Tired of being 85 (trying rippetoes).

slisenberger · 10-19-2006, 07:38 PM

Hello, I'm Stefan. And I'm tiny. Period.

It's hard being 5'4" 85 lbs (on a good day). I have cursed genetics. I'm not planning on using that as an excuse, but it's a good explanation for my size. I currently have a 5 inch wrist. Most people who see me think I'm anorexic or bulimic.. it's depressing. I'm a pretty much pre-pubescent fourteen year old boy. I've read up on this and I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. I hope people realize this..I'm not any old curl and bench freak I don't expect to get huge. I expect small gains, really small considering my age and physical maturity, but even really small gains will be amazing for my physique. It's difficult enough having a high voice at my age, much less lacking the testosteroned up gains of teenage years, not even considering the fact that I'm naturally TINY. That's what I'm looking to change.

I am a typical nerd I guess? Smart and puny.. It sounds partway conceited but it's true.. I'm in honors/ap all of my classes. I had some 3/4/5/8 lb dumbells that's I'd try doing squats or whatever what, but it wasn't really getting me anywhere. I'd put them in backpacks and do weighted pushups (I'm good at pushups actually.. I did 50 with good form and no breaks), deadlifts, presses, anything. Eventually I got my mom to buy me a bar - the catch being it's an easy bar with 90 lbs of weights. But it's a start and it WILL do. I can't go to the gym because of travel mediums. My mom goes to the gym often to swim but she goes while I'm at school so I can't take advantage of that. So I am working with an each bar and a bench. The bench is not a weightlifting bench; just a normal bench which I used for BP. I am careful not to hurt myself. I am required to do hack squats via lack of squat rack, so I practice form a lot.

Though I consider myself well-educated on the subject nothing woul be more behuving than advice from you guys.. and even encouragement. Today was my third day of rippetoes with my new e-z bar.. here's what pretty much went down.

83.5 lb weigh-in this morning (post-bodilyfunctions).

1x5x20 back squats
1x5x35 hack squats
3x5x40 hacks (depressing, I know, but it's slow and steady.)

1x5x40 deads
1x5x50 deads
1x5x55 deads
1x5x60 deads
1x5x65 deads

1x5x20 Bench
1x5x40 bench
3x5x45 bench

2x8xbw dips on a chair.

my other prs for the exercises so far are 40 lbs on rows and 35 lbs on mil press.

My diet is decent.. I do eat breakast everyday, have a meal when I get home from school, lunch, dinner, and normally a pre-bed meal of some sort, plus a protein shake post-workout. I take a multivitamin and use whey protein for my shakes.

Well enough about me.. Sorry for all of that. I hope to see results and hopefully.. pass 85.

ugamelb · 10-19-2006, 09:00 PM

Subscribed.

Eat big, get big brother.

All the best, you're on the right track, can i suggest doing front squats, they'll really wear you out and no need for a rack.

Just keep pushing yourself, keep eating and when u hit your growth spurt, which u inevitably will you'll be ahead of your god given genetics....

ps. **** genetics i say

slisenberger · 10-22-2006, 04:59 PM

Aww yay. I feel special with this subscription. Thank you!

So anyway I finally got to working out today sicne I hadn't been able to on friday or saturday..

All I have to say is I am really disappointed. =/

Morning weight-83.5 pounds.

1x5x20 Front Squats
1x5x35 front squats
3x5x45 Hack Squats.

1x5x15 Military press
1x5x30 press
1x4x40 press
3x5x35 press

1x5x25 rows
1x5x40 rows
3x5x45 rows

1x8xbw chins
1x5xbw chins

so first on the squats. i need to work on my form. I'll get around to it. I think I was pretty good. i really tried to get the front squats in, but I honest to goodness could not get the bar to my shoulders. I now believe I may have hurt my back attempting. In the end I resorted back to hacks.

On the military press..my back hurt it seemed from the get go. While getting 40 lbs up to my chin level I think I agitated my back further, but blew it off. I did 4 reps and then decided it hurt too much and was too risky to try again. So I settled for a non pr 35.. =/

rows felt nice, despite me hurting my back, I completed 5 lbs more pretty well. Chins were the same.

Overall, I'm pretty upset at myself.. but I'm sure I'll have better days.

Postworkout I had milk, strawberries, a banana, and 1.25 scoops of whey. Yummy.

toobsox · 10-22-2006, 05:19 PM

You got the right idea, I'll try to follow this. Try to learn proper form on Power Cleans so that you can get that bar to your shoulders carefully for front squats and military presses.

Good job with this, I didn't even know what weightlifting was at your age

Dont be afraid to eat a few extra peanut butter sandwiches, lots of chicken, milk, pasta and other good foods.

slisenberger · 10-24-2006, 04:48 PM

OOOOhkay.. Tuesday=lift-day.

Morning weight- 83.5 (

)

1x5x25 Squats (hack)
1x5x35
3x5x50

1x5x50 Deadlift
1x5x60
1x5x70

1x5x30 Bench
1x5x40 bench
3x5x45 bench

2x8xbw Chair dips.
meh! Felt ok.. Really hating my squats though, don't feel too great. yummy pwo shake. mmm. Good to set all those prs. Bench felt bad.. it was more difficult than the last time I did 45... embarassing. meh.

slisenberger · 10-24-2006, 06:49 PM

Ooh, that sounds like a good idea. I'll try learning the cleans.

sligh90 · 10-24-2006, 06:56 PM

never be unhappy with your genetics
i would much rather be small
and work my way up
i have a body that naturally retains more fat
i dont let it stop me
i just bulk a little lighter than most people do
eat like its going out of style
get alot of protein and good carbs
and follow your routine with good form
you will explode from newb gains
good luck, im subscribing

-Tim-

TRDE59 · 10-24-2006, 06:59 PM

subscribed. good luck, dude. You'll notice gains will come really fast on rippetoes. And that special time will come soon when all of a sudden your strength explodes!

so don't worry about a thing. I believe with a good training regimen, food, and a little patience, you won't be in double digits much longer.

Also, are you in high school yet? If you are, try lifting in their weight room, too. At least on your squat days.

slisenberger · 10-24-2006, 07:00 PM

Yeah, I'm a freshman. However, the weight room is usually booked after school for football.

Thanks for the subscriptions everyone, i'll anticipate the newbie gains.

Oh, and haha on recommending the weight room on squat days. Since thsoe are everyday.

I will consider that though, especially once I can't use my 100 lbs anymore.

sligh90 · 10-24-2006, 07:41 PM

ps-rippetoes says to use the same weight for every set, and increase it at a constant rate, you change your weight by sets, and you dont seem to be following the 2.5% increase (which is expected, your stuff will go up quite a bit early).

jkay · 10-24-2006, 10:51 PM

Yo bro, I was EXACTLY the same as you when I started. I was roughly 86 lbs and 5'4". I benched the EXACT same as well. That was about a year ago, now I'm 5'6" and 123 lbs. (Still skinny as hell)

All I gotta say is - DON'T give up. I know it sucks for people like us, we're hardgainers with a small frame, but as long as you continue to do what you're doing, you WILL improve.

Best of luck to ya.

StartStrength · 10-24-2006, 11:42 PM

Subscribed man

Just going to the gym and lifting weights is going to make you gain muscle, PROVIDED YOU EAT!!! You need to eat and eat my man. Of course, eat clean when possible, but you need to seriously pack on the pounds, and that only comes from EATING BIG!!! That's the only way you will progress on this program.

What's your current diet like (calories, protein, carbs, fat)? How many meals do you eat a day?

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!!

young and strong · 10-25-2006, 12:16 AM

Good luck man, you are on the right track

ugamelb · 10-25-2006, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

OOOOhkay.. Tuesday=lift-day.

Morning weight- 83.5 (

)

1x5x25 Squats (hack)
1x5x35
3x5x50

1x5x50 Deadlift
1x5x60
1x5x70

1x5x30 Bench
1x5x40 bench
3x5x45 bench

2x8xbw Chair dips.
meh! Felt ok.. Really hating my squats though, don't feel too great. yummy pwo shake. mmm. Good to set all those prs. Bench felt bad.. it was more difficult than the last time I did 45... embarassing. meh.

Nothing to be embarrassed about, just stay positive...and keep eating

slisenberger · 10-25-2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sligh90

ps-rippetoes says to use the same weight for every set, and increase it at a constant rate, you change your weight by sets, and you dont seem to be following the 2.5% increase (which is expected, your stuff will go up quite a bit early).

Those are warmup sets for me.. I use the same weight for 3x5 alll the way through.

vegHead · 10-25-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugamelb

Nothing to be embarrassed about, just stay positive...and keep eating

Yeah seriously man, just keep at it, you'll do great, oh im subscribed now

slisenberger · 10-25-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StartStrength

Subscribed man

Just going to the gym and lifting weights is going to make you gain muscle, PROVIDED YOU EAT!!! You need to eat and eat my man. Of course, eat clean when possible, but you need to seriously pack on the pounds, and that only comes from EATING BIG!!! That's the only way you will progress on this program.

What's your current diet like (calories, protein, carbs, fat)? How many meals do you eat a day?

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!!

I haven't counted my calories.. I usually tend to eat cereal+ a glass of milk and toast for breakfast, whatever is for lunch at school (I eat as much as I can). then I usualyl make oatmeal and eggs when I get home. On workout days I have a PWO shake. I then eat whatever's for dinner, and usually all the meat, with a pb and j sandwich before bed. Glasses of milk throughout the day.

StartStrength · 10-25-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

I haven't counted my calories.. I usually tend to eat cereal+ a glass of milk and toast for breakfast, whatever is for lunch at school (I eat as much as I can). then I usualyl make oatmeal and eggs when I get home. On workout days I have a PWO shake. I then eat whatever's for dinner, and usually all the meat, with a pb and j sandwich before bed. Glasses of milk throughout the day.

If you're going to take this program seriously, then I highly recommend that you count your calories. I'm not saying to do it everytime you eat, but you should know apprxoimately how many calories you're getting in every day, preferably every meal. What I did was come up with a template with proper macronutrient breakdowns for every meal and every day. So for me, since I'm bulking, I'm shooting for 3500-4000 calories a day, 40/40/20 split for percentages of protein, carbs, and fat. I came up with a sample meal plan and put it on my fridge. Then, everytime I go to the kitchen, or pack food, I look at the template and have something to work off of for every meal. For someone like you where gaining weight is a must, counting calories is the way to go, in my opinion.

massofgas · 10-25-2006, 01:09 PM

good luck and dont ever give up

slisenberger · 10-26-2006, 06:27 AM

Today's a lifting day! Yay. Thanks for you rsupport, everyone.
However, I weighed in at 83.5 again. =/.

slisenberger · 10-26-2006, 08:19 PM

Today felt good..

1x5x30 Hacks
1x5x40 Hacks
3x5x50 Hacks

I'm working on cleans, promise

1x5x15 Mil press
3x5x35

1x5x25 Rows
1x5x40
3x5x45

Todays was a form, now wieght day for me. I wanted to make sure I did the exercises right and felt adequate muscle burn. it worked! I hope today will be more of a weigth gainer day than an "add 5 lbs and pray" plan. Woo. No maroon, but it's ok. I may have dicovered 35 is too much for me on mil press.. depressing but meh if I must drop to 30 I guess I will. I flain a little with feet/back though I'm trying not to. Is this cause for concern? =/ my puny lifts are giving me not so great ego, but I guess they will increase soon?

jforse2801 · 10-26-2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

Hello, I'm Stefan. And I'm tiny. Period.

It's hard being 5'4" 85 lbs (on a good day). I have cursed genetics. I'm not planning on using that as an excuse, but it's a good explanation for my size. I currently have a 5 inch wrist. Most people who see me think I'm anorexic or bulimic.. it's depressing. I'm a pretty much pre-pubescent fourteen year old boy. I've read up on this and I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. I hope people realize this..I'm not any old curl and bench freak I don't expect to get huge. I expect small gains, really small considering my age and physical maturity, but even really small gains will be amazing for my physique. It's difficult enough having a high voice at my age, much less lacking the testosteroned up gains of teenage years, not even considering the fact that I'm naturally TINY. That's what I'm looking to change.

I am a typical nerd I guess? Smart and puny.. It sounds partway conceited but it's true.. I'm in honors/ap all of my classes. I had some 3/4/5/8 lb dumbells that's I'd try doing squats or whatever what, but it wasn't really getting me anywhere. I'd put them in backpacks and do weighted pushups (I'm good at pushups actually.. I did 50 with good form and no breaks), deadlifts, presses, anything. Eventually I got my mom to buy me a bar - the catch being it's an easy bar with 90 lbs of weights. But it's a start and it WILL do. I can't go to the gym because of travel mediums. My mom goes to the gym often to swim but she goes while I'm at school so I can't take advantage of that. So I am working with an each bar and a bench. The bench is not a weightlifting bench; just a normal bench which I used for BP. I am careful not to hurt myself. I am required to do hack squats via lack of squat rack, so I practice form a lot.

Though I consider myself well-educated on the subject nothing woul be more behuving than advice from you guys.. and even encouragement. Today was my third day of rippetoes with my new e-z bar.. here's what pretty much went down.

My diet is decent.. I do eat breakast everyday, have a meal when I get home from school, lunch, dinner, and normally a pre-bed meal of some sort, plus a protein shake post-workout. I take a multivitamin and use whey protein for my shakes.

Well enough about me.. Sorry for all of that. I hope to see results and hopefully.. pass 85.

I was similar in size to you at that age. I was maybe 5'5" and 110lbs. By 18 I was 6'2" and 198lbs. Keep at it let nature run it course. Eat healthy and big. Lift, lift and lift some more!!

Good Luck!

slisenberger · 10-26-2006, 08:30 PM

"I was maybe 5'5" and 110lb"

110 would be a nice weight. :P

any, thanks for the words of encouragement.

I appreciate it so much.

jforse2801 · 10-26-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

"I was maybe 5'5" and 110lb"

110 would be a nice weight. :P

any, thanks for the words of encouragement.

I appreciate it so much.

Dont worry about it. It will come. Just be patient. I let myself go and I'm currently tring to get back to 200lbs. Its a hard and long journey. You will get tons of support here!!

Charlie Brown · 10-26-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

Yeah, I'm a freshman. However, the weight room is usually booked after school for football.

Thanks for the subscriptions everyone, i'll anticipate the newbie gains.

Oh, and haha on recommending the weight room on squat days. Since thsoe are everyday.

I will consider that though, especially once I can't use my 100 lbs anymore.

You know you can still use the weight room in your school. Or atleast you should be able to.

I lift with all the football players after school and I dont play football. Its a school facility, should be open to everyone.

slisenberger · 10-27-2006, 06:21 AM

I will look into using the weight room!

Also for an update - I weighed 84.5 lbs today after bodily functions.. That means I'm a pound up on yesterday! Woohoo.

StartStrength · 10-27-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

I will look into using the weight room!

Also for an update - I weighed 84.5 lbs today after bodily functions.. That means I'm a pound up on yesterday! Woohoo.

Nice job man, keep the weight gains coming!!

ugamelb · 10-27-2006, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slisenberger

I will look into using the weight room!

Also for an update - I weighed 84.5 lbs today after bodily functions.. That means I'm a pound up on yesterday! Woohoo.

thats awesome, lets keep it going.

eat eat eat

slisenberger · 10-28-2006, 09:01 PM

Saturday, A workout.

Morning- 84.5 pounds!

GAINS.

Liftwise:

1x5x35 Hacks
1x5x45
3x5x55

1x5x55 Deads
1x5x65
1x5x75

1x5x30 Bench
1x5x40
3x5x45

Sadly I felt nothing really in my quads on squats.. I was going deep, and it wasn't becasue the weight was light. Is my form THAT bad? Deeads went up, I made sure my rear was low on them. Still doing 45 on bench.. I'll hopefully get it to 50 this thursday!

slisenberger · 10-28-2006, 11:02 PM

I also partway abandoned direct arm work for a little.. I want all the mass to go to the receivers of compounds, not arms.