So you want to start lifting? Great!

RECowgill wrote: »

This is very good advice of course, I would go a bit further and simplify your list of information personally. There are lots of different exercises to do, but only 5 that someone who is new should do:

* Back Squat --- http://youtu.be/dQFsSj2IUAo
* Bench press --- http://youtu.be/34XRmd3a8_0
* Deadlift --- http://youtu.be/nXfzWe-6t0w
* Standing Overhead press
* Bent over row
(I'm adding in a few example vids that I like, but please do your own research).

You already mentioned them, but I would really emphasize these 5. These 5 are the only lifts a new lifter needs to do. They are the most rudimentary lifts every lifter should know. It took me months to figure that out, wish I would've had someone spell that out for me in the beginning. Do these 5 and ignore everything else. Literally. Until you get good at them, everything else is wasting time.

These 5 compounds can be a little bit scary for newbies, they were for me. I suggest you go on YouTube and search "how to" on each one (how to deadlift, how to bench, etc). Lots of good proper instruction will come up. Watch and learn at least a few videos on each move to get a sample for the different subtleties and nuances from different instructors.

A word of advice: maybe you're a dude who thinks he knows how to do one of these already, like benching. You probably don't, actually. Learn from these people who really know what they're doing and please study proper form. Even if you think you know, review the basics. Do it periodically. The last thing you want when lifting is an injury.

The worst thing you can do is copy what others do at the gym. Please don't, people at the gym don't know what they're doing. The reason: people don't study. They don't ask critical questions. Some do, most don't. If you copy others you see, listen to your boyfriend or whatever, odds are their knowledge is incomplete and probably bad. YouTube videos are your best crowd sourced knowledge base. Do your own research. Please get in the habit of researching and studying.

I'd skip pushups, pull-ups, chin-ups and dips to start. They are good compounds sure, but many new people don't have the strength to do 1 pull-up. Build some strength using the 5 then start incorporating other compounds like those. Really, every exercise is superfluous outside of the basic 5 lifts. I'd also argue they just aren't as good, pull-ups are a good compound but they only work a subset if the body. Squats etc work the entire body, and really need to be learned first.

And the sooner you do and learn the 5 compounds the better off you'll be. If you're serious about lifting it will take you years to master all 5. They inform so many other lifts (there are many variants of them, related lifts etc) and it's almost impossible to know them all. But to start it's really that simple, the more complex and deeper stuff will come later.

And as some twins say, it's just advice. Do your own research and figure it out.

piperdown44 wrote: »

giusa wrote: »

I've been running the SL program since March, would like to now focus on lower body, can anyone guide me to a program that works lower body? Or any other ideas/suggestions?

Unsure of what you mean?? SL has you squatting 3x per week....that's pretty much focused on lower body?
Do you mean extra accessory exercises?

Robbnva wrote: »

Fujiberry wrote: »

Just a brief note/point that I wanted to make since I've seen a lot of friends offline make this mistake recently.

If you just started or have been lifting for only a few months, don't do any of those split routines. Split routine meaning this:

- Monday: Biceps, Chest [Bicep curls, dumbbell chest flys, ... ]
- Tuesday: Hamstrings, Back [Cable Kickbacks, Good Mornings, ...]
- Wednesday: Shoulders, Triceps [Shrugs, Tricep kickbacks, ... ]
- etc, etc.

You don't need those separate days. You don't need isolation exercises. Splits like that are for intermediates. A lot of isolation work won't do you a lot of good if you don't have a good muscle base. Think of them us 'touch-up work' or as the 'decoration' to your plain frosted cake.

Focus on compound lifts.

Compound Lifts:
- bench
- squat
- deadlift
- pull ups
- rows
- military press

If you still want a split instead of a full body workout of compound lifts, do an upper/lower split, like this:

Workout A: Upper
- Bench
- Pull ups
- Rows
- Military Press

Workout B: Lower
- Squat
- Deadlift
- Leg Press
- Calf Raises

Alternate, and workout every other day.

If you have a great muscle imbalance where one side is very, very clearly so much stronger than the other, where one side is completely dominant (as in my fellow fencers out there), then feel free to add a bit of isolation/unilateral work to try and even yourself out.

Have a good day, everyone~!


Good beginner programs include:

Starting Strength
Strong Lifts
New Rules of Lifting for Men/Women
All Pro's
Strong Curves

Some are/can be free. Just look on google or at Bodybuilding.com


Any other suggestions?

So last year i started doing the strong lift and kind of got away from it. Don't really like doing deadlifts, rows, and even squats (with weights). So what other options do you or anyone else suggest? I can do body weight squats, I don't mind bench presses, can probably deal with dumbbell curls or something like that. Is there a beginner plan that doesn't involve a variation of strong lift or starting strength?

teresamwhite wrote: »

In so I can keep the videos handy...


Thanks for the advice! It's much appreciated!