Advice for a Beginner

**dickbutt** · 12-09-2012, 07:57 PM

Hi everybody. I couldn't find a "Beginner's forum" throughout these forums so I thought I'd post here.

Some background about me. I'm 27 years old right now and about 2-3 months ago I was introduced to weightlifting and thought I'd make a go of it. It's a real shame that I didn't know of this sphere of fitness until now, but hey, it's better late than never.

Attached are some photos I snapped last week.

I am 5'6", 155 lbs in these pictures.

In early September I started doing Starting Strength after having read the book. From early September to late October (7-8 weeks) my squat went from the empty bar (x 3 sets x 5 repetitions) to 165 lbs and my deadlift got to 200 lbs (x 1 set x 5 repetitions).

Through most of November (so, 3-4 weeks), I stopped lifting as I had moved out my apartment and lost access to its gym and had to shop around for membership at a commercial gym, finally starting back up in late November. I lost much of my gains - the above two lifts went down by 30-35 lbs.

I would class myself as an endomorph, or perhaps more as hardcore skinny-fat - whichever "-morph" that fits under. If you notice, you'll see I have substantial belly fat, manboobs, and a big booty. Under those boxers are some fat thighs too. Even when my weight was as low as 127 lbs a year and half ago when I went on a diet and ate a lot less food, I was hardly lean, and still more or less displayed that skinny-fat, pregnant women's figure. I feel that I eat reasonably healthy - I do my best to avoid fast/processed food, I drink only water (no juice, soft drinks, coffee), I eats lots of fruits and veggies - yet my body stores fat like a boss.

Perhaps weightlifting and putting on muscle is the answer to this? This is all so new to me. Now I've started with Starting Strength, but that's because it's the only thing I know and have read. What lifting program do you suggest as optimal? And what about diet & nutrition? My goals are aesthetically-based - I don't want to be a strong, GOMAD-y, fat man. I want muscularity and a nice, flat torso, plain and simple. I want to look decent.

Your advice and direction is much appreciated.