timbrom Member

Something like Starting Strength will provide you with a good foundation of general strength. Sounds like you're already doing some of it, but the basic program has you squatting, bench pressing, overhead pressing, deadlifting and power cleaning. The book goes into a lot of depth on form for the lifts, as well as a…

Cardio can really interfere with weight training. If you really, really, really love running, and you're OK with it interfering with your ability to follow a program like Stronglifts or Starting Strength, then you can make that decision. If not, just lift.

You probably shouldn't read the whole thing cover to cover in one go, I'll grant you that. However, I found the descriptions in Stronglifts to be incomplete. My form and understanding of the lifts improved greatly after reading Starting Strength. Just my 2 cents.

I'm going to put in my plug for Starting Strength. I started with Stronglifts 5x5, but bought Starting Strength about a month in and wish I had bought it sooner. Stronglifts 5x5 pretty much gives you the bare minimum you need to move forward without completely screwing yourself up. Starting Strength is a 374 page textbook…

For weight loss, no, it does not matter in the slightest. If you are about to put in a really intense workout, then carbs before and carbs and protein after will allow you to go a bit harder in the gym, which will have positive effects, but it has no direct relation to weight loss.

3 iron. Not like I'll use it on the course anyhow :)

Speaking as someone who has done both programs, Stronglifts didn't give me everything I wish I had known when I started. I really wish I had started with Starting Strength over Stronglifts. Stronglifts may be ok if you just want the bare minimum of information to get going, but there's a lot of detail about performing the…

I think that the most succinct way to put it is that Stronglifts is good, but it is not complete.

347 pages of very detailed descriptions of the five major lifts. What common problems are, how to correct them, how to compensate for different anthropometry, the precise mechanics of barbell training, much more information on programming. Essentially, so much more detail it's frankly embarrassing to the Stronglifts…

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I started doing Stronglifts 5x5. It's free, and you get what you pay for. Picked up Starting Strength about a month into doing Stronglifts, and while the programs are close to the same, the amount of detail that Starting Strength goes into leaves Stronglifts in the dust. One of the best $30 I've ever spent (and the Kindle…

If you are going to have access to a fully stocked gym in a week, get Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe and follow the program. Best intro to weight training money can buy.

http://thefitcoach.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/584/

I don't normally workout in the mornings, but when I do I find that if I have just a little something in my stomach I feel much better. Something like half a banana, an apple, even just a little bread or something. I eat that right before I work out.

The tl;dr version is eat carbs pre workout, carbs and protein post workout, try to keep fat lowish. Not that it makes a huge difference, especially at the novice level.

If someone is really interested in the nitty-gritty of how this works, pick up Practical Programming for Strength Training, by Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore (note: the next edition is coming out soon, sometime before Christmas). Goes very in-depth into the various neuromuscular enhancements that happen during lifting. ADP…

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One thing to keep in mind is that for some things the FDA dictates what the serving size is. So, in some cases it's stupid FDA, not stupid food manufacturers. Just gotta make sure the hates gets spread around properly :)

I'd still very much recommend picking up a copy of Starting Strength. You won't be able to completely "Do The Program" if you're still doing LISS cardio, but it will teach you a lot about lifting, proper form, and should give you some idea of the programming you need. As to specifics, I just lift so I can't give any…

Oh, and you'll probably want to start eating a bit more once you start weights, maybe around 1800 calories. Get at least 125-150 grams of protein. I wouldn't stress too much about the carbs, you'll need those to fuel your workouts. You'll probably gain some weight at the beginning, it's just water retention caused by your…

Exercising, in and of itself, doesn't really help reduce fat. That comes from a calorie deficit. Strength training helps you retain your muscle mass, which has several benefits, one is that muscle burns more calories per pound than fat, so it keeps your BMR higher, another is that it makes you look better naked . It sounds…

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Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training by Mark Rippetoe

I'd recommend reading Starting Strength and Practical Programming for Strength Training if you're serious about adding muscle. You won't be able to really do the Starting Strength program with running that much (it'll kill your recovery), but those two books should give you the knowledge base you need to design a program…

On number 2, you're on your own (see what I did there :smile:). But number 1 sounds like a diet thing. Try eating some carbs before and after, about 1/4 of your daily carbs before and 1/4 after, and get some protein after too. See how that affects you.

I'll second starting strength, excellent, excellent resource if you don't know how to start. Also, I know exactly 0 people who are strong who hate that they are strong :laugh:

Oh - slightly off topic, but a suggestion on your press - I did stall pretty hard on my overhead press and got to the point where I couldn't make 5lb jumps anymore. I could get 115, but just couldn't do 120. Tried deloading, got stuck at the same place. Picked up some heavy washers (5/8 lb each) and started adding just 2.5…

1RM matters in a competition. 1RM matters if you're in a life and death situation where you need to get something heavy out of the way. Testing your 1RM, especially as a beginner, is an absolutely senseless way to injure yourself. And remember, you don't stall until you're under the bar and the weight won't go up anymore.…

Go buy the book Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Starting-Strength-Basic-Barbell-Training/dp/0982522738/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377182918&sr=8-1&keywords=starting+strength Everything you need to know to get started on a heavy lifting routine. Getting help from people is…

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