Without progression, the body has no reason to adapt and that leads to stagnant training. Which is known as the dreaded PLEATEU.

If you aren't making gains with your current program, then you aren't going to achieve the results you want. A big mistake many people make is finding a program and sticking with it even if the program isn't producing results.

"If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got." -- W. L. Bateman

A common belief is that if you just stick with the program, results are inevitable.

Think about this...

If you aren't seeing results on a MONTHLY basis in some capacity, it's time to change the training protocol.

99% of success comes from having a well formulated plan. A good plan includes tracking your progress. By monitoring your nutrition, body composition, and keeping a training journal, you will be able to see how you are progressing or if you are not making any progress. Keeping some type of journal will allow you to make educated decisions on when and if it's time to change your training load (the weight you are lifting).

Frankly...

If you do not set specific goals, and if you do not monitor the own progress toward those goals, then how can you assess if you are making progress?

Your training program should always be focused on progression to meet your overall goals. This is where having a specific goal and timetable is important. You don't want to just training the same way for an extended period of time and hope for results.

But let me go back to the beginning of your question and let's find out if there is a simple way to figure out when to increase the weight you are using in your training program.

Graves and Baechle developed a dynamic formula to assess when progression is necessary called the 2-for-2 Rule. They said that "if you can successfully complete two or more repetitions in the last set in two consecutive workouts for any given exercise the load should be increased."

For example, 3 sets of 8 repetitions may be prescribed for a particular exercise. When you can complete 2 more repetitions (i.e. 10 reps) on the final set for 2 consecutive sessions the weight should be increased.

The International Sports and Science Association (ISSA) recommends a load increase of 2% to 5% percent for advanced trainees and 5% to 10% percent for new and intermediate trainees.

But first a warning: Advanced athletes who are beyond these guidelines will probably need to adjust the ranges as necessary where a beginner might not. The reason for this is the beginner has much more room from improvement than a seasoned athlete.

Another reason for this is that a beginner has a lot of neural transformations occurring rather than muscle hypertrophy. Improved motor unit synchronization and the recruitment of new motor units account for this faster rate of progression. This is one reason that new strength athletes will progress in strength faster than muscle size.

Copyright 2006 Marc David

By: Marc David
Marc David is a bodybuilder and author of the, Beginner's Guide to Fitness and Bodybuilding. You can get info on Marc's e-book at: www.Beginning-Bodybuilding.com. To get Marc's free e-zine, visit www.JustAskMarc.com.

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If you're looking to lose some unwanted body fat, this article will show a few simple, proven ways to shed more fat in less time.

Drink more water throughout the day. Drinking water will help you feel fuller throughout the day. You will be less likely to be hungry and less likely to snack. Try drinking an 8 ounce glass of water or flavored water before you eat. The water should help you feel less hungry so you will eat less during the meal. If you are new to drinking water each day. Start out drinking one quart of water per day. Slowly increase your water intake up to a total of 64 ounces per day. If you are not use to drinking water and then you suddenly start to drink a lot of water, you can mess up your electrolytes. So start out drinking water slowly, just as you would start an exercise program slowly and slowly increase as the days go on. Did you know you can live for weeks without food, but only a few days without water? Water is essential to overall good health and helps to carry out the toxins from the body through the urinary tract and bowels.

Eat five to six small meals each day. One good rule to follow is to fuel the body with something small and nutritious every 5 hours. This helps to keep your metabolism running smoothly and efficiently, which in turn helps your body to burn more fat. If you eat one or two large meals each day will cause your metabolism to slow down. Skipping meals will cause your body to hold onto stored fat as a defense mechanism. Your body becomes unsure of when it will get its next meal. The body will conserve stored fat in case of future calorie needs.

Each meal should be a combination of high protein, carbohydrates and a dash of fat. Your plate should contain more fruits and vegetables than the protein or fat. A good rule to follow with how much protein to consume at mealtime is just enough that would cover the palm of your hand. Anymore protein than this eaten at one meal will automatically turn into stored fat, which is exactly what you doesn’t want to happen. Never skip breakfast. You should eat a well-balanced breakfast within two hours of awakening from an 8 to 10 hour sleeping period. Good sleep is also important for good overall health and burning fat. Sleep that has some dreams throughout the period of sleeping is a good indication that you are getting the kind of sleep you need.

High quality protein is found in foods like chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, milk and cheese. Quality carbohydrates are fruits and vegetables. Berries are especially good for antioxidants. Use breads, cereals and pasta sparingly and only as condiments. Take Fish Oil everyday.

Cardiovascular workouts 3 to 4 times per week are highly recommended to help you burn fat and calories. The safest exercise for bones and joints is a moderately brisk walk, 30 minutes at least per session, and 3 to 4 times per week. Cardiovascular exercise increases your metabolic rate and helps you to burn more calories throughout the day even while you are resting. Anymore than 30 minutes per day of cardiovascular exercise can lead to overtraining.

Weight train three to four times per week. Weight training helps you burn more calories and fat in the future. Weight training does not burn a sufficient amount of fat while you’re training. It is important to add lean muscle to your body. You burn more energy/calories just to maintain that lean muscle tissue. If your body has lean muscle you will burn more calories even while sleeping. The more calories you burn, the more fat you lose. This is why weight training is an important part of a weight loss program.

With all exercise programs, always remember to begin slowly.

Reduce your calorie intake slowly. In order to lose body fat, you need to burn more calories than you consume. Begin by reducing your daily calorie intake by 150 to 300 calories. Start cutting out extras like butter, cream, mayo, sugar and high-calorie dressings or condiments. Try using spices to add flavor to your food.

As you reduce your daily calories, you should be able to observe in the mirror what effect it is having on your body composition and shape. If you don’t see results after a couple of weeks of reducing your daily calories, reduce than again by 150 to 300 calories per day. A slow, methodical drop in calories will allow you to find the number you need to keep losing fat without sacrificing lean muscle tissue. If you eat too few calories, your metabolism will also slow down and you will stop adding lean muscle tissue. Over time, you will fine the number of daily calories you need to keep losing body fat without losing lean muscle tissue.

Author: Connie Limon. Please visit us online at: http://www.selfimprovementbook1.com We are an article and resource directory all about self improvement. Our mission is helping you overcome the difficulties of life and re-making these challenges into strengths. Sign up for our bi-weekly newletter.

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I have always wanted to get fitter and lose weight and I have tried lots of different weight loss programs. No matter what I did or what kind of products I bought, nothing seemed to be effective. Actually I have spent a small fortune on a large variety of weight loss products. Unfortunately, most of them were ineffective, while others worked only for few months. Let me be completely honest with you, there is nothing worse than giving my hopes up when I hear about the latest diet and a couple of months later see no change when I step on a scale.

I had almost given up any hope when the Atkins diet came out several years ago. I didn't really expect it to help me lose weight as I was afraid of experiencing another disappointment. I was considering not trying it because I thought it was just one of the many diet fads that would blow over in a few months. I wanted to save myself the heartache and some money, too. So, I decided to wait it out.

I was really surprised a couple of months later when the Atkins diet didn't go away. On the contrary, it got bigger and bigger. Every time I turned on my TV or radio I was hearing about people who had lost weight keeping the Atkins diet. I waited for some time before I changed my mind and decided to give the Atkins diet a try.

To be honest, it was very difficult at the beginning. The Atkins diet requires that people who keep it should limit their carbohydrate intake which meant not eating foods as bread, pasta, potatoes. I loved all these kinds of food, so it was quite tough on me. However, I wanted to give my best try, so I didn't hesitate to keep the diet plan precisely. With time I started to lose some weight. Of course, I expected to see it coming back on in a couple of months but it did not. I spent a year following the Atkins diet and I finally managed to achieve my weight loss goal for the first time in my life.

I should admit that what really helped me keep the Atkins diet was my decision to look for outside assistance. I chose to register with a meal service that catered to participants on the Atkins diet. What was really great about it was that I could pick different meals from a large menu and have them delivered to my office or home. This was it was much easier for me to keep ye weight loss plan as I didn't have to prepare my own meals.

In case you are considering giving the Atkins diet a shot it would be best if you learn everything about it and consult your doctor to make sure this diet is good for you. If you have already made up your mind to start the Atkins diet, then I would recommend you to sign up with a food delivery service. It is best if you have a few meals delivered to you at least several times a week if not every day. The Atkins diet really makes a difference and you can fully rely on the weight loss plan to finally stop struggling with obesity.

By: Morgan Hamilton
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning weight loss. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Atkins Diet.

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