I see a TON of different programs floating around the T-Nation. I’m a little uncertain where to start. I am looking for advice from those who have applied some of these workout programs.
I have been lifting for about six months now. I am looking for the “underwear model” physique. I am currently 6’ 0", around 150 lbs, at around 11% BF. I have put on visible muscle since I started, but I’m still more of a beginner. On the other hand, I have been reading a lot about nutrition and and how muscle building works.
I have been through some basic stuff. I tried about two months of HIT, which I think actually put a little muscle on me, but got too repetitive. Before that was just stuff my trainer threw at me. I concentrated on doing the combo fat loss/muscle gain during most of that time, which worked out well. But I’m ready for more.
As my size might indicate, I am a slim build. When I was younger, I had one of those humming-bird metabolisms where I could eat anything and not gain an ounce. I’m 39 now, and that doesn’t work anymore. I actually took about 15 lbs off in the past six months to get where I am. But that’s where I came from. I was a skinny bony kid, and only now that I have a slower, more mature metabolism, am I seeing results from weight work. I think I am more slow than fast-twitch fibers, though I’m not sure I remember anymore how to tell the difference.
My goal is to put some muscle on my chest, biceps, triceps, lats, forearms, calves, in that order. I have been blessed with very strong quads, which is odd on someone skinny everywhere else. I was doing one set of 12 reps of 500lbs on the leg press while doing HIT. The rest of me moves a LOT less weight! The goal is to visibly bulk without getting bulky. I think I would be happy with putting on 25lbs of muscle.
So… any suggestions on programs that might fit me well, based on the collective experience of the T Nation?
Thanks for ideas!