The easiest way to create your own programs is to have one specific goal for that month.
Program design is a mixture of science and art. constantly changing the stimulus so a person doesn't plateau. One way to do this is by progressive overload. This means that you constantly make the exercises more challenging, while incorporating easier weeks to help you recover.
With programming, you have 3 "blocks" or "cycles." These are called microcycles, mesocycles, and macrocycles.
Microcycle: usually 1 week
Mesocycle: 1-3 Months
Macrocycle: Entire Training Cycle
Now that we have the basics...lets dive deeper into this.
As we said before, try to have a 1 year (macrocycle) goal. After you have that, the next step is to implement a needs analysis. With a needs analysis, you need to find out exactly what is preventing you from getting to your goal (defenders). This could be; not enough muscle mass, knee injury, too heavy, etc. With this needs analysis as well as your 1 year goal, implement small goals for each one of the defenders. After you have the small goals, determine how long each small goal will take to reach, as well as which order you need to put them in.
The next step is to find the big goal for each mesocycle, the defenders that are preventing you from reaching that goal, as well as the mini goals for each defender. An example of this would be;
big goal: Increase back squat by 15%
defenders: leg strength, lower back instability, ankle flexibility
mini goals: increase back squat by 15%, hold a plank for 2 minutes, increase ankle flexibility by 15%
Now we can break this down into microcycles. In order you should go; movement patterns, conditioning, hypertrophy, strength, power, then speed. So for the sake of this example, a way this could be programmed is;
3 weeks - stability and flexibility
3 weeks - back strength
2 weeks - leg strength.
If you continue this process you will be able to find out what exactly is preventing you from reaching your goal so you can act accordingly.
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Best Regards,
David Cozzens
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How long should a workout program last before I change it?
A typical mesocycle lasts 1–3 months. After that, reassess your limiting factors and start a new block with updated goals. A year-long macrocycle is a great way to plan multiple mesocycles back-to-back.
Can I write my own program without a coach in Orange County?
You can, but most people in Irvine, Orange, and Laguna Hills get better results with a trainer who can assess limiters objectively. A good coach accelerates results by 30–50% compared to self-programmed training.
What's the difference between a microcycle, mesocycle, and macrocycle?
A microcycle is one week of training. A mesocycle is 1–3 months targeting a specific goal. A macrocycle is your full training cycle — usually a full year — that stacks multiple mesocycles.
How much does personal training in Irvine, Orange, or Laguna Hills cost?
Train With Dave averages $60 to $80 per session — includes a fully customized workout program, personalized nutrition plan, training app, and direct trainer access between sessions. Exact pricing is customized during your free consultation.
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