Clueless beginner seeks advice

Re:Clueless beginner seeks advice (mcsdan)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:19:29 GMT

Welcome to the forum.

I am assuming you are a student from your comment about cycling to college. So also assume a routine that has to fit in with that commitment and finances?

You could use your dumbell/barbell set at home for training and perhaps visit a PAYG gym once a week to do the things you can't do at home. Here is a possible routine for you that should see you gain some strength, muscle and easy to fit in.

Home: once a week

Shoulders, Arms, Abs

3 sets of each exercise reps 10,8,8

Barbell Press
Upright Rows
Dumbell Lateral Raises
Barbell Curls
Dumbell Concentration Curls
Dumbell Tricep extension
Dumbell Kickbacks
Crunches

Gym Workout Once a week

Legs, Chest, Back

3 sets reps 10,8,8

Squats or leg press
Leg curls
Calf raises
Incline dumbell bench press
Flat flyes
Pulldowns
Rows
Leg raises

Try to keep at least 2 days between workouts but better would be say gym on a Sat and home on a Wednesday.

HTH

Re:Clueless beginner seeks advice (para1966)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:09:22 GMT

You can do plenty at home with just a barbell and a couple of dumbbells.
If you have a browse through the articles section and the forums you should find all the information you need.

Clueless beginner seeks advice (YorkieMatt)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:26:44 GMT

There's a shock! lol These kinds of posts must annoy plenty, but there's a section for it here, and i'm absolutely clueless so why not?!

Basically, I don't know where to start!

I'm 24years of age, 5ft 9 and 85KG, i've always had pretty pathetic upper body strength and this is something I really want to change, aswell my body in general as unfortunately like far too many my age, i'm carrying a little bit of a gut!

I have started to train twice a week at muay thai boxing (30mins warm up, 60mins pads etc...), and bike twice a week to college, which alltogether is about 25miles. As for weight training, I do nothing at all, which will be why my strength is laughable! And im really not sure what type to do or what kind of programme. If im honest I find gyms a bit uncomfortable, not in that im intimidated, but more that I feel embarassed when lifting, and often struggling to lift, pathetically small weights in comparison to seemingly everyone else there! Hence why I got out of the habit of going a long time ago. I have a dumbbell and barbell at home, but I appreciate thats probably not enough as far as a workout is concerned?!

I eat reasonably well in that I eat plenty of fish, chicken and pasta, but i'm not sure on the right amounts, how often etc... are approproate in order to gain muscle mass.
Also theres the question of supplements. Are things like creatine a valuable tool, or a waste of time for a beginner?

I guess maybe i'm in the wrong place as I don't have aspirations to bea huge bodybuilder, in which case I apologise for wasting your time, but I do have aspirations to be big, or atleast of a decent solid size!

One slightly related question i'd like to ask. I'm sure many of you go on nights out with friends etc... what do you choose to drink?!

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings, all help and advice is massively appreciated! Cheers!