Ultimate Newb Questions Thread

[BendtheBar]

I want to post serious questions that newbies ask, and give them serious answers. Make this thread a reference point when newbs hop on board.

Ask questions that newbs would ask, and answer them.



Q1...I am 15, and am 5'7", and weigh 110 pounds. Can I bulk without gaining fat?




Q2...I am 15, and am 5'7", and weigh 210 pounds. Can I gain muscle and lose fat?




Q3...I am 5'10", and weigh 260 pounds. I have 12% bodyfat. My question is...

[BendtheBar]

Q3...I am 5'10", and weigh 260 pounds. I have 12% bodyfat. My question is...

You do NOT have 12% bodyfat. That would mean you have a base lean muscle mass (weight minus fat) of 228.8 pounds. Pound for pound, this would make you much larger then Arnold Schwarzenegger. In fact, you would be a good candidate for the Mr. Olympia.

TRUTH...You have 160-170 pounds of lean muscle mass tops at that weight. Your bodyfat is more like 35 to 38%.

It doesn't matter how much your scale cost, or how fancy the online calculator was. You are NOT the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time.

Please, take a serious look in the mirror. If you dwarf Mike Mentzer is this picture, you may very well have 12% bodyfat.



If you still don't believe me, there is nothing we can do to help you here.

[Grim83]

Q2...I am 15, and am 5'7", and weigh 210 pounds. Can I gain muscle and lose fat?

A. yes you but the method will be dependent on your starting condition. generally the best answer here will be to take a few steps

1. clean up your diet, you know the gig
2. get on a well designed program
3. add in a little cardio first thing in the morning, or after your workouts

without more information i cant help beyond this

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by MuscleandBrawn

Q1...I am 15, and am 5'7", and weigh 110 pounds. Can I bulk without gaining fat?

You are underweight. It's first best for you to eat your way to a normal weight, then assess your body composition. Made it a goal to hit 150 to 160 pounds.

If you're too obsessed about abs to eat, then we can't help you.

But if you DO hit 150 to 160, and train like a madman in the process, it will be much easier to see if you're an easy fat gainer, or easy muscle gainer.

[BendtheBar]

BTW, just because one of us answers a question, don't let that stop any of you from providing your own slant on the question...

[Grim83]

Originally Posted by MuscleandBrawn

Q1...I am 15, and am 5'7", and weigh 110 pounds. Can I bulk without gaining fat?

No, you will always gain a little fat with the muscle, but really you need to get over this fear,yes you can keep your fat level under control, but your main priority should be to gain as much size as possible

[BendtheBar]

Q4..I've been lifting for 2 weeks. Is my 6 day split good? I start with flyes...

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by MuscleandBrawn

Q4..I've been lifting for 2 weeks. Is my 6 day split good? I start with flyes...

No. You're overtraining.

For a newb, isolation exercises are not allowed. Nor are 6 day splits. Train 3 days a week, preferably fullbody, and master the basic lifts.

[Grim83]

Originally Posted by MuscleandBrawn

No. You're overtraining.

For a newb, isolation exercises are not allowed. Nor are 6 day splits. Train 3 days a week, preferably fullbody, and master the basic lifts.

yeah that was right there next to "thou shalt not kill" on the 10 commandments right

[moore_716]

Q5I just started lifting a weeks ago. Why don't I see a change? I am doing the same exercises all the big guys at the gym do.

My answer (my experience) It's easy to read a magazine and watch people do this or that for a certain body part. The hardest thing about making gains is actually knowing what it feels like when you really hit the muscle. That and doing things in different orders will affect my first statement.

I may babble here. These are my own experiences and others may disagree, but this is what I've learned over the years. first it's not about the weight. Do light weight at first so you can feel the muscles burn yu are trying to hit. If yuo go to a gym and watch 10 people do lat pulldowns all 10 will do it differently most likely. I do mine in a way that I can feel it working my lats. I also do biceps first so that I don't cheat as much with my arms. I have been lifting for a long time now and have gotten stronger. So I now user heavy weights. I know how to user the weights to stil hit my target muscle in when cheating though.