Most people want to be in great shape but many just don't know how. Getting to the gym is only half the battle; what's really important is having a great bodybuilding regime and sticking to it.

There are so many bodybuilding routines and programs available that it can be a hard to find the one that's best for you. How can you be sure that you'll get the results promised in the sales brochure? Why choose one plan over another? Will you find a bodybuilding regime that you can actually stick with?

Here are some tips to make it a little easier to find a great regime and get the results you want:

* Look for Top Marks

Ask around, read the blogs, do your homework. When you find a bodybuilding regime that sounds promising, check to see what others have to say about it. Find out if the product or program has been tested.

Ask for advice from other athletes and instructors. Search online for consumer ratings and fitness blogs. Sales brochures should never be taken as gospel, so conduct your own research to find proven data and experimental results.

* Find Fitness That Fits

Don't start a program if it's not right for you. Ask yourself if you can do it, and answer honestly. If you think the bodybuilding regime will be too taxing, or won't challenge you to you full physical potential, keep looking. Know whether the routine is right for you before you make the commitment. Be sure that the program meets your personal requirements based on your age and training level, workout duration and whether you are a member of the product's target demographic.

Your body is unique, so the program that worked wonders for your neighbor might not be best for you. Some routines, for example, are simply too taxing for teenagers with smaller and less developed muscles. A seasoned bodybuilding veteran, on the other hand, won't benefit form the degree of training offered in a beginner's program.

* View the Whole Picture

A well-planned bodybuilding regime that promises results will incorporate a number of elements. Look for a routine that clearly states and involves goal setting, training loads, progress monitoring and recovery periods. When you're investing your time, money and sweat, you want more than a "just do it and see" semi-promise. You want assurance that the program you choose will bring major results.

Your bodybuilding regime should incorporate progressive training. Choose a routine that offers guidance on changing your workout loads, as well as periodic progress monitoring. Do one-rep maximums, take regular measurements and don't be shy around the weight scales; monitoring your weight is the best way to directly measure your progress and success.

Recovery periods are frequently overlooked in bodybuilding regimes, but are essential to your success. Your body will be working hard and it will also need to rest. Periods of recovery are absolutely necessary, so look for a routine that incorporates regular rest periods into every phase of training.

* Stay for the Duration

You success may not lie in the exercise itself, but rather in the duration of the routine. Repetition is an important element to realizing optimal results in any fitness routine, but it's also important to implement a gradual progression from level to level.

Choose a bodybuilding regime that clearly indicates how much time should be spent on each level, before progressing to the next. You shouldn't push yourself too hard or move forward too quickly. Feeling like you've failed, or suffering an injury when you're just starting out, will only reduce the likelihood of meeting your fitness goals.

If you're serious about getting in shape and realizing your full fitness potential, take the time to find the bodybuilding regime that will work best for you.