Just starting to lift

Important!! The following is a text only archive!
For full features; Go to Just starting to lift

posted by wasabiboy

Hey, i'm new here, 19 year old, 5'10" 120lbs with a really high metabolism (ectomorph is what i think i'm called)

I started about a month ago when some friends came back for the summer.. finally got myself to start lifting - i'm WAY too weak and skinny haha.

I started off at 115lbs and gained 5lbs in a month, started seeing a "little" muscle growth and was excited to see the biceps/triceps come out a lil haha so i'm currently doing tons of research, asking etc :D

well anyway, i bought two dumbells for bicep curls/triceps 20lb each and a curl bar to work my shoulders and also biceps i guess.. also bought an extra 20lbs to mix n match. (don't have room in apt for a bench :( )

Problem here is i dont know how to work chest with the equipment i have and i can't keep using my friends bench since he'll be away for college soon. What kind of excersizes can I do with the equipment i have?

Should i lift heavy/low reps? have more rest in between? I've read some stuff about "hardgainers" where i should only lift 2 times a week, really heavy and low reps.. what do you folks think of this?

thanks.. sorry for the long post :D

(damn i wish i started lifting years ago)

posted by Stealth

Well, for the chest I suggest getting two chairs that are the same. Put them a little over shoulder width apart, with the backs of the chair facing each other. Do dips but focusing more on your chest, by leaning forward a little, rather than focusing on the triceps by keeping your form straight up and down. Do pushups, incline when straights get easy. Keep your rep range at about 5-10 for a while and use your body weight for a while until you gain a solid base. Your research should focus more on using your body weight rather than using weights. I did all the iso exercises I could when I started lifting so that I had a good base to start lifting weights with. Good Luck and be safe!!!

posted by A.B

i think you should join a gym to have access to all the free weights, and machines.

posted by Durabolin

I agree, you need to join a gym

posted by RHNewfie

I'd agree, join a gym... but, failing that. You can do weighted dips between chairs as suggested and weighted push ups between the seats of the chairs with your feet up on a third chair. Let your body go between the seats. As you get stronger you can come up with a way to put some weight on your back. If you can get your feet higher then the chair seats, say on the back of a sofa, you can try to simulate incline pressing. Be creative...

You can also do rows in a doorway, squats with dumbbells etc...

* Add Your Comment - Ask a question *
Share the knowledge!

+
+
+
+
+
+ ...

+
+
------
+
+
+
------
+
+
+
+