New to this, just had a baby and need some guidance.

[Hottenstine]

So feb, I gave birth to my son about 2 weeks ago i got cleared to work out again. Before i was pregnant i was about 150 average build, i worked out but it was mostly cardio (at the time i didnt have a gym membership) Now, being that im not pregnant and would like to actually get to my goal of becoming fit id very much appreciate some friendly advice. i gained around 50 pounds durring pregnancy and after giving birth was back down to 170 (after a week in the gym im now down to 164) anyways.... my questions are:

How do i know when to cut and when to bulk?

what do i start with?

is lifting free weights different than working out on machines?

any help or advice is appreciated as i have no clue what im doing at the moment!!

thanks in advance!!

[Partyrocking]

You cut when you are fat. You bulk when you are skinny, and if you are neither then it depends.

Right now, you should cut.

Free weights > machines most of the time.

[Hottenstine]

You cut when you are fat. You bulk when you are skinny, and if you are neither then it depends.

Right now, you should cut.

Free weights > machines most of the time.

thanks! i feel kinda dumb for asking.

[Partyrocking]

thanks! i feel kinda dumb for asking.

The only dumb thing would be to not ask and then do whatever.

[Hottenstine]

The only dumb thing would be to not ask and then do whatever.

True! i want to do this right! im pretty much open to any advice at this point, its nice to hear from experienced people.

[LunaLifts]

The only dumb thing would be to not ask and then do whatever.

This. I didn't have any information to start with other than "eat more, lift heavy, build muscle" (I was bulking to start). I ate way more than necessary while running a poor, self-made programs lacking in compound lifts, and loaded with little accessories that didn't get me far. As a newbie to lifting/building, I still managed to make some changes, but I could have gone a lot further with it had I known more. More information is always better.

I'd read up on this thread, as it has all the basic information, and then some. http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=168176343

[Hottenstine]

[QUOTE=LunaLifts;1439885041]This. I didn't have any information to start with other than "eat more, lift heavy, build muscle" (I was bulking to start). I ate way more than necessary while running a poor, self-made programs lacking in compound lifts, and loaded with little accessories that didn't get me far. As a newbie to lifting/building, I still managed to make some changes, but I could have gone a lot further with it had I known more. More information is always better.


thank you!!