Woo - actually gaining muscle! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

rofgilead · 10-09-2005, 07:24 AM

I've always been on the thin and scrawny side. I've tried lifting dumbells and doing pushups and sittups, but never gained very much muscle. For the last two months, I've been going to the new college fitness center and using the weight-lifting machines.

It's been going pretty excellently! I've noticeably gained some muscle, and the amount of weight I can lift on the machines has been increasing. I go pretty often, maybe 2-3 a week for 40 minutes a session.

It's nice, because the machines list what muscle groups they isolate and use, so you can use multiple machines to target all your muscles.

Sometimes, I get tired, so lately I work out both my legs and upper body in the same session. Would it be better do only certain muscles on a single day? I drink a protein shake afterwards and have a carbohydrate based meal. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't do all my muscles in one day because then the resources of my body for building muscle would be too spread out - as compared with if I did legs/upper alternating days, on each day there would be fewer muscles and so those muscles would have more resources to gain mass?

thingstodo · 10-09-2005, 08:51 AM

As long as you are using the machines it is fine to do all your muscle groups n one day. Just make sure to have a day in between to allow them to recover. A machine circuit is a wonderful, effective way to get into lifting. YOu can always do cardio on days in between. In fact, it's good to do 30 minutes of cardio after lifting and then stretch. Funny thing - you shouldn't stretch before lifting, only after. That's kind of new science.

If you do branch out and lift more with each body part, you might try combining push/pull muscles. For example, do back and tris or chest and bis on the same day, even super setting between sets. Legs and shoulders seem to need their own day for me if I am really lifting hard, so what I just mentioned would mean lifting four days a week. And you could mix legs n betwwen upper body days.

rofgilead · 10-09-2005, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I might stick with this setup through October, and then maybe I will be able to lift enough to work on different muscle groups per day...

Kalibah · 10-09-2005, 09:06 PM

Just to reiterate what others said- dont overdo it. Always make sure you give yourself enough recovery time.

I have a little home gym ( bench - dumbells and barbells) and a nice HUGE dry erase board on the wal.. While it may seem like it slows things down- it helps me focus on what I want to do. Once a week ill take the digi and snap a shot of the board... its nice to see progression in any endevour.

I highly suggest keeping some kind of log of what exercises you did- how many reps, sets and weight.

10-09-2005, 07:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
rofgilead Crazy Location: Nowhere	Woo - actually gaining muscle! I've always been on the thin and scrawny side. I've tried lifting dumbells and doing pushups and sittups, but never gained very much muscle. For the last two months, I've been going to the new college fitness center and using the weight-lifting machines. It's been going pretty excellently! I've noticeably gained some muscle, and the amount of weight I can lift on the machines has been increasing. I go pretty often, maybe 2-3 a week for 40 minutes a session. It's nice, because the machines list what muscle groups they isolate and use, so you can use multiple machines to target all your muscles. Sometimes, I get tired, so lately I work out both my legs and upper body in the same session. Would it be better do only certain muscles on a single day? I drink a protein shake afterwards and have a carbohydrate based meal. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't do all my muscles in one day because then the resources of my body for building muscle would be too spread out - as compared with if I did legs/upper alternating days, on each day there would be fewer muscles and so those muscles would have more resources to gain mass?

10-09-2005, 08:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	As long as you are using the machines it is fine to do all your muscle groups n one day. Just make sure to have a day in between to allow them to recover. A machine circuit is a wonderful, effective way to get into lifting. YOu can always do cardio on days in between. In fact, it's good to do 30 minutes of cardio after lifting and then stretch. Funny thing - you shouldn't stretch before lifting, only after. That's kind of new science. If you do branch out and lift more with each body part, you might try combining push/pull muscles. For example, do back and tris or chest and bis on the same day, even super setting between sets. Legs and shoulders seem to need their own day for me if I am really lifting hard, so what I just mentioned would mean lifting four days a week. And you could mix legs n betwwen upper body days. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

10-09-2005, 08:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
rofgilead Crazy Location: Nowhere	Thanks for the suggestions! I think I might stick with this setup through October, and then maybe I will be able to lift enough to work on different muscle groups per day...

10-09-2005, 09:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kalibah Insane Location: Padded Playhouse	Just to reiterate what others said- dont overdo it. Always make sure you give yourself enough recovery time. I have a little home gym ( bench - dumbells and barbells) and a nice HUGE dry erase board on the wal.. While it may seem like it slows things down- it helps me focus on what I want to do. Once a week ill take the digi and snap a shot of the board... its nice to see progression in any endevour. I highly suggest keeping some kind of log of what exercises you did- how many reps, sets and weight.