Newbie Looking for Gym Kaki :)

[smint]

Hi,

Newbie gym kaki here looking for a buddy to train together. I was active in the gym back in my national service and trying to be back in the gym to get that body back. So if anyone want to join me with my sessions, do PM me. Below are my stats, training and progress so far. Nothing much but just sharing in case any of you share the same goals.

Gym:
Home Team NS Gyms and sometimes SSC gyms at either jurong west or yishun

Doing split training routine:
Chest (heavy) and triceps
Back and biceps
Chest (light) and forearms
Shoulders and traps
Notes:
- cardio will be done after hitting the weights
- abs are not done because I want to lose my body fats first
- i dont do legs but probably the threadmill, eliptical or cycling will help with my quads

Supplements:
Whey protein and CLA

Goals:
To reduce my body fat percentage to 11%

Nutrition:
Low calorie and high protein diet.

Progress:
I log in my progress on bodyspace. Check the url below. Nothing much but so far so good.
shafiqk's BodySpace - Bodybuilding.com

 

[msnangersme]

welcome. i think adding some leg workout will go a long way to help hit your goal!

just add one - squats.

 

[smint]

welcome. i think adding some leg workout will go a long way to help hit your goal!

just add one - squats.

@msnangersme thanks for the advise. i'll reconsider it. i do deadlifts on back day and i guess it works on my quads too...

 

[blu3]

Hey! Saw your post. How often do you go? And around what time? Good to have someone to keep me motivated. Some days I feel so lazy but then I tell myself no excuses! I haven't started going to the gym yet. Been using dumbells at home and my own body weight to build up strength. I'm super weak I can't even do a proper push up and I think I'll embarrass myself. Lol. But I wanna start gym soon!

 

[smint]

Hey! Saw your post. How often do you go? And around what time? Good to have someone to keep me motivated. Some days I feel so lazy but then I tell myself no excuses! I haven't started going to the gym yet. Been using dumbells at home and my own body weight to build up strength. I'm super weak I can't even do a proper push up and I think I'll embarrass myself. Lol. But I wanna start gym soon!

Hi, thanks for the reply bro. I go 3 to 4 times a week although the the day which I go is not consistent. Trying to set a constant schedule for my gym days. For weekdays I go after I end work. So will probably reach the gym around 6pm to 6:30. If on weekends, around early afternoon.

Yeah that's the point of having a gym buddy. To motivate each other and also to be a spotter when doing those lifts. It's okay if you do not have the strength yet. I'm a newbie too. Can start with lighter loads and slowly increase when you have strength and then slowly go for hypertrophy.

When do you plan to start?

 

[blu3]

Eh... I'm not a bro. Lol. I sound like a guy? Sigh but I am serious about weights cos I know or rather I read its the fastest way to lose weight. Some guys not comfortable with a girl being a gym buddy. I think it's prob they're afraid girls can't help to spot when they do really heavy weights. So if you'd rather find a guy I totally understand. It's just harder to find girls who lift so I'm trying my luck. Lol

 

[smint]

Ooops. Sorry. I just assumed that you were a guy. My bad.

I may be wrong but I've read that you can lose weight while doing weights provided you have a nutrition plan that's designed for cutting and according to your macros.

I dont mind having a girl training with me. For the same goals so it should not be a problem.

 

[blu3]

First thing I did was to 'clean' out my diet. No sugar, unhealthy snacks, etc. more protein less carbs and minimal fat. And of course lower my caloric intake. Still adjusting and it's tough for me because I love food. I figured if I was going to workout, I'd best do myself a favour and make it worth it by not having a crappy diet and ruining my hardwork.

I guess in terms of goals my main one is to lose weight. I'm thinking of joining the gym at safra jurong. So if you're interested we can workout and motivate each other!

 

[LTC]

Happy Smint

 

[blu3]

Joined the Safra gym today. So intimidating for me to walk into the free weights section. All guys lifting super huge weights, but I did it anyways. I think my form was off, now got a little lower back ache. Hopefully it'll go away tmr!

Btw random question, how do you know when to increase load? When it becomes easier? How much easier? Number question I know...

 

[LTC]

Hi blue, first up about the history behind women and weights:
"Why Women Shouldn’t Lift Weights" by Dale Andrew
Just because insecure men tell you lifting makes you bulky and you belong with the treadmills, show them the middle finger.

Second, this might not please you to hear it, but it's true. We're not in primary school anymore, and the Internet age is here. So rather than ask a forum full of gym rats (myself included), and possibly some really strong folks who get such questions all the time by people who won't actually do what they suggest, do what these people did early on.

Read. Prolifically. Bodybuilding.com, t-nation.com, cutandjacked.com, whatever. If you have spare cash or know some special downloading methods, get a book or two. Jim Stoppani is one guy I know worth reading on the topic.

And to the guy who says women shouldn't train like men, you know which finger to show. It's the same. The principles behind muscle growth and strength are the same for men and women. Except that you have it so much harder to put on significant muscle than men do. Why? Go read up.
Bodybuilding.com - Train Like A Man – Look Like A Goddess!

More help? For the lack of a better option, some of those programs by "celebs" in the fitness industry can kick start your own programme. Jamie Eason, I am told, has a decent starting plan on BB.com. If you aren't afraid of really strong women not on roids, try out something by Pauline Nordin or Dana Linn Bailey. Although to get to their level of development, I can safely say will take you many years, cuz it did for them.

Just don't ask on this forum, when do I know I should lift heavier weight. Those who know the answer, know its not a simple answer and it would be irresponsible to throw in a simple 2 liner solution. And those who think they know, will throw in a two liner and you will end up asking more simple questions and the thread will die.

Cuz the answers are all out there. And the best thing that you could acquire YOURSELF, is knowledge.

 

[blu3]

I'm not doubting that I should weight train just that mentally it's hard to step into the free weights area and be the only girl there among the guys. Me being new at this isn't any help of course. This is my own opinion based on how I felt yesterday. And it is a curious phenomenon, how there is this invisible line that separates the the 'man's' zone and the 'women's' zone. Technically there is not really a 'woman's' zone as guys do use the machines as well. But I think most gyms are like that, correct me if I'm wrong.

And yes of course I know there is the Internet. Its the amount of information and the sometimes contradicting info that that makes me take every thing i read with a pinch of salt. And I have read your post largely to psych myself into believing I semi know what I'm doing at the gym. It was just a random question and I prob won't take whatever answer given at face value without cross referencing a hundred other sources, but it would have been a starting point. But I can see how frustrating it is to be asked for advice and then have that advice ignored anyways. Lol.

 

[LTC]

Well, as I said, weights is not and should not be a male domain. And I am always very heartened to see women lifting serious weight. When you start lifting, guys will start coming up to you and offering Broscience. That's the term we use for hearsay that's well intentioned, and presented as evidence backed.

So you need a good bullshit antenna fixed up, since women are more likely to receive unsolicited Broscience when they enter the weights area and get eyeballs.

That's why I recommend reading prolifically and trying things out yourself rather than asking on an Internet forum. For sure, just trying a set routine by established names will get you far enough to build your experience base. I did not throw names out just for kicks, folks like Pauline Nordin and Dana Linn Bailey will put most of us gym rats to shame strength to weight ratio.

So contradicting info aside, you know these women are doing something right. And honestly, if you read stuff like "Encyclopedia of Muscle and Strength" by Jim Stoppani, the answers are really all there. All. That alone will equip you with the base knowledge to take pretty damn far.

Good luck, and lift safe!

 

[blu3]

Thanks. Right now I'll focus on trying out dif routines and finding something that works for me and working on my form. The references you provided helped a lot. Very appreciated.