Would working out to YT videos at home be effective for building muscle?

[LilFlower2]

Hey there,

I'm a 26 year old woman, and I'm skinny fat. I have pretty much no butt and my stomach sticks out to where it makes me look 2 or 3 months pregnant. I haven't done any exercise in a long time, except going on almost daily walks, but I want to be more active. I also want to build muscle all over, grow a butt, get a flat stomach, and be healthy. I already eat a pretty healthy diet, although I need to work on adding more veggies to it.

I don't have access to a gym or any personal trainers, and my only option right now is to workout at home. I was thinking I could workout to videos on YouTube, but I'm not sure if I could really get results doing that. I found a full body dumbbell workout on YT that I'd like to start doing... The workout consists of these exercises:

8-12 Bulgarian Split Squat
10-12 Overhead Press
8-12 Romanian Deadlift
10-12 Chest Press
10-12 Hip Thursts
8-12 Dumbbell Row
10-12 Froggy Hip Thrusts
8-12 Bicep Curls
12-15 Calf Raises
8-12 Overhead Tricep Extension

And it's 3 sets

I have some questions:

1. Can I really get results doing YT videos 3 x's a week?

2. If yes, for how long can I do the above workout until I need to switch to a different routine, so I can continue seeing results?

3. How do I know if I'm doing the moves correctly without having anyone to watch my form? Will my body give me any signs?

4. How do I figure out how many lbs I should be lifting? I have no muscles and I'm weak.

5. How do I figure out how many grams of protein I need to be eating to grow muscle?

6. I already know I need to be at a surplus for muscle growth, but how much more do I need to eat exactly?

7. Can I use the SAME amount of weight and do the SAME amount of reps each time I work out or do I need to change it up?

8. If I need to change it up for each workout (or maybe each week?), how would I go about doing that exactly?

Sorry for all the questions, but I appreciate any answers given!

[MistyMurphy]

I'm also one of them who keep busy with household chores and no time for the outing! Yeah, Actually I'm a mom and have a lot of works at home so I always think how to get some extra time for my own healt and keep my budy fit and young. With so much preasure I also do some freelancing. So it's too much defecult for me to manage some time for gym and do regular exrcise for a better helath.
Rather doing my mom job and works I thought I have to do some exercise to keep in shape lately.

You ask a nice question and definitely, I'm not an authorized person who can answer you in a proper way. I'm also looking forward to some good answer that we both could follow. I hope some one will guide us in a right way

[Redfish225]

op, you’ve answered all your own questions, lol. Now get to it!

[jay283]

Youtube exercises tend to be generic. You need a tough workout so to speak. Jogging will not cut it. You can also do exercises which focus on the core.

Yes changing it up is key to seeing results.

[LilFlower2]

op, you’ve answered all your own questions, lol. Now get to it!

Lol, ok, but I still feel as clueless as ever

[LilFlower2]

Youtube exercises tend to be generic. You need a tough workout so to speak. Jogging will not cut it. You can also do exercises which focus on the core.

Yes changing it up is key to seeing results.

Thanks. So, would the routine I posted in my original post be effective for building some muscle? It's one I got from Youtube. If yes, how would I go about changing it up each week (or however often?) to get results from it? Maybe someone could post an example?

I guess those are the main questions that I have... Thanks!

[jay283]

Thanks. So, would the routine I posted in my original post be effective for building some muscle? It's one I got from Youtube. If yes, how would I go about changing it up each week (or however often?) to get results from it? Maybe someone could post an example?

I guess those are the main questions that I have... Thanks!

I think it would build some muscle but it would mostly make you lean. Also try varying the weight of the dumbbells. In my opinion weight and resistance increases muscle. Try using at least 30lbs weights/dumbbells start with smaller weights, to get your body used to them. Sudden start at 30lbs is not recommended I think.

The exercises you posted will give a lean look, flat stomach if you include leg raises and sit ups and be sure to increase as time goes on.

[kimm4]

Thanks. So, would the routine I posted in my original post be effective for building some muscle? It's one I got from Youtube. If yes, how would I go about changing it up each week (or however often?) to get results from it? Maybe someone could post an example?

I guess those are the main questions that I have... Thanks!

You don't change up a lifting program weekly. You run it for as long as you can and focus on progressive overload (increasing strength and performance.)

Calorie surplus, lift heavy, stay consistent and patience. Building muscle is a slow process.

[SunshinyDaiz]

OP, what gym equipment do you have?

[LilFlower2]

I think it would build some muscle but it would mostly make you lean. Also try varying the weight of the dumbbells. In my opinion weight and resistance increases muscle. Try using at least 30lbs weights/dumbbells start with smaller weights, to get your body used to them. Sudden start at 30lbs is not recommended I think.

The exercises you posted will give a lean look, flat stomach if you include leg raises and sit ups and be sure to increase as time goes on.

Thanks! How many lbs exactly should I be lifting to start? I know you said light, but I'm a total weakling and I can barely lift up my 14 lb cat.

[LilFlower2]

You don't change up a lifting program weekly. You run it for as long as you can and focus on progressive overload (increasing strength and performance.)

Calorie surplus, lift heavy, stay consistent and patience. Building muscle is a slow process.

Thanks. Sorry, I didn't mean change up the whole routine, I meant how often do I need to change up the reps and the weights, if at all. If I do need to in order to get results, I just wanted to know how to go about doing that exactly. Hopefully I explained myself better this time.

[LilFlower2]

OP, what gym equipment do you have?

Just a pair of 3 lb dumbbells, a resistance band (the kind with handles at both ends), and ankle weights. It's not much, but I could easily get creative with household items if needed.

[SunshinyDaiz]

Just a pair of 3 lb dumbbells, a resistance band (the kind with handles at both ends), and ankle weights. It's not much, but I could easily get creative with household items if needed.

Okay, you have no equipment and you are interested in doing YT videos. If I were in that position I would look for videos focused on bodyweight calisthenics. If you go that route, you can slowly progress. Take push-ups as an example: on the wall, then the kitchen counter, then the coffee table, then a step, then the floor, then feet on step, ect. Each variation is adding resistance as you get stronger.

The program you have chosen has no way of adding resistance with your limited equipment and you need to progressively add more resistance to see results.

Hope this is helpful.

[LilFlower2]

Okay, you have no equipment and you are interested in doing YT videos. If I were in that position I would look for videos focused on bodyweight calisthenics. If you go that route, you can slowly progress. Take push-ups as an example: on the wall, then the kitchen counter, then the coffee table, then a step, then the floor, then feet on step, ect. Each variation is adding resistance as you get stronger.

The program you have chosen has no way of adding resistance with your limited equipment and you need to progressively add more resistance to see results.

Hope this is helpful.

Thanks. Couldn't I just use household items in place of heavier weights, like heavy books for hip thrusts, milk jugs for dumbbell rows, etc? Or would that not get me any results?

[SunshinyDaiz]

I went and looked at the video you are talking about. I am going to be honest. She has that butt and stomach because of genetics and lifting heavy. (By heavy lifting I mean with a real barbell and plates.) In one video she even mentions how she was planning on bulking, but can't because she spends too much time flying between her home and LA and doesn't have a gym membership in LA.

If that is your goal, then you are either going to have to join a gym or buy some equipment for your home and start a good program. Milk jugs and books are not going to cut it.

I'm sorry I can't be more help.

[pondman]

I think about 50% of what you are looking for can be done with capping your daily calories. You don't need to really diet. Just cap those excessive day.

The workout program is okay for now. I'd do regular dead lift and squat movements. You can find something to lift-- a big bag of dog food over your shoulders would do for squats. Deadlifting you could do with just about anything including a kettle bell. Eventually you will want to work up to a weight that feels challenging. You might need to start with body weight on some of these.

[LilFlower2]

I went and looked at the video you are talking about. I am going to be honest. She has that butt and stomach because of genetics and lifting heavy. (By heavy lifting I mean with a real barbell and plates.) In one video she even mentions how she was planning on bulking, but can't because she spends too much time flying between her home and LA and doesn't have a gym membership in LA.

If that is your goal, then you are either going to have to join a gym or buy some equipment for your home and start a good program. Milk jugs and books are not going to cut it.

I'm sorry I can't be more help.

Really? I kinda thought as long as you had some sort of weight to act as a resistance, then it wouldn't really matter where it was coming from... Guess I was wrong, though.

I'm not trying to look like MissfitandNerdy (I forget her actual name, but that is what her YT channel is called). I mean, I'd love to look like her because she's very attractive, but I do know genetics play a huge role in how a person looks. I just want to be the best me I can be, that's all.

I appreciate you taking the time to help me. Thank you

[LilFlower2]

I think about 50% of what you are looking for can be done with capping your daily calories. You don't need to really diet. Just cap those excessive day.

The workout program is okay for now. I'd do regular dead lift and squat movements. You can find something to lift-- a big bag of dog food over your shoulders would do for squats. Deadlifting you could do with just about anything including a kettle bell. Eventually you will want to work up to a weight that feels challenging. You might need to start with body weight on some of these.

Thanks! Reducing my calories would do nothing for me... I was once almost 30 lbs underweight (as an adult) for reasons I don't want to mention, and I was still skinny fat. Just no muscle at all and flabby all over, and no butt. The only real difference was that I was very skinny looking and I had a flat stomach. My goal is to build muscle (especially in my glutes) and you need to be in a surplus for that.

[SunshinyDaiz]

Thanks! Reducing my calories would do nothing for me... I was once almost 30 lbs underweight (as an adult) for reasons I don't want to mention, and I was still skinny fat. Just no muscle at all and flabby all over, and no butt. The only real difference was that I was very skinny looking and I had a flat stomach. My goal is to build muscle (especially in my glutes) and you need to be in a surplus for that.

If you google "Strong Curves Workout Templates - Bret Contreras" there is a free pd out there for glutes. It will get you started. But, be aware building glutes will require a lot of weight after you get past the beginner stuff.