Many people have goals at the gym that could be summed up something like this: I want to be in great shape, with a muscular and strong body that lacks weaknesses. I want an impressive upper body, six pack abs and well developed legs with great calves to go with them.

  This is not a bad ambition. On the contrary, it is a good thing to be conscious of the many different parts that together will form an impressive and aesthetically impressive physique.

  In today´s post, however, I want to encourage prioritizing.

  You can’t work the whole body hard at once. You will have to make some choices.

  This is an important thing to do. It will help you eliminate chance and it will help you accelerate your progress.

  Start by analysing your ideals in detail. Then answer the following question: if you could wake up tomorrow with three muscle groups greatly improved in both strength and aesthetic appeal, by just wishing for it here and now – what 3 muscle groups would you choose?

  This is not always an easy question to answer. You might feel eager to let four or even five muscle groups make the list. Make sure to fight this urge and force yourself to prioritize. Choose only 3.

  Those 3 are the muscle groups that are going to be given the most attention at the gym for the following couple of months. You are going to work them first during your training sessions. You are going to set detailed goals for them. You are going to make strength gains in two different exercises per chosen muscle group. The total workout volumes are going to be higher for these groups than the rest of the body. You are going to monitor the results for these 3 muscle groups.

  Do this methodically and with quality for two months. Then evaluate and start over by putting the same question to yourself once again: if you could wake up tomorrow with three muscle groups greatly improved in both strength and aesthetic appeal, by just wishing for it here and now – what 3 muscle groups would you choose?

  This kind of systematic prioritizing will speed up your gains. It will help you get out of the all too common trap of having too many different goals at once. Both muscle mass and strength will profit from this.

/Daniel Schou