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workout questions

mlsnet43

New member
Hey, I am kind of new to weight training, I have been doing it off and on for about a year, but about a month or so ago I started to really lift weights seeing as I finally got weights.

We own a 300 Ib weight bench, (bar, weights, bicep curl attachment) and I use that every other day.

Here is my routine:

On Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays I work out

I usually do 3 sets of bench presses. (flat, about 115 right now)
3 sets of bicep curls (bar)
Abs
Bar Hangs and pullups
Forearm curls

I considered doing deadlifts..but I'm not sure..

Can you guys give me some advice on if what I'm doing is good, or if I need to do different things or a new routine?

BTW. I am 15, about 145 pounds, and about 5'8
 
You really should be squatting and pulling from the floor (deadlifting).....you're at a prime age to make huge gains, and at 5'8 and 145 you've got LOTS of room to grow.

Your routine should be centered around progressively improving (for example) the squat, deadlift, barbell row, military press, and bench press. Pick a squat, a pull, and a press, and pick a set/rep range to hold constant so that you will know if you're actually making progress.

If you've got time, take a look at the 'training sticky' at the top of this board and try to read through and digest as much as you can.

If I were you, I would probably have a "A workout" and a "B workout". I'd do workout A, then take 2 or 3 days and do workout B, then take 2 or 3 days and repeat.

Both workouts should have a squat/pull/press, and each time you should strive to add weight to the bar. When you plateau on that, you may want to structure a M/W/F type setup that requires a little more planning.

What are your current goals?? If you're a little overwhelmed with the sticky, I could make a sample routine for you.
 
First off, let me just say that you've got everything you need at home right now! 300 pounds and a straight bar will get you pretty far, to start.

Spend a little time on www.exrx.net and get familiarized w/ anatomy and some exercises. That's a very good site and they have animated exercise descriptions.

I'd suggest, again, looking at the sticky at the top, and reading about Rippetoe's program. It's linked inside the training vault sticky. It's a GREAT starting workout.

Deadlifts are a very good exercise and actually quite simple but take some getting used too. I'd suggest trying them w/ just the bar and maybe 25s on each side. There's a description of the deadlift here:http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=354220

You can live w/out it but it's such a good, basic movement that you oughta' learn it at some point.

Feel free to ask questions as you get started . . .there can be a lot to take in when you first start.
 
Great advice above.

Regarding you gym setup: from your description of it and exercise selection, I'm guessing that you have a regular rack and not a squat or power rack. I'd very strongly recommend getting a power rack if you plan on working out at home for two reasons. First, obviously, you need it to get the bar to the appropriate height for back squats (and standing OHP, although you could probably clean it into position for these). Second, safety. Not to try to scare you, but a couple times a year, somebody posts something about a young guy who dies trying to lift alone without a spotter. The safety bars in the power rack will allow you to lift alone without having to worry about getting trapped under a failed bench press.

You can start doing deads immediately with your current setup. Rows are another great exercise that are done off the ground; maybe do them in place of or addition to pullups as your primary back exercise.
 
Just to add- When you train abs it'd be a mistake to think of it as a bit of glamour work. Your core is what stabilizes your entire body and the force of your lifts are transmitted through this region. Strengthening this area is just as important as any other are in the bid to become strong. This will also help keep you injury free by protecting your internal organs and other vital areas such as the small of your back. The training Informaton sticky, as has been mentioned, is the place for information.
Same thing goes for hamstrings. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not there.

Otherwise, I'd second biggt's A-B plan. Your body is still fresh and will grow fastest off the full body workout. It's only as you seek to develop specialized skills is it necessary to break things up into a split. For now it's best to stick with the basic compound lifts in order to build the strong foundation.
 
Yeah, I want to add that benching at home would require a power rack or a spotter....the spotter is of course just in case you get pinned, NOT to grab-ass the bar and team bench with you....but just wanted to say that again since it was already pointed out since it is important, anything can happen when lifting weights, make sure you lift safely, no need for a senseless accident.
 
Yes, I am fully aware of having a spotter..I would hate to get stuck there...

Anyways, yes biggt, if you could make up a routine or something, that would be great..

I will take a look at that site, and in the meantime I will take a picture of the weight set I own. Don't think it is a power rack, though.
 
mlsnet43 said:
Yes, I am fully aware of having a spotter..I would hate to get stuck there...

Anyways, yes biggt, if you could make up a routine or something, that would be great..

I will take a look at that site, and in the meantime I will take a picture of the weight set I own. Don't think it is a power rack, though.
it's great that your starting off pretty early... i always wish i could have myself.
check the training vault sticky at the top of the first page of this forum... mark rip's 3x5 routine would be an excellent routine first up.
 
Oh and, I tried out doing deadlifts.I think I did it right...it doesn't feel natural though. (I only used two 10's though...I'm a wuss, I know lol)
 
It doesn't feel natural because with 10's the bar is so low to the floor, it creates an unnaturally long, awkward pull......give me like 15 min and I will post a sample routine for you.
 
Well, in all honestly, the only thing that really feels “natural” is sitting on the couch, napping, etc. The weight training stuff is hard and will be painful for awhile, but after you get in the groove, the movements become ‘natural’ as well. But it takes time. It’s worth it though, IMO. Consistency is key. Read up on the Rippetoe program in the ‘training vault’ above.
 
Alright, something like this is what I was talking about, the idea is that you're at a level where you can keep adding weight to the bar on all of your lifts at all of your workouts, so long-term planning and pre-planned poundages will actually inhibit your progress because you're not the same lifter from day to day because you'll be gaining strength at such a rapid rate.

The idea is to work hard with a lot of volume on a few select lifts. Don't train to failure because you want to be able to add weight to the bar each and every time and prolong 'hitting a wall' for as long as possible.

Here it is...this is NOT gospel, it is not magic, I just thought up a way real quick for you to get good at some compound lifts. The key is to NOT MISS any reps, don't have your spotter do any work, you won't progress if you do tag team benching......also, make sure you squat ass to the ground with no touch from the spotter. If you finish all 5 on your last set easily, don't 'bang out more'....stop and add 5 or 10 lbs next time.

Also, you need to eat......not a gay bodybuilding diet of boiled chicken and Splenda.....eat like you want to grow hair on your chest and wrestle polar bears....I recommend a gallon of milk a day, a huge breakfast of eggs, meat, oatmeal, 2 or 3 school lunches, PB and J preworkout, 2-3 servings of whatever Mom makes for dinner, and more PB and J before bed......that is my standard diet I recommend for high school guys trying to get big.

Workout A

Back Squat (5x5 add weight each set, then take a little weight off and do 1x10)

Deadlift (5x5 add weight each set)

Flat Bench (5x5 add weight each set, then take some lbs off and do 3 sets of 10 with a close grip)

Full range situps (3 or 4 sets of however many you can do)

Workout B

Back Squat (5x5, add weight each set, each time you squat try to do 5lbs more on your last set than you did at the previous workout. After the 5x5, do 1x10 and try to add 5 or 10lbs to the last 1x10 from the previou workout)

Standing Barbell Overhead Press (5x5, add weight each set, then take a little off and do 1x10)

Barbell Row (See the sticky for description of Pendlay rows) (5x5, add weight each set, then take a little off and do 1x10)

Barbell Curl (3 sets of 8, add weight each set)

Full Range of motion situps (3 or 4 sets of as many as you can do)

Do workout A on Mon, Workout B on Thurs, then workout A again on Sun, and workout B again on Tues.....so you rest 2 days between workouts, when you get conditioned you can try every other day, when your gains begin to slow, tell us and we can tweak some stuff for you.
 
5X5 means 5 sets of 5 reps, right? I thought you were to do from 8-10 reps, and if you do 10 easily then add more weight? But this works also?
 
That's a nice, solid workout which should keep you happy and growing for quite a while. You've done well, all he gave me were 20-rep squats. ;)

5x5 is a good rep-range to work with. As time passes (lots of time) you'll learn when to vary it up or down. Take especial note about not blasting away to failure just because you get all the sets and still feel as though you have more to go. Adding weight next workout will slowly take up the slack and you'll get steadily stronger. It might happen from time to time that you don't make all of your reps but the idea is that you do make the lifts. Train to success not failure.
 
mlsnet43 said:
5X5 means 5 sets of 5 reps, right? I thought you were to do from 8-10 reps, and if you do 10 easily then add more weight? But this works also?

It works great for 99% of the people who try it 99% of the time, lol....the other 1% fuck it up by doing moronic things like triceps pushdowns with 37 different attachments the day before heavy benching then wonder why they missed their lifts.

The sets/reps aren't magic, there is no voo doo component with a secret set/range for growth.......5's are nice in that they tend to foster more long-term progression than 8s or 10s, and they aren't purely neural like 1-3 reppers, so they stimulate growth.

Just try it as is for 2 months, if you eat enough you'll love the results.
 
mlsnet43 said:
Alright thanks, though, won't eating make me gain more bodyfat? I mean, I DO want a 6-pack :D

Do you want to grow hair on your chest and wrestle Polar bears or do you want a 6 pack??

I am just kidding around......at your age, as long as you train hard and you don't eat too much shit (dorritos, chips, candy, ice cream, sugary drinks like soda and iced tea etc etc) you shouldn't get fat. And if you start to put on too much weight in the mid-section, scale back the eating a little, no harm done.

Start a journal on here too so everyone can follow along with your progress.
 
Also, I took the time to type all that out because you seem to have a legit interest.....any 15 year old kid awake at 9 AM on his Summer vacation trying to get weightlifting info. is most likely pretty serious about it.
 
Alright lol.

I was looking at the workout A and B..add weight each set.. what if I can't add weight after every set? Do the same weight?
 
mlsnet43 said:
Alright lol.

I was looking at the workout A and B..add weight each set.. what if I can't add weight after every set? Do the same weight?

Set it up so you will be able to.....don't just blindly add weight and go for broke.....have an idea of where you are. If you can't add weight from set to set or from workout to workout, stay put until you can....but really, if you do it intelligently, you should be able to add weight set to set, workout to workout for a good 6 months at least.....be patient, gradual increases add up over time.
 
Get bigger. Right now you're at a great age to put on some nice gains and you only weight 145 pounds right now. bulk bulk bulkk don't worry about six packs yet lol. I went from 160 to 195 with not too much of a fat gain, and i'm the same age as you. Really...don't worry about getting fat, you won't, and don't let the bloat scare you like you've added 10 pounds of fat in a few days.
 
Lol Alright. I really appreciate it biggt. Start a journal on my workout, just a new thread, and whenever I do my workout just add what weight I added and..etc?
 
Awesome! I feel quite envious. It took me years to get and work out good training info. Start a log. It'll be incredible for everyone to see someone of your age making gains and you'll get lots of feedback on your workouts.

Good luck.
 
mlsnet43 said:
Lol Alright. I really appreciate it biggt. Start a journal on my workout, just a new thread, and whenever I do my workout just add what weight I added and..etc?

Yeah, try to add 5lbs to the last set each and every workout.....and yeah, just start a new thread, the journal will keep you consistent if you know people are waiting on you to train.....plus you'll get lots of feedback from others.....plus, I think it'll get a ton of views because we'd all love to be 15 again and able to add weight to the bar each workout and get bigger and stronger by the day.
 
Alright, I will start it tonight after my new workout :D ( I haven't worked out since Friday...Been sore!)

thanks, and I'll post later :chomp:
 
Here's my personal opinion on some things I think you should accomplish.
1.) Set goals and push yourself to achieve them.
2.) Learn the perfect Technique on every exercise you want to do. (Ask someone in a gym, or order starting strength like i did. www.startingstrength.com)
3.) Eat, Eat, Eat.
4.) Listen to the guys on this board. They're VERY knowledgable.
 
Hey, I have a question about back squats...They don't work out your back..right? Or do they?

But my question is, how do you set it up? I know how to do it..but getting the bar over behind me head..hmmm :rolleyes:
 
Nice linK. It's all right there at your fingertips. Didn't have a deadlift,though, so I'll post this one: Precision Pulling Doesn't have a vid, but it breaks the DL down nicely and should take some of the guesswork out.
 
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