So... I need to get into shape

[Actaeon]

I just decided I need to improve myself, and get myself into shape. However, I have no idea where to begin. I've never been an athletic person at all, so I'm hoping to get a little bit of advice from some of the members here.

One of my biggest problems I see is that I am too skinny. I'm 5'9", and weigh probally 125-135lbs. I never had a problem with being skinny all of my life, but I figure I need a change. I figure I should be fat by now. I have bad eating habits, all I drink is Soda, and I never exercise, but I am still very slim.

I don't have any exercise equipment at all, and I have no idea where to start. I can't go to a gym simply because I don't have the time to. I'm working alot (45 hours last week), and I still have classes (12 credit hours), so my workout routine has gotta be only an hour or two a night, when most places are closed.

My goals are to just improve self image so I can be happier with myself. I don't care about being the strongest guy in the whole world, but just to improve myself as a person.

Should I be riding a bike? Jogging? Are there any exercises I can do without buying much equipment?

I appreciate all the help. Thanks.

 

[amol]

http://www.geekfitness.com

 

[SynthDude2001]

Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

 

[Cawchy87]

I always tape exercises that are on tv and do them.

Usually just simple hand weights.

Sharron Mann. Excellent.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

Not necessarily. I am really the wrong person to be asking for advice though, so I don't want to lead you in the wrong direction.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

Get a set of hand weights

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

What are your goals? Weight gain, strength, endurance, or improved health? A good exercise program would have to be tailored to fit your needs.

 

[axelfox]

My workouts (weights) last usually around an hour. You can fit it in.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

What are your goals? Weight gain, strength, endurance, or improved health? A good exercise program would have to be tailored to fit your needs.

I suppose a little bit of all of that would be nice, but to narrow it down, I suppose I can make it specific towards self image. I have a skinny look, and I want to get rid of it. Not neccessiarly become musclar, or huge, but just get rid of the skinny look.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

What are your goals? Weight gain, strength, endurance, or improved health? A good exercise program would have to be tailored to fit your needs.

I suppose a little bit of all of that would be nice, but to narrow it down, I suppose I can make it specific towards self image. I have a skinny look, and I want to get rid of it. Not neccessiarly become musclar, or huge, but just get rid of the skinny look.

:camera:?

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Lifting weights should help you build muscle mass...don't go crazy though.

I don't really have much helpful advice though. I'm just an inch or so shorter than you, and uh...quite a bit heavier. Good luck though.

I would need a small home gym for that right? Is there anyway to do exercises similar without having to buy much equipment?

What are your goals? Weight gain, strength, endurance, or improved health? A good exercise program would have to be tailored to fit your needs.

I suppose a little bit of all of that would be nice, but to narrow it down, I suppose I can make it specific towards self image. I have a skinny look, and I want to get rid of it. Not neccessiarly become musclar, or huge, but just get rid of the skinny look.

:camera:?

Let me see if I can get one from my cell phone. I don't have a regular digital camera at the moment, so that'll have to do. I have OLD pictures, mostly just a facial shot, but nothing with my body. My most recent picture was just my head.

 

[SportSC4]

you can work out arms, chest, back, traps, abs, and shoulders with dumbbells. check out your newspaper for garage sales and you can pick them up really cheap.

diet is very important. make sure you are eating enough every day and eating healthy. quit drinking soda. try buying some crystal light. it's still sweet and it may help to ween you off soda.

edit: for your legs, try short bursts of leg exercises (quick sprints, up hills are even better) and then ride your bike or jog for a little while and then finish up again with sprints.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: SportSC4
you can work out arms, chest, back, traps, abs, and shoulders with dumbbells. check out your newspaper for garage sales and you can pick them up really cheap.

diet is very important. make sure you are eating enough every day and eating healthy. quit drinking soda. try buying some crystal light. it's still sweet and it may help to ween you off soda.

edit: for your legs, try short bursts of leg exercises (quick sprints, up hills are even better) and then ride your bike or jog for a little while and then finish up again with sprints.

Sounds like a pretty good plan. I can use a set of cheap dumbbells for my upper body, while doing those leg exercises for my lower body. Hopefully I can get in a hour or so of exercise in a day.

Now then, the hardest part is eating healthy. Is lemonade or Fruit Punch ok? At work, I have a very limited selection of drinks available. Those are the only non sodas, aside from water, that is available to me.

 

[AbAbber2k]

A gym membership would be ideal, but another alternative would be to just invest in a pull-up bar. Pull-ups are great for bi's, as well as your lats to give you a wider look. For chest, tris and shoulders you can do pushups. Use a wide stance to hit your pecs and place your hands close together to hit your tris more. In addition, if you're up to it, you can do push-ups from a hand-stand position for a more difficult shoulder workout. And like SportSC4 said, sprints would help you work your legs. If you can't find a good place to do it outside, stairs work too.

Don't forget that diet is just as important as well. Eating well will give you much more energy.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: SportSC4
you can work out arms, chest, back, traps, abs, and shoulders with dumbbells. check out your newspaper for garage sales and you can pick them up really cheap.

diet is very important. make sure you are eating enough every day and eating healthy. quit drinking soda. try buying some crystal light. it's still sweet and it may help to ween you off soda.

edit: for your legs, try short bursts of leg exercises (quick sprints, up hills are even better) and then ride your bike or jog for a little while and then finish up again with sprints.

Sounds like a pretty good plan. I can use a set of cheap dumbbells for my upper body, while doing those leg exercises for my lower body. Hopefully I can get in a hour or so of exercise in a day.

Now then, the hardest part is eating healthy. Is lemonade or Fruit Punch ok? At work, I have a very limited selection of drinks available. Those are the only non sodas, aside from water, that is available to me.

NO on the lemonade and fruit punch. That stuff is not real juice and laced up the ass with sugar. More so than soda i believe. Stay away from that stuff. I think you're best bet is just drink water.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

It sounds like you know and realise all of your health faults. Why not first begin by getting yourself a proper diet. Emer-gen-C packets (sold in organic food stores and pharmacies) are great at getting you everything your body needs for the day. Just start doing random things on your downtime. When you get home from the day, take a 30 minute jog, or doa little jogging when you get up. Do some push-ups and situps before bed. Pretty much just get on a ruitine, and most importantly adjust your diet first. Without the proper nutrition, you wont ever have any energy to exercise.

And remember what Tyler Durden said: "Self improvement is masturbation"

 

[Mrvile]

Don't go crazy on health foods though, basically all you need is protein and carbs, cut the cholesterol and fat. Weights would build muscle mass, biking for the legs (running is painful so pick biking). Pushups, crunches, all things you can do wherever and whenever. And whatever you do, no roids

 

[Actaeon]

How are these weights? For a starter like me, it seems like an okay deal. Since I'm not looking for anything fancy, and $20 won't break the bank.

AbAbber, I like the suggestion of a pull up bar. I remember in gym class we had one of those, and that was easy to operate. Unfortunatly, I don't have much room to do all of this. I'll be doing all of this in my room, and I don't know where I would put this thing. Haha, push-ups from a hand stand? I can't even do a handstand :laugh:. I really do appreciate the suggestions, but that seems way more than I am capable of. Can I do a similiar exercise with dumb bells?

So far, I like the dumb bells/sprinting workout. Would that be sufficient, or are there other must-dos?

Honestly, I think the hardest part is going to be eating healthy. *sigh*

 

[ribbon13]

Kool-aid w/ xylitol is a great drink alternative. Xyltiol is 2.4cal/g and its GI is only 13. Nothing beats water though. Can't stress daily multivitamins enough either.

 

[Actaeon]

Doh. No pictures. The software for my phone is having a difficult time connecting.

Oh well. I'm just a very skinny guy, we'll put it that way.

Eh... vitamins... suggestions on that? i've never been a fan of suppliments. I've never taken it before, but I always got the image that it was "cheating". Almost like steroids.

 

[SportSC4]

i was under the impression that crystal light was "sugar free" (actually .1g per serving, but who's counting?). eh, it does have aspartame and some people are more sensitive to that than others. water and fruit juices would be best but i know how easy it is to get back to drinking soda because a person would crave something sweet.

a pull up bar is a kickass idea.

the weights you linked to seem like a good deal. I was used to paying about 60 cents a pound for dumbbells (I only had like 1 dumbbell, haha). you'll be able to do many exercises with a max of 30lb dumbbells (30lbs x 2). Consider buying another set in the future because i'm sure you will easily do at least 30lbs in each arm for dumbbell presses in no time. i'll post some example dumbbell exercises for you later.

edit: wow, first link from google. check out http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html and click on the muscle group you want to exercise. then click on "dumbbells". it will give you a list of exercises with neat little gif animations.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: SportSC4
i was under the impression that crystal light was "sugar free" (actually .1g per serving, but who's counting?). eh, it does have aspartame and some people are more sensitive to that than others. water and fruit juices would be best but i know how easy it is to get back to drinking soda because a person would crave something sweet.

a pull up bar is a kickass idea.

the weights you linked to seem like a good deal. I was used to paying about 60 cents a pound for dumbbells (I only had like 1 dumbbell, haha). you'll be able to do many exercises with a max of 30lb dumbbells (30lbs x 2). Consider buying another set in the future because i'm sure you will easily do at least 30lbs in each arm for dumbbell presses in no time. i'll post some example dumbbell exercises for you later.

edit: wow, first link from google. check out http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html and click on the muscle group you want to exercise. then click on "dumbbells". it will give you a list of exercises with neat little gif animations.

Wow, that is an awesome link for exercises. I think I'll choose one or two I like from each catagory, and practice that.

How many sets and stuff should I do this? I recall hearing something like I should do the exercise until I can't do them anymore (as in, physically can't lift it). Then move on to another exercise. Is that the correct way?

Thanks again guys, I really do appreciate the help. Sorry if I seem like an idiot at this, I really had no background as far as athletics go.

I might just drive to wal-mart right now...

 

[gotsmack]

Buy 1 pair of gloves to protect your hands, 1 set of adjustable dumbells (maybe a curl bar but those things are a pain to move and might not fit right in the trunk of your car), and this book Pushing Yourself To Power. Buy it from a reseller for about $17 shipped.
The adjustable dumbells that I have came in a set of 2 bars 2 of those twist on ends that work like nuts 4X 5lb plates and 4X 3lb plates, cost something like $35

For vitamins I take one GNC Ultra Mega Gold without iron every other day and a vitamin K and potassium magnesium sulfate on the other days.

I take a whole bunch of other GNC stuff too (something like 8 diferent pills) but am looking to cut down to 5 pills a day when I finish the bottles of existing stuff.

 

[skim milk]

being skinny never bothered you?

I'm only about a inch or two taller than you... and weighed 130 pounds when I first started college, the difference is, I was extremely self conscious about my body and posture.... I wasn't able to go to a beach, be topless, etc. without being self conscious and paranoid.

I think it had to do with my lower level of self esteem compared to you... it then got really bad as I started being worried about my slouched shoulders in public places, just so many complications, the more I obsessed about it, the worse it affected me mentally

2 years later, I'm trying hard to fix and feel better about myself and raise my self esteem. I weigh about 145 and work out almost every day.