Are you skinny yet?

Did you find your six-pack?

Does your butt look like you wanted it to in those jeans?

For a lot of you, answers to these questions are going to be "No, No, and, I took jeans back to store".

Why? You are a victim of Fitness Wars, that's why. Your Girth is winning out over your Resolution, and you are probably more frustrated now than you were when you started!

Is there some master conspiracy that is keeping you from getting in shape? Do rules of energy in vs. energy out not apply to you? Are you in a fat-loss vacuum where normal laws of weight loss don't work?

Of course not. Yet, you still can't lose bodyfat, and it is likely because you are simply confused.

If you are like most people, you have gotten fitness advice from radio, TV, friends, family members, magazines, maybe even a Personal Trainer. Who had most to gain from giving you fitness advice?

The radio, TV, magazines, and even your trainer are all interested in getting paid for handing out advice to you. Does that make them most qualified to help you? With possible exception of your personal trainer, no, it really doesn't.

What about your friends and family? Let's answer this question first: Was person who gave you advice in good shape? If not, then point of that question should be clear!

Fitness Wars - all of these different people and agencies trying to get you to do something or buy something.

How about a little thing that some people like to call "Back to Basics"? Prepare Thyself! You are about to be shown true secrets to fitness success!!

If you are looking to build muscle or strength via a bodybuilding routine, stick to 4-5 sets of 10-12 repetitions. Focus on positive and negative of each movement of each repetition. Gradually increase weight as you work out to force your muscles to work. Otherwise your muscles will become programmed, accustomed to same weight and you will no longer experience any gains. There are many approaches and techniques that can be used in bodybuilding. Experiment and use best one that fits you. An excellent book about weight training and bodybuilding that discusses many different techniques to working out is The Weider System of Bodybuilding.

If you are looking to tone or just stay in shape and be healthy, an exercise program combining weight training and a cardiovascular workout is appropriate for you. When you are exercising with weights, 3-4 sets of 12-15 repetitions at a reasonable weight would be appropriate. Combine this with cardio exercise 1-2 times a week such as riding an exercise bike or elliptical machine or by joining classes at your gym. It is difficult to discuss in great detail in this article exactly what you should be doing. For custom exercise programs I highly recommend Global, Health and Fitness

Here is a sample exercise program that can be modified to fit any person's fitness goals. Remember that you can change order and incorporate different exercises for each body part on weekly basis. I encourage this to prevent boredom and your body getting used to same routine.