Newbie + Workout = Advice Needed

[AndrewR]

If you're working three days, you might want to consider this breakdown: chest/triceps, back/biceps, and legs/shoulders. Each day you'll have one major exercise (bench press for chest, deadlifts for back, squats for legs) and then add more exercises for the secondary parts and to put more stress on the main area.

If you're very new at weight lifting, you might consider buying a comprehensive bodybuilding book (don't know any current titles) or subscribe to Muscle & Fitness. M&F has excellent articles on nutrition and proper form and some suggested routines (which are usually worthless since they are unreasonable for normal humans, but they give you a good idea of the different exercises and how to combine them). You could also look at Flex or some other muscle mags to get more opinions and more exercises in a short span of time. If you stick with one mag, it'll take awhile to get a range of articles. Or, go to a library and check out some books.

I take creatine and have noticed some amazing results with it. I am older, however, so the effect may be more pronounced for me given the comment above. Basically, it has allowed me to work harder and longer without nearly as much soreness. I suspect that the workout intensity would probably work for you, but soreness might not be necessarily as much of an issue for you (it wasn't as bad for me when I was younger). It's a benign supplement, but do some research on your own.

Good luck!

 

[Overkiller]

Originally posted by: Legend

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
it's the 8,333% of your daily recommended intake of B12 that's turning your urine yellow.

Wow, I didn't see that one.

Stop taking those bullshit vitamins.


I think these vitamins are a much better strategy:

http://dan.xtend-life.com/products.asp?product=tb&page=mens_plus

Offer a broad arrange of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables that we don't get everyday. Much better than supplying yourself with 2.5 months worth of minerals per day. It really is bad for you. There was a study showing that 500 mcg of vitamin C at once makes Vitamin C act as an oxidant, the exact opposite of what it should do.

http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/hmed/1998/04/19980409_proox.html

oxidizing DNA = aging.

But for body building, that's not a cost effective way to benefit it. Load up on healthy foods, whey protein, fish oil or walnuts, etc. Screw vitamins

I figured too much of one thing is bad; much like fat-soluble vitamins which remain in the body if in excess versus the water soluble ones.

I eat healthy but I cannot guarantee that I am getting everything that I "should"

I picked up some whey protein last night. I will probably get those vitamins you list above. Anyone else disagree.

As for going to a board specific to this I figure I have seen discussions on this in the past so it wouln't hurt. I did not want to spend oodles of time finding a proper community because, honestly, I could not tell one from the other.

Also; I hate leg work-outs so I prefer the suggestions for the squats/deadlifts!

 

[Legend]

Just warning you that those vitamins are very expensive, and that it's much better for the sake of body building to work on diet. If you take a full dosage rate, those vitamins cost like $800/year. Note that a daily serving is 6 pills.

They're great vitamins from my experience, but for bodybuilding, I doubt they help too much. I've seen body builders eat complete junk and bulk up. Those vitamins are really designed as a supplement to help you get optimal health (immune system, brain health, reduce rate of aging, improve sense of wellbeing). Diet is still more important.

But at the very least, don't take anymore of those mega 8000% daily serving vitamins.

 

[Overkiller]

Originally posted by: Legend
Just warning you that those vitamins are very expensive, and that it's much better for the sake of body building to work on diet. If you take a full dosage rate, those vitamins cost like $800/year. Note that a daily serving is 6 pills.

They're great vitamins from my experience, but for bodybuilding, I doubt they help too much. I've seen body builders eat complete junk and bulk up. Those vitamins are really designed as a supplement to help you get optimal health (immune system, brain health, reduce rate of aging, improve sense of wellbeing). Diet is still more important.

But at the very least, don't take anymore of those mega 8000% daily serving vitamins.

Well this is a whole package deal that i intend on doing. So yes, the vitamins/minerals were more for overall health and wellbeing and not body building; I figured it would be good to ask. No way would I take the full serving. I don't take the full recommended dosage for my Mega 8000% ones now!

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Red Dawn]

Actually using machines is not bad if you also use free weights. Lets say you use free weight for your regular bench press, using a machine for your incline will allow you to lift heavier. I also suggest Cable Flys. The free weight bench press will take care of your stablizers which are the muscles you'd be neglecting if you just used Machines.

When I want to work real intensely (lifting real heavy with few reps) I use machines and I get great results. Of course I'm 51 and I have to be careful with my back and shoulders. You being young shouldn't have the same problems.