New to lifting weights (soreness, muscles, gym, push-ups)

[ChicagoGinger]

I've just started lifting weights to increase the size of my chest, biceps and abs.
I'm still sore 2 days later. Should I wait until the soreness is gone or go back tonight like I planned?

Also, how many machines (Chest press, bicep curl, ab machine, etc) should I use each time I go to the gym? I go Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon.

[guy1]

I cannot emphasize this enough: TAKE A CLASS OR FIND A TRAINER. IMMEDIATELY.

Get proper training or there is a significant risk of injuring yourself. I am speaking from first hand experience.

You owe it to yourself to learn how to lift weights properly.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by guy1

I cannot emphasize this enough: TAKE A CLASS OR FIND A TRAINER. IMMEDIATELY.

Get proper training or there is a significant risk of injuring yourself. I am speaking from first hand experience.

You owe it to yourself to learn how to lift weights properly.

I'm going to have to agree here - learn what you're doing and learn how to do it properly first. A trainer works (many gyms offer free initial consultation or a brief introductory class on lifting for little/no extra cost), find an experienced partner, read up on it, whatever. I suppose by coming here and asking you're on the right path.


If you're new to lifting it will take a while for you to recover. Up your protein intake and sleep. Your body will eventually catch up and recovery will come quicker.

It sounds like you're more or less working everything when you go lift. Usually people split things up - Maybe legs and shoulders one day, chest and triceps another day and then back and biceps (just a common example).

How many machines should you use each time you go in? I'm not a big fan of machines, but how many sets and reps you do can vary, depending on your goal. Right now I would strive for three sets of ten on a couple exercises per muscle group exercised. Further down the road I'd try 5x5, pyramids, volume training and other rep schemes.

It also doesn't sound like you're doing the right exercises for a solid weightlifting program. I know chest, abs and biceps are seen as the most important for vanity purposes, but you'll be much better off if you get into compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, rows, barbell bench press and shoulder presses.

Going Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday might be a bit of an overload. Is there any way you can stagger it so that you have a day or two between gym visits? Maybe Friday, Sunday and Tuesday?

[ChicagoGinger]

El Rhino
I hired a trainer at the gym. He didn't want to show me the machines so I dropped him. He only wanted me to do push ups and squats for him as fast as I could. I was sore for 5 days and he said he'd need many weeks of that before I'd be ready for a machine. Sorry buddy, I'm not paying you for 'many weeks'. Waste of $100.

This is what I'm doing.

Squats 3 sets of 10
Pull down (50lbs) 3 sets of ten
Chest Press (50lbs) 3 sets of ten
Torso Twist (90lbs) 3 sets of ten
Bicep curl (45lbs) 3 sets of 10
Sitting Crunch (90lbs) 3 sets of ten

[StrengthCoach23]

Originally Posted by ChicagoGinger

El Rhino
I hired a trainer at the gym. He didn't want to show me the machines so I dropped him. He only wanted me to do push ups and squats for him as fast as I could. I was sore for 5 days and he said he'd need many weeks of that before I'd be ready for a machine. Sorry buddy, I'm not paying you for 'many weeks'. Waste of $100.

This is what I'm doing.

Squats 3 sets of 10
Pull down (50lbs) 3 sets of ten
Chest Press (50lbs) 3 sets of ten
Torso Twist (90lbs) 3 sets of ten
Bicep curl (45lbs) 3 sets of 10
Sitting Crunch (90lbs) 3 sets of ten

Really? The trainer made you do push-ups and squats fast?

If you're just starting out, slow down! Cut down your sets to 1 or 2 and the reps to 6 or 8 for a few weeks. You're gonna be a little sore anyway if you've never lifted before, but there's a high risk of injury as mentioned previously if you aren't doing it right (or too much). 5 days for soreness though is way too much.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by ChicagoGinger

El Rhino
I hired a trainer at the gym. He didn't want to show me the machines so I dropped him. He only wanted me to do push ups and squats for him as fast as I could. I was sore for 5 days and he said he'd need many weeks of that before I'd be ready for a machine. Sorry buddy, I'm not paying you for 'many weeks'. Waste of $100.

Yeah, that's another issue that we didn't touch on.... There are a lot of people out there who have the occupation of "personal trainer" but really have no clue what they're doing. A good PT would have started out by showing you the basics and how to do them properly. You're ready to use machines once you know how to use them and your physician deems you healthy enough to begin an exercise program (gotta put that disclaimer in!), it's as simple as that.

My advice to you is to think about moving over to free weights and of course having someone show you how to properly use them. If you're uncomfortable with that now, think of doing it a little ways down the road when you're a little more comfortable with the gym.

[fishnfool]

drop the machines, learn proper technique and go to free weights. Don't work out the same muscles 3 times a week or every other day, etc. Stagger them. You build muscle by tearing (which is why you're sore) and allowing the muscle to regrow and recover. You aren't allowing for any recovery by working the same muscles multiple times a week. When first starting out, recovery will take longer. Eventually you'll learn to listen to YOUR body and figure out a good schedule, but there is no magic formula.

[JRider23]

Originally Posted by ChicagoGinger

I've just started lifting weights to increase the size of my chest, biceps and abs.
I'm still sore 2 days later. Should I wait until the soreness is gone or go back tonight like I planned?

Also, how many machines (Chest press, bicep curl, ab machine, etc) should I use each time I go to the gym? I go Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon.

First of all, do not get a personal trainer. Most PTs at commercial gyms are terrible and will show you the machines. Machines are 100% inferior to free weights. They restrict your range of motion, take all stabilizer muscles out of the equation, and aren't optimal for size or strength.

You want to learn how to squat deep, deadlift, bench press, military press, power clean, and row. These lifts work the most muscle groups at once and give you the most "bang for your buck". For example, when you deadlift, you work your hamstrings, quads, lower back, traps, biceps, and abs. Compare this to something like leg curls and tell me what you think is more effective

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by ChicagoGinger

I've just started lifting weights to increase the size of my chest, biceps and abs.
I'm still sore 2 days later. Should I wait until the soreness is gone or go back tonight like I planned?

Also, how many machines (Chest press, bicep curl, ab machine, etc) should I use each time I go to the gym? I go Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon.

What are you trying to do - lose weight and get more lean or gain large amounts of muscle? Both require different strategies.

If you are sore that means your body is healing. Wait until you are not sore to work out those particular muscles.

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by ChicagoGinger

El Rhino
I hired a trainer at the gym. He didn't want to show me the machines so I dropped him. He only wanted me to do push ups and squats for him as fast as I could. I was sore for 5 days and he said he'd need many weeks of that before I'd be ready for a machine. Sorry buddy, I'm not paying you for 'many weeks'. Waste of $100.

This is what I'm doing.

Squats 3 sets of 10
Pull down (50lbs) 3 sets of ten
Chest Press (50lbs) 3 sets of ten
Torso Twist (90lbs) 3 sets of ten
Bicep curl (45lbs) 3 sets of 10
Sitting Crunch (90lbs) 3 sets of ten

Trainers can be useful, but if you do any research you can figure out stuff on your own (and save a lot of money). I strongly advise that you go to bodybuilding.com. Those guys know their stuff.

If you want to lose weight then I advise doing a lot of cardio and a comprehensive weight-lifting workout Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Mix it up every once in a while when your exercises get too easy. If you are a skinny guy trying to gain weight you need to eat a ton of food, not do a lot of cardio, and lift very heavy weights while focusing on one muscle group per day.