Hey Cole, thanks for the interesting question!
Let’s first establish that most good programs include: 1. Resistance training and conditioning elements that meet/exceed current guidelines
2. Exercises, rep schemes, rest periods, etc. that the match the individual’s preferences, goals, and resources.
3. Is auto-regulated
4. Is progressively loaded
5. Is updated over time based on subjective and objective feedback With that established, I tend to think there are four common programming options: 1. No program
2. Self program
3. Template
4. Hire a coach I think it’s unlikely that someone not following a program will spontaneously engage in an exercise program that meets all of the above criteria without expertise and careful consideration. That likely eliminates #1 and #2 for most folks, though knowledgable coaches could do #2.
From there, each option has pro’s and con’s and, provided the environment is ripe for gainzZz, can produce good results. Similarly, if the environment is lacking, nearly every program is going to suck results-wise.
For example, self-programming can be fun to experiment (within constraints), but also can be difficult to assess objectively from a 1st-person view.
Similarly, templates can be useful for folks without expertise in the space. those who don’t want to program for themselves, or as a starting point for customization. On the other hand, people can get lost with too many customization options and, sometimes, folks will do the template and not learn much to apply to their next program.
Hiring an experienced coach to help with programming, technique, etc. ideally addresses all of these things. In other words, I think a good coach should be developing programs suited to the individual, improving the individual’s understanding of how-to program, assessing outcomes reliably, etc.
Just my 0.02 here.
I don’t log my training publicly anymore, but rather use a spreadsheet that’s needlessly nuanced lol.
-Jordan