Q: I have been working out for a year now and have been doing pretty much the same routine three times a week. What's the best way to determine when I should change my strength-training routine? - R.M., Short Hills, NJ

A: If you've been training three days a week and your body has become acclimated to that workload, then you will not progress. Yes, you will stay as fit as you currently are, but you won't make any strength gains. In order to make progress, you need to change your exercises, reps, and sets every five or six weeks. A good way to monitor your progress is with a training diary (something you can do online at this site; go to My Workout/Manual Log to record your workouts. You'll need to login first, which requires registration - editor.) After each workout, record your results in this journal, noting the exercise completed and how you felt during the workout. Refer to this exercise diary to keep track of your progress and help you determine what changes should be made to your program.

Source: fitlinxx.com