Beginner workout advice needed
in Hobbies & Leisure ·
Richard Cook2 said:Look in the mirror from the front and the side, step on a scale, and decide exactly what you want to achieve—then write it down here. Also include your age, height, and weight so we can get a baseline idea of where you're at.
Whether you’re trying to pack on muscle, shred fat, or both, you absolutely need some form of strength training. To start, your body will respond well to bodyweight exercises, but eventually, you'll need external resistance. For ease of learning, I’d say stick to weights and a gym setting.
I’d recommend doing 1-2 interval sessions and 1-2 cardio sessions per week, regardless of whether you're looking to burn fat or just boost general fitness.
Yoga and Pilates are solid options (provided you have competent, professional instructors) for building that mind-muscle connection. They'll also develop strength and flexibility.
As for TBF, honestly, I don't know what the deal is. It sounds like just another flashy marketing name hiding some old, tired gimmick.😁
Zumba is mostly going to hit your endurance, your legs, your glutes, and your cardiovascular system. I’d suggest that as an add-on to a strength program (if you go the group route, think Yoga/Pilates + Zumba or Gym + Zumba).
The gym is great because it gives you the most direct control over your specific goals. It isn't hard to pick up the basics, which will carry you through a year of training while you soak up enough knowledge to move forward. I work in a gym, and I see people making absolute disasters of their workouts every single day. I strongly suggest finding a trainer to do an initial assessment over 3-5 sessions. They can check your physical state, identify your biggest weaknesses, build a plan based on those findings, show you the right moves, teach you how to progressively increase weight, and give you nutrition advice so you actually see results quickly.
Regarding gyms and trainers, it all depends on where you go. Some will help you a ton, some will do the bare minimum because it's their job, and others won't bother at all, likely just pointing you toward the machines because it's easier. Personally, I help the people on my shift as much as I can, but with other responsibilities, it’s impossible to give someone 100% of my focus unless they’ve booked a private session. It’s tough to teach someone a squat, deadlift, or bent-over row if you’re the only one on shift and people are waiting at the front desk, someone else needs help adjusting a machine, another person is complaining about the parking lot, someone else wants the sauna temperature adjusted, and then someone else wants the music changed. That's why I advise getting a few hours with a trainer; they'll actually dedicate their time to you.😉
Before you commit to anything, definitely do this:
1) Define your goals as precisely as possible.
2) Be realistic about how much time you actually have available.
😉
What do you guys think about the concept of guided functional training?
It seems to me that nowadays, many people can't even start any serious exercise routine without extensive prep first. People don't know how to run properly, they can't perform a single correct squat, they don't have the strength for one pull-up, and so on.
Brenda Young2 said:So I'm Googling everything and still can't find what I need. Look, I'm a total beginner here. I haven't done anything active since high school gym class. I tried rock climbing for maybe two months back in the day, but had to quit because of a move... and that's when I realized how much I've neglected my body. I saw some tiny progress during those two months, but they told me I lacked strength, especially in my legs.
I'm thin—about 117 lbs at 5'7". What I really want is to get my curves back. Get rid of this softness!! I want to pack on 15 or 20 pounds of muscle so it actually goes to the right places. Honestly, I want to tone up everywhere. For now, I don't want to hit a gym; I don't have the time and I wouldn't even know what to do there. I’d just end up feeling like a joke and never go back...
Can anyone recommend a workout program, a video, anything? I'm totally lost. I don't want those light, easy routines you see on morning talk shows; I want to actually work hard.
Should I try running too? I'm worried running will just make me even thinner, which is the last thing I want right now.
Please help me out. Walk me through this stuff, and then I'll gradually ramp things up, try something new, maybe a sport, or eventually the gym.
I know I'm probably being a bore to all you experts, but half of what you guys write on this forum looks like hieroglyphics to me. 😵
Well, you took the first step. Step two is just enduring the misery for the first month or two. It doesn't matter which style of training you pick; what matters is doing them correctly. My suggestion (and people will think I'm just pitching 😁 since I mention it in every post) is guided functional training. Google it.
I don't recommend working out at home. You're way more likely to mess up your form, and it's harder to build a "workout culture" for yourself. At home, you work out whenever you feel like it, which usually ends up being counterproductive. It's much harder to push yourself to total exhaustion. Bottom line: if you have iron willpower, work out at home. If you don't, don't even bother. 😉