Goals

[runwithme]

What are some realistic goals to set for yourself when you are just starting out body building? I have been doing it for a short time and am mostly a runner but just thought I would ask.

[Soldier]

I'd say the big thing is to be specific with goals. It's hard to tell you what they should be, because people can want so many different things from lifting. Don't be afraid to be ambitious with your long term goals. Too many people are too cautious when they make goals about fitness, but of course you also want to be realistic based on your situation. Running will hunder your ability to gain mass and strength, so you'll have to decide which is more important and focus your energies on whatever is more important to you. This focus should also be reflected in how ambitious your goals are for each part of your fitness plans.

You can choose lots of different ways to measure your progress, based on what you want to do. If strength is your main goal, then base your specific goals on what numbers you want to move. If mass is your main goal, then base your specific goals on gaining a certain amount of weight without going over a certain amount of bodyfat gained. Another way to set muscle mass goals is to figure out your current bodyfat %, then set a goal of gaining as much weight as possible until you reach another bodyfat %. An example would be in someone were 170lb at 12% bodyfat and decided to gain as much weight as they could before they reach 17% bodyfat. At that point they could set the goal to return to 12% bodyfat while retaining as much muscle as possible.

Did that make sense?

[TitanCT]

Is gonna be pretty hard to be a devoted runner and lift like a bodybuilder...youre gonna get sick of food fast.