When it comes to building muscle, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. As a personal trainer working with clients across Knutsford and Cheshire — both in-person and online — I create muscle-building plans that are tailored to each person’s body, schedule, and goals.
Here’s a look at my approach (without giving it all away).
1. Start with the Individual
Every plan starts with understanding the person. Age, training history, goals, and available equipment all play a role. A 22-year-old with a home gym and athletic background will need a very different approach to a 45-year-old starting from scratch.
2. Focus on Progression
I build plans that are progressive. That means you’re not just repeating the same workouts week after week but you’re gradually increasing intensity, volume, or complexity to ensure steady muscle growth. This is where many generic plans fall short.
3. Balance Between Volume and Recovery
More isn’t always better. Recovery is just as important as training when building muscle. I structure my clients’ plans to include rest days, deloads when needed, and smart variations to avoid plateaus.
4. Keep it Simple, Not Basic
I don’t overload clients with endless variations or complicated exercises. Most of the time, a smart mix of compound lifts (like squats, presses, and rows) with the right amount of isolation work gets the job done. The key is in how it’s programmed and that’s where coaching matters.
5. Real-World Flexibility
Whether you’re training in a fully equipped gym, a private home gym in Cheshire, or with limited kit, the plan adapts to your setup. That’s the benefit of a tailored programme, it fits you, not the other way around.