What are some things you wish you knew starting out?

[brandonSstart]

Hey guys, I'll be a bodybuilder someday, and was wondering what are some things you wish you knew starting out?

[LatinoMusculito]

Hey guys, I'll be a bodybuilder someday, and was wondering what are some things you wish you knew starting out?

1. Live sober. Burn before training at most. (seriously. in my experience this was my biggest hindrance and downfall)
2. Train legs.
3. Train all body parts no exceptions.
4. Stretch and squeeze/ get good contractions/ master the mind muscle connection.
5. Don't waste time and effort on ego lifting.

[BartPimpson]

When held against your perineum, snapping turtles give great head.

[flangmasterj]

Hey guys, I'll be a bodybuilder someday

If you're building your body now, you're a bodybuilder.

[x-trainer ben]

Hey guys, I'll be a bodybuilder someday, and was wondering what are some things you wish you knew starting out?

1. it takes time( trial and error) to realize what YOU respond to; while taking free internet advice.
2. Supps work but discovering which ones do requires your own experimentation.

[ResovoirDog]

you gotta eat man, something i've always struggled with

[SammyJr]

agreed on the snapping turtles

[Canuck77]

Train smart. Don't ego lift. Use proper form.

If you have any hope in ever climbing the ranks, avoiding muscle tears and other major injuries are paramount.

Good luck.

[RobberBaron13]

1.Train all bodyparts not just the show muscles
2.Eat the right amount of food to grow
3.Focus on compounds with full ROM
4.Go heavy , stick in the 6-12 range, pump doesn't build anything

[brandonSstart]

1.Train all body parts not just the show muscles
2.Eat the right amount of food to grow
3.Focus on compounds with full ROM
4.Go heavy , stick in the 6-12 range, pump doesn't build anything

Ok, thanks for the advice, but as for the rep range, say a 20-30 rep warm up wouldn't hurt would it?

[Boxingfella]

Ok, thanks for the advice, but as for the rep range, say a 20-30 rep warm up wouldn't hurt would it?

Hm that's quite a lot to warm up in my opinion.

Although I suppose warm ups are all preference. I would personally be a bit fatigued after 30 reps even if it was light wieght.

[RobberBaron13]

Ok, thanks for the advice, but as for the rep range, say a 20-30 rep warm up wouldn't hurt would it?

Yes 30 reps seems about right for warming up but it would be like 3 different exercises.Say i'm warming up biceps, i'll do 10 reps dbell curls, 10 reps reverse dbell curls and 10 hammers, this to hit all the elbow flexors...
Or in legs 10 reps extensions, 10 on leg press ....

[RoroCwalker]

Drinking a lot of water doesn't mean drinking an ocean worth of water per day.

[mike8190]

Drinking a lot of water doesn't mean drinking an ocean worth of water per day.

lol.

I still drink about 3 gallons a day at least

1. I wouldn't have wasted so much money on supps, beside GOOD QUALITY omegas, grassfed all natty whey, and a stim pre workout (although another mistake this past year has been my addiction and tolerance to caffeine)

2. Eat clean. I never made any gains all those years of cramming my mouth with ****ty food. chips, cookies, pizza, fast food etc. Also focus on digestive health.

3. Master things like bodyweight squat before even thinking about squatting with weight. Keep your form on all lifts legit. Don't overstretch. Do things like planks (short time, for many sets), horse stance, etc to "turn on" your core muscles that probably aren't being used even in compound lifts.

4. Learn how to breath.

[TheMullah]

1. lift less weight to avoid injury.
2. eat less protein to save money and enjoy food.

longevity is important. theres no point lifting now if youre burnt out or too injured to continue in 10 yrs time.

[Bifteki]

Build a solid foundation through compound lifts, and then worry about perfecting and shaping the muscle through isolators and splits.

I can't stress this enough. Squats, Deadlifts, Bench Press, OSP, Bent Over Rows, Bicep Curls, Calf Raises. These exercises will you make you strong and develop your body.

[pryme]

Lift hard and heavy
Eat for your goals.
A good basic whey and creatine mono are tried and true
Fish oil and a decent multi can't hurt
Build a solid base. Don't get caught up on "cutting" and being "ripped" if you have not put years of building a solid base in first.
Partying is fun in your youth and you can get away with it in youth but you will go further without it. Period.
Get solid sleep.

[BoaBite]

Practice your posing and flexing. Privately and publicly; have confidence in your gains and give zero fks if anyone thinks your cocky because of it

[amenhotepv]

Practice your posing and flexing. Privately and publicly; have confidence in your gains and give zero fks if anyone thinks your cocky because of it

I'm gonna start doing this.

[Dystopia1980]

Never do a dreamer bulk, especially if natty.

When I started out lifting I took stupid advice from friends and just ate a bunch of junk to "get big".
Took me like a full year of cutting just to get back down to like 14% body fat.

[brandonSstart]

What do you guys think is most important to work on? like what muscles?

[chad643]

No ego lifting, time under tension, constant tension, full range of motion, super sets, drop sets, tri sets, resistance bands are awesome, Have to eat more food then you're probably comfortable with. Some of the thing's i learned.

[DiamondMaker]

1) Periodize your workout plan
2) Set goals for your periodization
3) Count macros year round (or at least calories in the offseason)
4) Don't exceed 14% body fat ever
5) Do mobility and SMR work

[brandonSstart]

What is a good weight to get to before I even think about cutting? If my goal is to be an IFBB pro one day?

[mikieson]

well..honestly,my opinion wont be popular probably,but its asking us individually what we think..SO..I wish I could go back and tell my younger self NOT to go heavy.EVER.As far as benching goes anyways. Nothing over 225lbs..My shoulders are so full of scar tissue I cant even sleep from the pain.Can hardly even move and certainly cant take any kind of resistance against them.I would also tell myself to never ever waste money on supplements.As someone who gains weight easily I never needed all the boxes and tubs of weight gainer and protein..nothing but junk.

[whiskeyjackie]

Don't ego lift, and try to avoid injury at all costs. I fuked my right shoulder benching like a retard.

[DanOsman]

I wish somebody really stressed out for me, concepts like muscle connection and proper form.
I don't even lift anymore, but i do reckon things would have been infinitely better, had I mastered those principles right away.

Squeeze and stretch, never mind the numbers.

[MaximusPlatypus]

Never do less than 2x a week cardio

There is no excuse for bad form, ever. Time under tension, lighter weights. Max out every month or so to keep strength up

Never lose sight of your abs. Bulking is no excuse to be a fatass

[purdey]

I wish I knew about powerlifting

[RobberBaron13]

Never do less than 2x a week cardio



Never lose sight of your abs. Bulking is no excuse to be a fatass

That's a bad advice imo. The beginner should bulk and build a solid foundation not worry about staying cut year round.That is only practical for those that have fast metabolism.
Having visible abs year round means restricted calories for most people.Restricted calories=little to no gains.Yes I know newbies can still grow with relatively few calories, but why limit the huge amount of LBM one can add when he is a newbie for the sake of having abs...
Proper bulk doesn't result in being a fatass btw...unless you pig out.