Newbie Stupid Question! - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

kinada · 22-03-2004, 12:20 PM

Hi all. Great forum guys, both friendly & informative!

I'm 30, overweight & out of shape but I plan to start bodybuilding.

I'm not a complete stranger to training but have had little or no gains in the past and I've ended up de-moralised and ultimately back on the beer and burgers! :o
I had been looking on the internet last week for steroid info when I saw a message on ebay from a Uk-Muscle forum member, mdrury2003. He explained how stupid it is to even consider buying gear over the net, and he emailed me recommending this forum as a great source of info on all things bodybuilding related.
Many thanks go out to him, as the posts on these pages have shown me where I have been going wrong with my diet and training.

I plan to start in a couple of weeks time with the 'Beginners 4 Day Split' posted by Mr T. A quick stupid question though. Perhaps I'm being real thick (probably), but if, for instance, I'm doing a 3 set exercise at 8 reps, should EACH set be to failure? If so, should I be doing 8 reps on the first or last set?

Apologies for the long-winded message, I promise all further posts will be shorter!!

Harry · 22-03-2004, 12:26 PM

Hello mate welcome to the board, I normally do a warm up set of about 10, then my first set is 8 to failure and then the last set I normally will only get about 6 with last two assisted to make 8.

kinada · 22-03-2004, 01:05 PM

Cheers Harry. Thanks for clearing that up mate.

**robdog** · 22-03-2004, 01:52 PM

like harry said mate you should do at least 1 warmup set for each excersise. personally i do say for chest 3 excersises 4 sets of each. first set is a light warmup of 12 reps, second set heavier for 10 reps, third heavier still for 8 reps then the last set is all out as heavy as i can go until failure normally about 4-6 reps.

kinada · 22-03-2004, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robdog
like harry said mate you should do at least 1 warmup set for each excersise. personally i do say for chest 3 excersises 4 sets of each. first set is a light warmup of 12 reps, second set heavier for 10 reps, third heavier still for 8 reps then the last set is all out as heavy as i can go until failure normally about 4-6 reps.

Thanks for the advice Robdog. Tho going up in weight with each set sounds like it might hospitalise me at this stage! lol.

I guess that it's a case of finding a method that suits. If one doesn't provide results try another.

**hackskii** · 22-03-2004, 04:20 PM

Hey kinada, Start slowly. Dont do too much in the beginning. Remember guys here have been lifting for ages some even longer (me)

You will make good gains just starting out. Keep it really basic and dont push it too hard. I would even say that for the first few weeks dont go to failure. If you really want to go to failure then make it only one set. If you get really sore then back it off some. Look around in the article section much to read there.
Remember keep it slow in the beginning. I remember my gains in the beginning seemed every week I was getting stronger in something. You can always add later.

Hey dont worry about the long posts as I am the worst violater there and yours are no where as long as mine.

No such things as stupid questions either any question just ask and you wont get flamed either.

mdrury2003 · 22-03-2004, 04:29 PM

Hi ya mate!!

What did i tell you...... it is a quality board eh?

Hope you stick around bud it really is worth it you will learn sooo much!!

Good luck with your routine etc just keep your focus and determination and use the help you get on here in the gym and you will be fine.

Matt

kinada · 22-03-2004, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdrury2003
Hope you stick around bud it really is worth it you will learn sooo much!!

Good luck with your routine etc just keep your focus and determination and use the help you get on here in the gym and you will be fine.

Matt

I intend to do just that mate! I think that in the past I have expected big results from a training regime compromised by missed sessions, insufficient diet etc. Nobodys fault except my own. But this time around however, my ever generous wife has kindly given me the personal space and freetime I need for a complete change of lifestyle (She's thrown me out!!)

So in a couple of weeks I will be free to eat, sleep & train when I want. And also the freedom to spend as much as I can afford on the right diet.

Cheers

powerU · 22-03-2004, 05:57 PM

i left my wife last summer and now have a girlfriend who trains at the same gym as me, works wonders mate! I've put on about 30lbs and lost the beer belly in that time!
Wallets fuller too!

mdrury2003 · 22-03-2004, 06:12 PM

well sometimes it takes something drastic like that to kick start you into sorting yourself out. I hope things turn out ok for you either way mate.

Make sure you keep us all posted on how you get on and if you need any help i am sure you will get it here

mdrury2003 · 22-03-2004, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by powerU
i left my wife last summer and now have a girlfriend who trains at the same gym as me, works wonders mate! I've put on about 30lbs and lost the beer belly in that time!
Wallets fuller too!

How lucky are you!! is your gf into bbing or just general fitness?

powerU · 22-03-2004, 06:51 PM

She's just into the fitness side, used to do a lot of dancing and ballet stuff. She's really interested in the bbing as far as the nutrition and how your body reacts to stuff which is a great help coz i don't bore her rigid about food and training, and as i mentioned she now trains once a week with me, then shows off to her mates about what she's done - works really well.
Anyway - i need to push myself, she's 10 years younger than me!!!

Panthro · 22-03-2004, 08:02 PM

Welcome to the boards Kinda! firstly, there is no such thing as a "stupid newbie" question! So ask away! We all start somewhere and I remember asking all sorts of daft questions!

That's what we are here for, to share knowlage! So ask away.. ;)

22-03-2004, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
kinada Newbie Trainer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Suffolk Posts: 10	Newbie Stupid Question! Hi all. Great forum guys, both friendly & informative! I'm 30, overweight & out of shape but I plan to start bodybuilding. I'm not a complete stranger to training but have had little or no gains in the past and I've ended up de-moralised and ultimately back on the beer and burgers! :o I had been looking on the internet last week for steroid info when I saw a message on ebay from a Uk-Muscle forum member, mdrury2003. He explained how stupid it is to even consider buying gear over the net, and he emailed me recommending this forum as a great source of info on all things bodybuilding related. Many thanks go out to him, as the posts on these pages have shown me where I have been going wrong with my diet and training. I plan to start in a couple of weeks time with the 'Beginners 4 Day Split' posted by Mr T. A quick stupid question though. Perhaps I'm being real thick (probably), but if, for instance, I'm doing a 3 set exercise at 8 reps, should EACH set be to failure? If so, should I be doing 8 reps on the first or last set? Apologies for the long-winded message, I promise all further posts will be shorter!!

22-03-2004, 01:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
robdog UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Home!! Posts: 5,610	like harry said mate you should do at least 1 warmup set for each excersise. personally i do say for chest 3 excersises 4 sets of each. first set is a light warmup of 12 reps, second set heavier for 10 reps, third heavier still for 8 reps then the last set is all out as heavy as i can go until failure normally about 4-6 reps. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 25% off for UKM members (discount code UKM25)

22-03-2004, 04:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 22,956	Hey kinada, Start slowly. Dont do too much in the beginning. Remember guys here have been lifting for ages some even longer (me) You will make good gains just starting out. Keep it really basic and dont push it too hard. I would even say that for the first few weeks dont go to failure. If you really want to go to failure then make it only one set. If you get really sore then back it off some. Look around in the article section much to read there. Remember keep it slow in the beginning. I remember my gains in the beginning seemed every week I was getting stronger in something. You can always add later. Hey dont worry about the long posts as I am the worst violater there and yours are no where as long as mine. No such things as stupid questions either any question just ask and you wont get flamed either. __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

22-03-2004, 08:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
Panthro Getting HUGE! Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,508	Welcome to the boards Kinda! firstly, there is no such thing as a "stupid newbie" question! So ask away! We all start somewhere and I remember asking all sorts of daft questions! That's what we are here for, to share knowlage! So ask away.. ;) __________________ "looking at picutres of half naked men dont get you strong. Lets get down to business and go to the gym" - Svend Karlson. 'Viking Power'

22-03-2004, 12:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Harry EFBB Winner Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,275	Hello mate welcome to the board, I normally do a warm up set of about 10, then my first set is 8 to failure and then the last set I normally will only get about 6 with last two assisted to make 8.

22-03-2004, 01:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
kinada Newbie Trainer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Suffolk Posts: 10	Cheers Harry. Thanks for clearing that up mate.

22-03-2004, 04:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
mdrury2003 Gym Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: plymouth uk Posts: 192	Hi ya mate!! What did i tell you...... it is a quality board eh? Hope you stick around bud it really is worth it you will learn sooo much!! Good luck with your routine etc just keep your focus and determination and use the help you get on here in the gym and you will be fine. Matt

22-03-2004, 05:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
powerU Getting HUGE! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,140	i left my wife last summer and now have a girlfriend who trains at the same gym as me, works wonders mate! I've put on about 30lbs and lost the beer belly in that time! Wallets fuller too!

22-03-2004, 06:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
mdrury2003 Gym Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: plymouth uk Posts: 192	well sometimes it takes something drastic like that to kick start you into sorting yourself out. I hope things turn out ok for you either way mate. Make sure you keep us all posted on how you get on and if you need any help i am sure you will get it here

22-03-2004, 06:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
powerU Getting HUGE! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,140	She's just into the fitness side, used to do a lot of dancing and ballet stuff. She's really interested in the bbing as far as the nutrition and how your body reacts to stuff which is a great help coz i don't bore her rigid about food and training, and as i mentioned she now trains once a week with me, then shows off to her mates about what she's done - works really well. Anyway - i need to push myself, she's 10 years younger than me!!!