You can’t build a skyscraper or a car without a plan.  And if that’s the case,  it’s safe to deduce that the building of some of the body’s most complex tissues also requires a plan -  a guideline to follow in order to make sure the desired results are achieved.

Without a good plan, a potential skyscraper is just a pile of bricks, raw steel, glass and wood; nothing can be achieved if the builders don’t know how all those separate parts come together in order to form a skyscraper.  This is the same logic that goes into putting together a customized workout specifically designed to build muscle mass for a particular individual.  The following descriptions can be used to form an overall workout plan depending on a person’s needs, resources and desires.

• The number of days per week to workout.  Some workout routines don’t follow exact weekly schedules; so if a person wants to work out three days a week or five days a week, it is good to make sure that a schedule can be made and followed.
• The workout program’s goal. Some people have different goals than others.  Some people want muscle mass, some want just pure strength.  While a lot of these goals are connected, it’s important to remember that the methodology is different for each goal.  Some routines call for full body workouts each time; others call for different body parts to be worked on different days.
• The different exercises used during a workout. Once a goal has been set and methodology has been determined, it’s time to see exactly what exercises will be done during each workout period.  Bicep curls, leg extensions, and bench presses would be considered three different exercises.
• The number of sets for each exercise. This is the number of sets that is completed during the workout; for instance, doing five sets of bench presses and 5 sets of bicep curls.  The number of repetitions is also considered during each set.