From thin to thick, Diary of a wimp

[Cogman]

Brief Intro

For those that don't know me, My name is Thomas, I've invested (wasted) many an hour on these boards. I'm 24, studying Computer Engineering, and the biggest wimp you'll ever meet. Currently I weigh around 135 lbs and am 6'1 (yes, I do look like a toothpick.). I've told myself in the past that I want to workout, get in shape, ect. However, I've always developed excuses/lost interest. My biggest fault in this area is the fact that I don't like people seeing just how weak I am. It has prevented me in the past from going to the gym, but no longer.

I'll be attempting to do the Stronglift's 5x5 with an increased caloric/protein intake (no supplements). So wish me luck, and curse at me in the PM if I don't keep updating this thing

Day 1 (6-Feb-10)

I really don't know what got into me this morning. I hadn't planned, the night before, to do any sort of work out. Rather, I woke up (at about 5:00 am, Yeah, I'm crazy) and said to myself "Screw it, I'm going to go to the gym." and that was the start of things. Living with a roommate, I had to carefully navigate my room to find my gym cloths in the dark. Quickly and quietly as I could, I left the room trying not to disturb anyone living in my apartment.

Getting to the gym was not all the difficult. However, going for pretty much the first time was pretty embarrassing. Scattered around the gym where older teachers that I had never met before. I must have passed them 2-3 times looking for the free weights room. Eventually, after looking like a lost child for several minutes, I stumbled upon the free weight room. There my training began.

Most of the exercises I had to do by what I remembered from previous motivational research spells (I've been think about doing this for a while really). I was lucky enough to have gotten pretty much every exercise right from memory. There was one other guy in the room, which was fairly embarrassing to me. I was only benching and squatting the bar (as per the stronglifts 5x5 instructions).

The height of my embarrassment came, however, when midway through the workout one of my teachers walked in and addressed me by name. I felt very stupid lifting an empty bar, but just had to keep telling myself "It is better to get form and safety down and look like an wimp then it is to maintain a little dignity and risk injury". I am a little sore, so I'm glad I didn't start trying to do the most possible.

The one workout that I didn't really do correctly was the inverse rows. I didn't think to use the squatting rack to do the rows and ended up getting a pretty poor row workout. Lesson learned for next time.

Diet

As exercise only goes so far (an I'm sure you are all thrilled to know what I eat, whatever, suffer through it for me ). My diet, so far, has been

2xeggs (over easy, cooked in butter, with some lemon pepper and onion salt, mmm)
3xpancakes with peanut butter and syrup.
1xglass of whole milk

1xcan of chili
1xcan of peaches

several glasses of whole milk
lots o almonds
pan o frys + chicken nuggets
Should be near 2500-3000 cals probably all I can eat for tonight.

Day 2

Well, I feel a bit stupid. There is a thing with my religion where at the first Sunday of every month, we fast for two meals. Guess I won't get the full calories today .

Apart from that, I woke up and noted what felt sore, abs, pecks, and strangely, just my right upper leg. I hope that doesn't mean that I was favoring that leg. I'll have to be careful and insure that I'm evenly distributing the weight.

 

[katank]

Good job on getting started. If you are trying to gain weight, 1500 is waaay too little. Learn to scarf down at least 2500-3000 calories a day.

Fairly healthy and weight gaining foods:
Whole milk (up to a gallon a day) - Rippetoe's GOMAD approach is built for people like you
Eggs - feel free to eat more than 2 a day (4 or more is perfectly fine)
Almonds - good source of healthy fats and easy to put away (also has some protein and fiber)
Walnuts - another source of good fats and contains a healthy wallop of Omega 3's.
Cottage cheese - more weight gain.

Also, I'd recommend eating a lot more fresh vegetables/fruits. If you can cook some green, leafy stuff, it'd be much better than the canned stuff.

 

[Cogman]

I guess I should have been a little clearer, that is what I've eaten so far for the day thus far (I agree, 1500 is TOO low.)

However, scarfing down more milk seems like something I can do. A glass with every meal should do the trick. I'm not a big nut fan, but can give almonds a try. Cottage cheese sounds great though.

As for the vegetables, yeah, I need more. I just don't always have the patience to prepare fresh vegetables (and hate to throw away stuff). I usually don't buy a whole lot just because I end up wasting it, I guess I should change that. A good fresh tomato is always nice.

 

[Bucks]

You shouldn't feel embarrassed. I started out skinny as well (135lbs... 5'9") but within 3 months of bulk dieting and going to the gym religiously, I was at 165 and felt great (and more confident). This was over a summer and when I got back to school literally everyone I saw for the first time back the first thing they said was "Wow, you look big". Felt so good my hard work got noticed. Just use an ipod when you go to the gym to keep your mind off other people. Remember, the other people are at the gym trying to change themselves as well...they aren't perfect.

 

[brikis98]

Congrats on getting started. Learn to ignore other people in the gym. Everyone starts somewhere and if you stick to SL 5x5 and a good diet, you'll be adding weight to the bar in a hurry. To add weight to your body, you need a serious caloric surplus. One of the most effective ways to do that is GOMAD.

 

[Cogman]

I just went out and bought a couple of gallons of milk for the next couple of days. (and some almonds, they are tastier then I remembered). I don't know that I'll be able to squeeze a full gallon in today, but I should be able to come close if I work at it. Thanks for the tips!

 

[brikis98]

I just went out and bought a couple of gallons of milk for the next couple of days. (and some almonds, they are tastier then I remembered). I don't know that I'll be able to squeeze a full gallon in today, but I should be able to come close if I work at it. Thanks for the tips!

Be sure to start gradually with the milk, as explained in the "How to Make GOMAD Easier" section of the SL GOMAD page. As with weight training, you need to start slow and work your way up so your body has plenty of time to adapt.

 

[Jinru]

Props to you Cogman, keep it up! I remember the first time I entered a packed gym 2 years ago in my scrony 5'9 125lb frame. Stick to it and watch your strength increase over the coming months, the embarrassment phase will pass.

 

[MotF Bane]

Ignore everyone else. They are irrelevant. An iPod is a good suggestion.

Make sure you get your form correct now though, rather than have to go back and relearn something later.

 

[mizzou]

I used to go to a golds gym religiously while in college. The school gym was always packed full of frat boys who would just sit on the bench for facetime and you basically could get NOTHING done.

Paid out the @$$ for a golds gym monthly membership, but I went all the time. I would go at odd hours because i worked night shifts, so i may be there at 3:00 am or 9:00 pm either working out before or after work.

The way the demographics worked in the free weight room, you had people who came in like clockwork, people who show up randomly that you never see before, and people who occasionally dabble in lifting while doing cardio mainly.

You get to know people quickly because you constantly have to ask someone for a spotter if you go by yourself like I did.

Don't be scared/intimated/or feel ashamed if you need to ask a spotter and the only people around are like 300lb gorillas. The mentality at least at the place I went to, there is a respect given to everyone who shows up and puts in 100% effort in their workout to get towards their goals. That includes people who have been there forever, and people just starting!

 

[HendrixFan]

I started out at 5'8" and 120 lbs. Over the course of a few years I worked that up to 160-165 lbs.

Remember that you are doing this for yourself, and it doesn't matter who else is at the gym. You have nowhere to go but up, you just have to stick with it. Once it becomes a routine for you, the results will be obvious. You will feel better, have more energy and need less sleep. You will look better and walk around with more confidence. Most importantly you will be healthier.

You should take pictures of yourself now, flexing and not flexing. In a couple months take similar pictures. Keep doing this. The changes will be gradual and because you see your body everyday you might not notice the change. Comparing the pictures will give you a better idea of your progress and keep you from being discouraged.

 

[spamsk8r]

Check out 70sbig.com for some good motivation and reading material on getting bigger and stronger. If you eat big and lift consistently your body will have no choice but to grow. Good luck!

 

[gramboh]

You'll find the nervousness/embarassment will go away pretty quickly once you get into a routine and are used to the place/equipment. No shame in starting with the bar, honestly if anyone in your gym has a clue they will respect you for doing squats/deadlift etc. Drink as much milk and eat much as you can, you will see results pretty fast. Honestly at your size I would try to eat 5k+ cals which means consuming junk (ice cream, burgers etc) but I understand many people don't want to go that route.

 

[Bobalude]

Keep at it. I started at as a 125lb stick as well and benching 80lbs or so. A year later was up to 150 and benching my weight. That was with a poor teenager diet and just diligent weight lifting.

And on the bright side, once you put on the muscle, its hard to lose the strength. It comes back fast even if you lapse working out for a long time..