GordyR's Beginners Guide to Bodybuilding

naknakkus · 17 Apr 2009 at 11:02

I'll check it out. Problem is that I don't have a car, so picking them would be a hassle (but it would be a good work out!). Doesn't seem to be anything in my area at the moment.
I'm experimenting with putting stuff I don't need in my bag when I'm cycling - books etc, hopefully it will increase my leg strength.

Should I be looking for a bench with a bar and weights? I don't know much about weights (obviously) but do I need the separate ones that I'd lift in both hands, or just the long bar?

Fothsn · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:02

Okay complete beginner here!

I am 22 currently 11.5 stone and am about 5’9; I need to get some muscle mass!! I have never being to a gym let alone lift weights!
I’ve being looking at these muscle and weight gainers are they any good?

Looking to buy a home multi gym so can work out when I fell like it.

semi-pro waster · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:24

Fothsn said:
Looking to buy a home multi gym so can work out when I fell like it.

Free weights are generally thought of as better than multi-gyms/machines because they co-opt more stabilising muscles into your workout plus your movements can follow a natural path rather than one prescribed by the machine.

A multi-gym would be better than nothing but if you've got the space and money for a decent sized one you could probably buy a power rack and bench which will allow you to perform the main compound exercises.

For detailed advice I'll defer to one of the wiser folks in here but that would be my initial thoughts.

Fothsn · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:30

semi-pro waster said:
Free weights are generally thought of as better than multi-gyms/machines because they co-opt more stabilising muscles into your workout plus your movements can follow a natural path rather than one prescribed by the machine.

A multi-gym would be better than nothing but if you've got the space and money for a decent sized one you could probably buy a power rack and bench which will allow you to perform the main compound exercises.

For detailed advice I'll defer to one of the wiser folks in here but that would be my initial thoughts.

Ah thanks! I will look into a bench and power rack, do you mean something like this rather than a multi gum?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...t_12108295|Weights+and+dumbbells|12108306.htm

semi-pro waster · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:46

Fothsn said:
Ah thanks! I will look into a bench and power rack, do you mean something like this rather than a multi gum?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...t_12108295|Weights+and+dumbbells|12108306.htm

Kind of, more along the lines of bench and rack with an Olympic bar and weights. However it can get very expensive very quickly and I don't know what your budget is, buying quality now is better than buying cheaply and buying twice though.

Or a cheaper option for the squat rack and pick a suitable bench and Olympic bar to go with it.

Ben M · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:56

Morba said:
another one liner from Morba:

"You don't grow in the gym, you grow out of it."

"To say that Morba is the Jesus of powerlifting would be bother blasphemous and untrue.... Jesus is more like the Morba of loving thy neighbour, only with less sleeping and eating."

Morba · 17 Apr 2009 at 23:53

hahaha

semi-pro - is it you who has the monster plate loaded gym thing that Cutler advertises?

semi-pro waster · 18 Apr 2009 at 09:38

Morba said:
semi-pro - is it you who has the monster plate loaded gym thing that Cutler advertises?

I wish, I've just got some cheap York bench and weights that sits in my parents garage in Edinburgh while I go to a gym in Dundee.

The yellow Powertec bench/rack combo that I linked to is the one Ultra_Extreme has I think.

Fothsn · 18 Apr 2009 at 14:42

semi-pro waster said:
Kind of, more along the lines of bench and rack with an Olympic bar and weights. However it can get very expensive very quickly and I don't know what your budget is, buying quality now is better than buying cheaply and buying twice though.

Or a cheaper option for the squat rack and pick a suitable bench and Olympic bar to go with it.

Well it’s only something to try and see if I see any gains, I’ve just bought the kit from Argos for £50 which seems good value, I don’t have a bench yet so I will have to make do without, time to get pumping!

Fothsn · 21 Apr 2009 at 15:40

Just bought some Dymatize Nutrition Mega Gain - 8lb. Flavour: Vanilla to help me put on some weight! I am unsure of how much to take daily? Is this a waste of £30?

Buffman · 21 Apr 2009 at 16:23

Fothsn said:
Just bought some Dymatize Nutrition Mega Gain - 8lb. Flavour: Vanilla to help me put on some weight! I am unsure of how much to take daily? Is this a waste of £30?

If you don't know what it's for / how much to use, then yes I'd say it's a waste.

Fothsn · 21 Apr 2009 at 16:28

The Craig said:
If you don't know what it's for / how much to use, then yes I'd say it's a waste.

I know exactly what’s its for, have read numerous product review and studied the ingredients! But nowhere it states how much to take.

Buffman · 21 Apr 2009 at 16:41

Fothsn said:
I know exactly what’s its for, have read numerous product review and studied the ingredients! But nowhere it states how much to take.

It'll be a different amount recommended for every user though, it may give a guideline of 30g but you use it for your own needs, eg how many calories do you want to add to your diet?

Morba · 21 Apr 2009 at 19:23

Fothsn said:
Just bought some Dymatize Nutrition Mega Gain - 8lb. Flavour: Vanilla to help me put on some weight! I am unsure of how much to take daily? Is this a waste of £30?

thats odd, normally it would give a serving suggestion at least.
most gainers are quite a few scoops

Fothsn · 21 Apr 2009 at 21:09

Morba said:
thats odd, normally it would give a serving suggestion at least.
most gainers are quite a few scoops

It states to take 2-3 scoops in water or milk, but doesn’t say how much to take daily, I don’t want to take too much of the stuff? I have had 3 glasses today.

tom_e · 21 Apr 2009 at 21:28

Fothsn said:
It states to take 2-3 scoops in water or milk, but doesn’t say how much to take daily, I don’t want to take too much of the stuff? I have had 3 glasses today.

its 540kcal per 3 scoops so if you want to add 1500odd kcals then your doing it right, but none of us can tell how many cals you need to add to your diet.

Fothsn · 21 Apr 2009 at 21:33

blitz2163 said:
its 540kcal per 3 scoops so if you want to add 1500odd kcals then your doing it right, but none of us can tell how many cals you need to add to your diet.

Ah it’s me being stupid! I see how to work it out now, like you say it depends on my diet

SBD · 21 Apr 2009 at 22:13

Fothsn said:
Ah it’s me being stupid! I see how to work it out now, like you say it depends on my diet

Dude you really need to check your thread in the for sale section :rolleyes:

kicks66 · 24 Apr 2009 at 15:10

Im a pretty scrawny person, ive always had quite thin arms. Recently ive started running a lot to build up my leg muscles, mostly long distance stuff, but id also like to build up my upper body. I dont want anything major, just a bit of muscle along my arm. What sort of stuff should I do to achieve this?

Morba · 24 Apr 2009 at 18:56

running long distance to build muscle in legs?
have you seen long distance runners?

i think i read a long time ago, to add 1" to your upper arm you need to add around 10lb of lean mass across your whole body.
that means doing a proper routine with proper nutrition... a good place to start would be the opening post in this thread