you can save time traveling and spend your time exercising.