I want to explain the importance of progressional planning. If you have ever started a construction project, worked on a car, or watched a baby go from crawling to walking then you just observed the development of progress over time in each of these examples. There is a certain order of things that have to be done before you move on to other things and this is what I am talking about.

In a fitness program progression is the most important variable especially when trying to strengthen weak or imbalanced areas of the body. If I am approaching starting a strength program then I should address my goals first. Once I establish my goals then I should plan accordingly and this is how I move forward. For instance, if a certain individual wants to increase his bench-press then there are certain things they should master depending on their skill level. If this particular person has never worked out and is incapable of even stabilizing the barbell to press it then they are probably not even able to execute a push-up with their own body-weight. So instead of jumping to the barbell, they should master the almighty push-up first. As a general rule of thumb it is my professional opinion that everyone should be able to handle an array of body-weight exercises before ever moving to load there body with additional weights. If you are addressing weak imbalances and asymmetries then certain exercises that involve isolation of that side of the body are necessary to equalize the strength and transfer of it within the working mechanics of the body.

The bottom line is to plan smartly when either beginning or if you are in need of reworking your current program. The more effective your strength and fitness program is then it will produce greater results for you like weight-loss, fat-loss, and overall fitness.