How far out do you plan out your workout schedule?

AmyK2003

I was wondering how far out you plan out your workout schedule? A day? A week? Any recommendations?

THANKS!

alpine1994

I pretty much decide that day what I will be doing. I go to ballet Tuesdays and Thursdays so that's planned I guess. I have a dry erase calendar in the room I work out in and I write down my workouts every day so that I can see what I've already done for the week and make sure that I mix it up enough. When I don't workout I write "SKIP" really big. Don't want too many of those in a week! It works for me.

wswilliams67

I follow a 12 week trainer online so the schedule is already planned out for 12 weeks. I just enter each week's exercises in MFP and hit the gym... bodybuilding.com has some great FREE 12 week trainers. If you are a beginner then I recommend following a structured plan until you feel comfortable creating your own workout schedule.

Chief_Rocka

I keep the same workout schedule for 8-12 months at time. Even when changes are made, they're typically minor.

Tw1zzler

I'm following an 8 week running plan right now. I've been doing the same strength workout for a few months, when I get bored I'll change it up.

drmerc

I have a spreadsheet with my workout schedule which has number of reps that I should do exactly, weight I need to use etc
Its planned out 48 months in advance

jofjltncb6

I have a spreadsheet with my workout schedule which has number of reps that I should do exactly, weight I need to use etc
Its planned out 48 months in advance

Uh...

That's intense.

drmerc

I have a spreadsheet with my workout schedule which has number of reps that I should do exactly, weight I need to use etc
Its planned out 48 months in advance

Uh...

That's intense.

Its a long term plan to induce the maximum amount of muscle confusion

BrunetteRunner87

I'm doing a specific race in April that I'm going to train for, so yesterday I sat down and planned the next 5-6 months out. Of course I'll switch it up if life gets in the way

DavPul

I have a spreadsheet with my workout schedule which has number of reps that I should do exactly, weight I need to use etc
Its planned out 48 months in advance

slacker. i have the same thing but it includes all meals and snacks

jofjltncb6

I have a spreadsheet with my workout schedule which has number of reps that I should do exactly, weight I need to use etc
Its planned out 48 months in advance

Uh...

That's intense.

Its a long term plan to induce the maximum amount of muscle confusion

I'm fairly certain that Weider advocated just a 36 month plan for maximum gains.

You might want to reconsider your approach.

JMSKCW

I print out a calendar each month and write in my workouts for that month. It helps me to make adjustments for anything that should come up (i.e. if I have a dinner planned, I know to work out in the morning or to switch that day with an off day). I highlight the workouts that I completed and mark off those that I did not.

JustJennie1

I don't plan it out at all. I've tried and when I miss a workout seeing what I was supposed to do written on the calendar makes me feel like an even bigger failure.

klacount77

I usually only plan 90 days at a time to keep it interesting, but because I am training for my first 1/2 marathon in June of 2013 and my first full marathon in January of 2014, I have planned out the next 14 months. I'll go back to my 90 day routine once I finish my marathon.

kairisika

I am working for specific gains, so I write up a program to follow for 6-12 weeks. Generally when I am starting a program, I take a week or so of trying it out before I hammer in exactly what I'm planning to do, and then once I'm secure with what's included and the order and such, I write it down and then follow it for the planned amount of time. 6 weeks for some intro things, 8-12 for most programs, as a good length of time to see solid improvement, then change once the muscles get used to it.

I plan what I will do, but intend to increase the weight according to how I progress along the way. I don't see any point in planning the weight ahead of time where I may over- or under-estimate my gains. It's very easy to go 'okay, next is bench press', and determine the weight from what I did the previous time.

I also consider the goal of something. If I am working on a running program, then I will have my long run, my sprints/intervals, and my hills day planned out on the schedule. If I have some cardio scheduled in for the sake of cardio rather than a specific aim, I don't mind if I feel like swimming one day instead.
but usually my training plans all have a specific goal for what I'm trying to accomplish, so I therefore stick to them. Makes a lot more sense than working out just to randomly burn some calories.

I usually plan the specific length of the program when I start it, and then re-evaluate. Doesn't mean that I'll do something completely different after 12 weeks, but that I will think about what I've accomplished and where I want to go next and make any necessary changes.

Candijean1988

I plan two months out at a time in a regular notebook. I found out what i can handle and then do that for six days. Then I increase it a little bit so i know it will be a challange but still do able. My work out includes pushups, situps jumping jacks, lunges, knee HIghs, supermans, burpees... and once a month I will add a new one. I have been doing this for a month now and have stuck with it.. I plan on adding in hand weights in Jan.

Alex_is_Hawks

I have a spreadsheet with my workout schedule which has number of reps that I should do exactly, weight I need to use etc
Its planned out 48 months in advance

slacker. i have the same thing but it includes all meals and snacks

you know drmerc....you may want to consider that....

then you know...anonymous pepperoni pizza's won't assault your mouth as often...

Lisah8969

I have my running schedule planned out a year in advance to accomodate whatever races I have proposed for the year. Obviously, it can be adjusted if I add races like I did this year. The rest of my workouts (strength training, stationary bike, circuit training and misc DVDs like 30DS), I just fill in on certain days. So I am able to run 4 X, strength 2 X, bike 3X, circuit train 1 or 2 X, and misc 1 X. And I still get one sometimes two days off a week. I have to know what I am doing each and every day before the day begins.

laserturkey

People plan that stuff? :-P

I generally just do what I feel like, which is admittedly not nearly enough.

MsTanya77

I plan it for the week, because my schedules change week to week.....

wolfchild59

For 2012 I knew every race that I was signed up for and what the training schedule would look like for each of them. So every single night/day of working out from Jan 5 - Sep 3 was planned out and on a calendar around August of last year. And then Sep 4 - Dec 8 were filled in around May of this year.

For 2013, I'm not training for any specific races, so I just have a general workout plan laid out for the first quarter of the year and then I'll re-evaluate and make modifications as needed as I near the end of that.

miracole

unless I'm training for a specific race I fly by the seat of my pants. I try to keep up a general level of preparedness for half marathons but will go back to a specific marathon training schedule (3 month) every year. I do, however, log all my kms after I run each day.

neverstray

Usually I plan a rolling 3 months. but, it might be longer, like, if I am training for a half-marathon or something like that. But, typically, 3 months. But, that's just planning. The actual reality is about a week or two in advance, alwy rolling forward. So, about every couple days I sit down a review. Usually, if I hit it as planned, nothing changes. But, sometimes, my kids scheulde changes, and then I have to replan the next week or so.

Alex_is_Hawks

my answer: I don't plan that at all....

I have a loosey goosey idea of what I want to achieve in my week and about 5 programs of intense cardio or what have you...

whatever I feel like doing is what I will do....

The only thing I commit to is working out 6 days a week with a rest day.

Thats it.

KimertRuns13_1

I get a 2 wk schedule from my running coach every other Sunday. Unless something changes with my schedule like a race or sickness then it is possible I get a new schedule weekly but it's always for a 2 week period.

Amybowen614

I am a nurse and my schedule varies from week to week. To keep me on track I write on my calendar each day that I am off what excercise I am going to do for a month. Whether it is running in the neighborhood, hitting the gym, or taking a class at the gym. It keeps me on track and sometimes seeing it on my schedule is what I need to motivate me to go and get it done.:happy:

MissAnjy

Well, I started my current schedule 9 weeks ago. It's a 20 week schedule. So, 5 months for this current one. However, I have my next schedule (p90x) set for immediately after. I usually have a program that I'm following, set out and my workouts scheduled, a year in advance lol

KittieLea

I usually do mine Sunday nights for the following week.

MommaKit79

I am getting ready to start TurboFire and there are 2 schedules I am going to follow...it is going to take me all the way til the first week in July! :-)

AllonsYtotheTardis

I sorta plan a week at a time, so I can fit it around other family commitments.

Goal_Driven

Month at a time. But of course I'm doing set workout routines by Jillian Micheals' DVD's. I'm currently doing 2 programs. RI30 I do 5-6 times a week at night (or on a morning that I don't do YM) and YM I do every other day in the morning. Doing them back to back is harsh, but if I don't have time to split them up, it is what it is and it must be done! I like programs like these because they hold me accountable and it feels GREAT to complete them after dedicating yourself to them for a full month. Last month I did 30DS )