I see a lot of threads on here started by people totally new to the iron game. Some are skinny as hell, others are fat as hell, most have no idea what the heck they should do, but they all have some type of half coalesced goal in mind.
I found my way here from the fat bastard camp. Sometimes I wished I had the genetics to be skinny. Especially before I learned the difference between being light and being lean. Having first thinned down, it was finally time to put on some mass.
However, as with other former fat bastards, I have found that it is difficult to take the initiative to bulk up for fear of getting fat again. Spending much of your life trying to lose weight conditions you against purposely gaining it.
Anyway, whether skinny or fat, my advice would be to not obsess about weight or body fat percentage. If you eat well, work out hard and make sure to let your body recover, you’ll gain muscle mass. If you were fat you’ll also lean out. However, it takes serious time to put on mass.
This is a game of discipline and patience.
I’m finally starting to look like I work out. Nothing amazing, but here and there you can tell I am carrying something other than fat on my body. I expect that in another year I’ll be leaner and stronger. No, let me rephrase that. I am looking forward to next summer when I’ll be carrying another 10 lbs of muscle.
I certainly see things differently now than I used to though. I look at people and I notice whether or not they are carrying any muscle. If they have a caved in chest, tiny shoulders and are thin from front to back I get the impression they are fragile waifs. They look unhealthy and weak to me now.
At one point I might have thought they were fit and in shape. Now I see them as malnourished and in need of some healthy body mass. This goes for women as well as men.
That reminds me, there is nothing sexier than a woman carrying long sleek defined muscles. If you are a woman, don’t worry about instantly developing unsightly muscles. That whole concept if laughable.
Also, I don’t give a shit what other people think anymore. I have my goals. I have my reasons. If I don’t stay out late much, don’t eat the same foods anymore, don’t drink the same amount and don’t party as much, I really don’t care if my friends approve or not. If they can’t handle it, I can make new friends. This is my life and it’s how I choose to live it.
Hey, it’s okay if you aren’t that serious about your goals. I’m just rambling in general not trying to say what is right or what is wrong. We all have different goals.
However, once you are in this game for a while, you may find your viewpoint shifts. You’ll find that being fit, healthy and well developed might become more important than many other social priorities.
Keeping a food log, cooking extra food on weekends for consumption during the week and working hard to ensure that lifes issues don’t preempt your planned workouts may become less of a chore.
There is a whole world of people out there that are putting serious effort into themselves. When you’ve been doing it for a while yourself, you’ll be able to tell at a glance who these people are. You’ll know and respect the work and effort that they had to put into it to get where they are.
I don’t know what it is, but there is something about being a healthy adult male carrying around visible muscle mass. It feels good. People notice. I’m certainly no hercules, but it’s not hard to stand out above the general populace these days.
Anyway, please don’t take offence, but I’ll repeat a little bit of what has been said to other newcomers before.
Take the time to learn to use the search engine on this site. Find and read everything you can. Stop asking so many damned obsessive questions. After going to the gym for a while and reading up for a while you will be able to ask much better questions. Don’t expect a magic pill.
I’ll say it again, this is a game of discipline and patience.
Pick some good programs, eat right, work hard for months at a time. Things will become clear to you by doing these things. Basically, put in some time and pay your dues.
Finally, congrats on finding this site! Everything you need to achieve your goals is here. The people here will give you advice and help you achieve whatever it is you are trying for. Your job is simply to decide whether or not you are willing to do the hard work that it takes to achieve your goals.
Welcome and good luck!
