BasketCase
Username sez it all
Workout Basics:
#1: When starting out, DO NOT max yourself out. Even if you can do 20 curls with a 40-pound dumbell after having never stepped into a gym in your life, don't. You'll be sore for two weeks and very likely damage something. For your first couple of weeks, stick to a weight that you can do 8-10 reps with a reasonable amount of effort. Once you've got your routine going, THEN it's okay--in fact, it's good--to up the weight and really put some effort into the lifting.
#2: DO NOT WORK OUT EVERY DAY. Cardiovascular should be fine, but AVOID weight training on any single muscle group two days in a row. That causes damage. When you work out, you're basically tearing muscle cells. Those cells need time to rest and recover after a grind. Also avoid working a muscle group that's close to or related to a muscle group you worked yesterday; working arms one day and working shoulders the next can cause part of your shouler workout to hit your arms while they're still recovering. Think upper body one day, lower body the next.
#3: Do an all-around workout. Even if you just want a beefy chest or just good abs or big guns or whatever, work out everything. First off, this builds up all your various parts so they can all take the weight you're putting on them. If you have weak arms, you can injure yourself doing a heavy chest workout. Cardio counts too. Don't make the mistake I did; I went mostly weightlifting and didn't get enough cardio in. As a result of which, my body didn't really have the plumbing developed enough to get the energy to whatever muscles I was actually lifting with. Keep the entire car in good shape, don't just fix the cylinder block and neglect the rest of the car.
#4: Once you get your routine going, STICK WITH IT. Skipping your workouts for only two weeks can cause you to lose progress, and you'll feel it next time you pick up the steel. If you're out of the gym for a week or more, take five to ten pounds off the bar next time you lift.
Right now, I'm on kind of a sabattical from lifting; the manager of my previous gym tried to screw me when I wanted to suspend my subscription, so I dumped his ass. Still looking for another decent gym around town. I think I might just get some free weights.
#1: When starting out, DO NOT max yourself out. Even if you can do 20 curls with a 40-pound dumbell after having never stepped into a gym in your life, don't. You'll be sore for two weeks and very likely damage something. For your first couple of weeks, stick to a weight that you can do 8-10 reps with a reasonable amount of effort. Once you've got your routine going, THEN it's okay--in fact, it's good--to up the weight and really put some effort into the lifting.
#2: DO NOT WORK OUT EVERY DAY. Cardiovascular should be fine, but AVOID weight training on any single muscle group two days in a row. That causes damage. When you work out, you're basically tearing muscle cells. Those cells need time to rest and recover after a grind. Also avoid working a muscle group that's close to or related to a muscle group you worked yesterday; working arms one day and working shoulders the next can cause part of your shouler workout to hit your arms while they're still recovering. Think upper body one day, lower body the next.
#3: Do an all-around workout. Even if you just want a beefy chest or just good abs or big guns or whatever, work out everything. First off, this builds up all your various parts so they can all take the weight you're putting on them. If you have weak arms, you can injure yourself doing a heavy chest workout. Cardio counts too. Don't make the mistake I did; I went mostly weightlifting and didn't get enough cardio in. As a result of which, my body didn't really have the plumbing developed enough to get the energy to whatever muscles I was actually lifting with. Keep the entire car in good shape, don't just fix the cylinder block and neglect the rest of the car.
#4: Once you get your routine going, STICK WITH IT. Skipping your workouts for only two weeks can cause you to lose progress, and you'll feel it next time you pick up the steel. If you're out of the gym for a week or more, take five to ten pounds off the bar next time you lift.
Right now, I'm on kind of a sabattical from lifting; the manager of my previous gym tried to screw me when I wanted to suspend my subscription, so I dumped his ass. Still looking for another decent gym around town. I think I might just get some free weights.
