What kind of lifter are you? (treadmill, stationary bike, trainers, calories)

[RedRage]

I am a beginner (prefer this to the commonly used term "noob"). I lifted weights when I played football in high school but never took it seriously as most of my teammates chose to mess around in the weight room with each other so I had trouble focusing. Right now I'm using a MWF routine I found on another forum and plan on doing P90X concurrently. Once I am comfortable lifting heavier weights, I plan on looking into power lifting to gain strength.

What I've found to be most difficult is going through all the information that is available out there and figuring out if it's legitimate or just BS. Any suggestions on resources? tips? advice? It would be greatly appreciated!

[hooligan]

Go with a proven workout routine and forget all the "cutting-edge" stuff. Westside Barbell for Skinny Bastards, Starting Strength 5x5 or Wendler's 5/3/1.

I'm using Wendler's 5/3/1 system. For about $20 you can download the e-book and everything. Money well spent.

My barbell and bumper plates just got delivered to my house on Monday - woot!

[Momotaro]

Originally Posted by hooligan

Go with a proven workout routine and forget all the "cutting-edge" stuff. Westside Barbell for Skinny Bastards, Starting Strength 5x5 or Wendler's 5/3/1.

I'm using Wendler's 5/3/1 system. For about $20 you can download the e-book and everything. Money well spent.

My barbell and bumper plates just got delivered to my house on Monday - woot!

I am thinking of going with Wendlers in January. I am milking everything I can out of SS 5x5 gains first.

Have you seen good gains?

[tommodonahue]

Originally Posted by hooligan

Go with a proven workout routine and forget all the "cutting-edge" stuff. Westside Barbell for Skinny Bastards, Starting Strength 5x5 or Wendler's 5/3/1.

I'm using Wendler's 5/3/1 system. For about $20 you can download the e-book and everything. Money well spent.

My barbell and bumper plates just got delivered to my house on Monday - woot!

This might be the best post I've ever seen from you!

Also, to the other guy... don't do something for three weeks and say it doesn't work. You've got to stick with a training program or anything for that matter, to see what works for you, for about 6 months to a year... in my opinion

[stan4]

My trainer now has an interesting approach.

I was telling him, "Dude, we can go way heavier than this way faster." And he said, "That's why you keep flaming out. I'm not just prepping your muscles - your joints, etc, have to be ready for the weight."

That kind of took me aback - never thought about it. I mean, that happens every time - I get super heavy and then my wrist or my shoulder or something wigs out. So this may be the plan, albeit with slower gains, that takes me past my previous plateaus.

[Gatsby1925]

Originally Posted by stan4

My trainer now has an interesting approach.

I was telling him, "Dude, we can go way heavier than this way faster." And he said, "That's why you keep flaming out. I'm not just prepping your muscles - your joints, etc, have to be ready for the weight."

That kind of took me aback - never thought about it. I mean, that happens every time - I get super heavy and then my wrist or my shoulder or something wigs out. So this may be the plan, albeit with slower gains, that takes me past my previous plateaus.

That's why I like doing a kind of reverse pyramid. After my warmup, I try lifting in increasing increments for each set. For example, this is what I did on Monday (chest day):

Bench Press, 5 sets. 225X12, 245X10, 255X8, 265X6. 275X5
Dumbbell flies, flat bench, 5 sets. 70X12, 75X10, 80X10, 80X10, 85X8
Incline Bench Press. 5 sets: 175X12, 185X10, 195X10, 205X8, 225X 6(spotter assisted)
Cable flies, 5 sets. 80X12, 90X10, 90X10, 100X10, 100X8
Decline Bench, 5 sets. 135X12, 155X10, 155X10, 175X8, 175X7

[TAM88]

Originally Posted by RedRage

I am a beginner (prefer this to the commonly used term "noob"). I lifted weights when I played football in high school but never took it seriously as most of my teammates chose to mess around in the weight room with each other so I had trouble focusing. Right now I'm using a MWF routine I found on another forum and plan on doing P90X concurrently. Once I am comfortable lifting heavier weights, I plan on looking into power lifting to gain strength.

What I've found to be most difficult is going through all the information that is available out there and figuring out if it's legitimate or just BS. Any suggestions on resources? tips? advice? It would be greatly appreciated!

I wouldn't run a 3 day full body split, along side the P90X. Do one or the other.

Since you are just starting out, you should continue doing your M-W-F. I would run a beginner program for at least 3 months to get your body acclimated to the lifts and used to the stress they will place on your body. Then move on to a more advanced/higher volume workout.

[hooligan]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

I am thinking of going with Wendlers in January. I am milking everything I can out of SS 5x5 gains first.

Have you seen good gains?

The gains with the Wendler program are set into the routine - 5 lbs/month for presses and 10 lbs/month for lower body. Consistency is the key, increasing your bench or OHP by 30 lbs in 6 mos is nothing to sneeze at.

[tommodonahue]

Originally Posted by Gatsby1925

That's why I like doing a kind of reverse pyramid. After my warmup, I try lifting in increasing increments for each set. For example, this is what I did on Monday (chest day):

Bench Press, 5 sets. 225X12, 245X10, 255X8, 265X6. 275X5
Dumbbell flies, flat bench, 5 sets. 70X12, 75X10, 80X10, 80X10, 85X8
Incline Bench Press. 5 sets: 175X12, 185X10, 195X10, 205X8, 225X 6(spotter assisted)
Cable flies, 5 sets. 80X12, 90X10, 90X10, 100X10, 100X8
Decline Bench, 5 sets. 135X12, 155X10, 155X10, 175X8, 175X7

If you're going for strength, you don't need flies.

[Novadhd5150]

Casual weightlifter 2-3 days a week focusing on complex moves .