Newb in the house!

cantfitmyjeans · 07-23-2008, 04:55 PM

What's up gym rats? Name's Charlie. Don't believe the screen name, i fit my jeans. I just enrolled in the Dungeon and wanted to see what it's all about and to congregate with my fellow iron workers.

i have been lifting for about 6 years now and i am 23 years old. i have worked at a vitamin store and sold gym equipment in my many lines of occupation and am a avid gym rat myself. i train 5 days a week, separating each body part for a day (chest, back, arms, legs, shoulders and sometimes abs). i have experimented with various types of work outs and exercises and i am always open for suggestions as well.

i am 200 lbs but need to drop a good 15 pounds to get where i want to be. i am not massive, but a good size for my height. i am not cocky, but not unaware that am progressively larger than my other counterparts. i do cardio at least 3-4 days a week on or off my work out days. my diet isn't very good and that is a hefty bulk of what i need to improve.

my best attribute are my arms because they stand out the most. my shoulders are quite recognizable, but they need more mass and density. my chest needs more thickness and upper pec build. my back is coming along quite nicely, but it isn't as hard and dense as i would like it to be. my lats are flaring just a bit, but it needs size and i have to bring out my lower lats more as well. my legs are of decent size (proportionate to my body, but i need to add thickness and detail to the quads and hams despite the fact that i hate doing legs just like everyone else)

but as you can see, i am honest and i know what to improve. my training is something that i've bundled together over the years gathering information from other lifters, magazines, books and personal experimentation. i have done quite well with the training, but i have done poorly in the dieting department.

i don't have the hopes of ever competing, but if i shall ever become the shape that i would love to become, it would be inevitable. i lift for the challenge, i lift for the fun of it and the great benefits to my life it brings me. i love the sound of iron clanking, weight stacks banging, grunting due to heavy weight and feat against the solid side of a treadmill. i was made for this stuff.

**rIPPDUP** · 07-23-2008, 05:18 PM

welcome to the dungeon bud. keep striving towards your goals man. if there's anything i can do to help, all you gotta do is ask.

cantfitmyjeans · 07-23-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rIPPDUP

welcome to the dungeon bud. keep striving towards your goals man. if there's anything i can do to help, all you gotta do is ask.

thanks man! i have the motivation, determination and dedication all built in myself, so i don't see any problems with reaching my goals! i'm doing my best in the gym, i just need to work on getting better outside the gym.

if i may ask then:

i am currently undertaking a mass building program. i just started it yesterday but it is quite simple and to the point.

3 sets. 6-8 reps. 4 exercises per body part. i go heavy, but am limited because i don't have a spotter/training partner.

what should my diet be like? i'm really bad at this part of it so i'm not sure how to go about it. and also, how much cardio do you think i should be doing?

Banshee · 07-23-2008, 06:37 PM

I just want to say welcome to the board. Hope you enjoy your time here like I have so far, I'm new here as well :) but if you read around there is alot of good info to be found at this wonderful site!

**Freak** · 07-23-2008, 07:03 PM

First you say you need to lose 15lbs but then you say you are on a mass program. I'm confused about what your goal(s) are. We can definitely help you out with a diet. If you could get your bodyfat% that would be greatly appreciated but is not required.

**allstar** · 07-23-2008, 08:26 PM

welcome! stay active

cantfitmyjeans · 07-24-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freak

First you say you need to lose 15lbs but then you say you are on a mass program. I'm confused about what your goal(s) are. We can definitely help you out with a diet. If you could get your bodyfat% that would be greatly appreciated but is not required.

yes, i would like to lose about 15 pounds to be in great shape with abs and such to be able to show off and stuff, but i would like to get the size up a bit. i can see why it's confusing. if i could lose the weight and build more mass, that would be ideal, but i know how tough that is. which leads me to another question.

should i lose the fat first and then gain the mass? or should i mass up and then lose the fat? the only thing that i am sure of is that i want to be decently ripped. i am currently at 17 percent body fat.

am i making any sense now?

let me explain what i changed:

the prior 4 weeks i did this routine that i found in muscular development. i think it was called fst 7. basically this is what it constituted.

5 exercises

first three are only one set using the highest weight possible with optimal recovery time.

the last two exercises were 7 sets straight a piece with only 45 seconds of rest in between sets, but optimal recovery time between exercises.

this was a great, great work out because it was intense, it gave a great pump, and it was short. i saw results in the second week due to the change up in my work outs.

then...

i was on bodybuilding.com and happen to watch a video of the animal pak guys (evan centopani and erik frankhauser) doing arms and holy shit did it occur to me that i needed some size. that's when i decided to go back to doing a mass program.

hence the confusion and small predicament i am in. that is why i am asking for advice. in order to prioritize for the summer (or what's left of it) is shedding the fat. but...i wanted to add some size and that's where i get a little confused. help??

thank you for being patient with me. =D

cantfitmyjeans · 07-24-2008, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar

welcome! stay active

will do good sir! as my favorite saying goes....finish strong!

cantfitmyjeans · 07-24-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banshee

I just want to say welcome to the board. Hope you enjoy your time here like I have so far, I'm new here as well :) but if you read around there is alot of good info to be found at this wonderful site!

yes, there is plenty of sources and great information on this site. what is so great about it though is that there are a mix of guys and gals who love to lift at any level, at a domestic, personal and professional level. and also, i would like to thank you for your positive welcome and i wish you a great time here as well.

stay on the grind and finish strong!

**Freak** · 07-24-2008, 07:59 AM

Here are the basic guidelines for determining to cut and bulk.

12/13%bf is the time to stop your bulk. So if you above it cut to the single digits. It gets too hard to gain lean mass when your bf is that high.

cantfitmyjeans · 07-24-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freak

Here are the basic guidelines for determining to cut and bulk.

12/13%bf is the time to stop your bulk. So if you above it cut to the single digits. It gets too hard to gain lean mass when your bf is that high.

oooh. thank you for the tip! i never really did much on the diet side of training, all i did was work out. so i'll really have to keep this in mind.

**Freak** · 07-24-2008, 11:17 PM

We will be glad to help you out with your diet.