When you implement and design your own bodybuilding schedule, it's vital every few months to take a step back and analyse progress. This is one of the reasons that setting meaningful goals is a vital part of bodybuilding.

You need to take an unbiased look at what's working and what isn't, and then make intelligent changes accordingly, because if you just blunder ahead as you have been, your results will greatly disappoint you.

Having said the above, this article is not really about goal setting, it's about how to design a bodybuilding schedule that yields decent results.

First, don't waste time looking for the perfect bodybuilding schedule - if you find something that works reasonably well for you, don't worry about making it perfect - as long as you're getting some gains, carry on.

The time to make changes is when you're getting no rewards for your efforts.

Here are five questions you should ask yourself about your existing bodybuilding schedule if what you're currently doing isn't working;

1/ Am I spending too long in the gym?

You want three workouts a week tops - better still two. Muscle grows when it's at rest, after you've given the muscle the stimulus to grow.

2/ Am I training hard enough?

If you're not training hard enough in your bodybuilding schedule to give growth stimulus to your muscles you won't make any gains at all - simple as that.

You'll know in your heart of hearts if you're training hard enough.

3/ Are my workouts too long?

You shouldn't be going much over the hour, because it's counter productive to train too long.

This means that what you do when you are training is of vital importance.

Base all your routines around getting stronger in the main compound exercises like the dead lift, squat and bench press. Let's say for example that it's leg day. If you did say two really hard sets of squats, followed by two really hard sets of the leg press, you'd be out of the gym in well under the hour, and you'd get much more meaningful results this way than you would if you spent over an hour on the leg extension machine.

Think of each workout as an opportunity that you will never get again - and remember that you owe it to yourself to make the absolute best of that opportunity.

4/ Am I adding weight to the bar whenever I can?

Each workout should be preparing the ground for the workout that will follow it - which means adding weight to the bar every chance you get.

But always keep your exercise form tight - the main idea is to give the stimulus to the muscles to force them to grow - the amount of weight is secondary to stressing your muscles correctly.

5/ Am I resting, sleeping and eating well enough and often enough?

Try and get 8 hours sleep a night minimum - of course in the real world this isn't always possible - but at least aim for it!

As regards food - the food is the essential fuel your muscles need to grow, once you've given them a reason to grow - most amateur bodybuilders don't eat enough.

So here are five things to look at in your bodybuilding schedule - if you're not doing one or more of these things you may well be compromising your results.