I just joined a gym now what? - Page 11

**I got the nordstrom t-shirts not the uniqlo. Those were pretty poor quality.

Nordstroms has a shit outerwear selection. I checked it out recently(before your post) and it was shit. At some point I'd like a nice suede jacket and some cool bombers but not now.

The thing that sucks about living in the Northeast is that those just don't cut it in terms of keeping you warm in the winter. You pretty much need a down jacket. My father is in the garments trade and he makes down jackets among other things for offsaks fifth Avenue so I get all these free down jackets. He basically just rips off the style of the high end retailers like Brunello Cucinelli. It would kind of be sacrilegious to spend $1k on some Canada Goose down jacket in my situation. Tbh I hate that fucking logo anyway it has the shit Loco country on it. I looked at down jackets from Stone Island, Tom Ford, and Brunello Cucinelli. Some of them are pretty nice but again I feel like they might not be tailored for me not to mention it being kind of sacrilegious. Ideally I just leave NJ and don't need to wear down jackets.

Brunello Cucinelli would be one of the best to rip off. I had a Brunello Cucinelli obsession at one point. I thoroughly enjoyed browsing the store in Chicago but it is not healthy to obsess over anything especially when I could not afford any of it.

I wear a wool pea coat I got at the Army/Navy surplus store for $50 ages ago. I rarely even need to wear it where I live now.

Nice gains heims. I've been trying to figure out whether i should cut or bulk. A decade of sedentary employment and gaming have produced a rather poor frame on my body. I'm what you call "skinny fat", meaning I have no muscle definition and what looks like a misplaced beer belly since the rest of me is so skinny. It's really gross and I hate it. I'm 6' and 170lbs so you can imagine how disproportioned and "pear shaped" I must be. I just started a liquid diet with a powdered food called Huel thats supposed to qualify as full meal replacement. I am restricting myself to 1200 calories per day at the moment just as a test of willpower. Hungry all the time of course, but got through my first week today. But I've been reading that I'm going to burn so much muscle mass in the process (what little I have) that I may just exacerbate my appearance until I look Christian Bale in the Machinist trying to burn fat from the belly. Some people saying I should ignore the cut and try to bulk up instead, and that it may even conceal the gut once my upper body is better proportioned, not to mention any muscle gains will contribute towards fat loss since muscle requires a lot of energy to build/exist.

On October 30 2021 05:39 NewbSaibot wrote: Nice gains heims. I've been trying to figure out whether i should cut or bulk. A decade of sedentary employment and gaming have produced a rather poor frame on my body. I'm what you call "skinny fat", meaning I have no muscle definition and what looks like a misplaced beer belly since the rest of me is so skinny. It's really gross and I hate it. I'm 6' and 170lbs so you can imagine how disproportioned and "pear shaped" I must be. I just started a liquid diet with a powdered food called Huel thats supposed to qualify as full meal replacement. I am restricting myself to 1200 calories per day at the moment just as a test of willpower. Hungry all the time of course, but got through my first week today. But I've been reading that I'm going to burn so much muscle mass in the process (what little I have) that I may just exacerbate my appearance until I look Christian Bale in the Machinist trying to burn fat from the belly. Some people saying I should ignore the cut and try to bulk up instead, and that it may even conceal the gut once my upper body is better proportioned, not to mention any muscle gains will contribute towards fat loss since muscle requires a lot of energy to build/exist.

I was in the same place as you when I started. I wasn't sure if I should bulk or cut because I was a skinny fat type as well.

Thats why I wanted to know exactly what % my bodyfat% was. When I was in Mexico I got this thing called a bonedensity or "dexascan" which you can use to measure your bodyfat%. It isn't 100% accurate but its alot better than using a skin fold caliper by yourself when you don't know what your doing. The mind places tricks on you. I was expecting no more than 25% but got 27.5%. After that I knew for sure that I needed to cut. I paid like 50 bucks for it...I think its around 200 or 300 bucks here in the states

If you reduce caloric intake that much its my understanding that it will hurt your metabolism. Being a skinny guy myself all I knew how to do was bulk but never learned how to properly cut. Thats why I hired an online fitness coach that gave me exact diet to eat.

1lb of fat = roughly 3500 calories. So a 500 calorie per day deficit will yield you a pound a week without hurting your metabolism.

As far as "huel" is concerned I don't know much about it. There's this hilarious YouTube kid hidinginmyroom that uses that haha but like I said idk much about it.

The things I'd say are questionable are things like micronutrients, fibers, absorption, and just unknown things about the body.

Regarding micronutrients I used to think for example egg whites were the bomb because they are lean, are rated 99% in terms of protein absorption and quality. However I didn't realize their flaw was that they don't have any micronutrients, so while they can be a part of a good diet they can't be your whole diet. Same thing with wheyprotein they are rated 100% in terms of protein absorption and quality but they have no micronutrients. I eat 3 whole eggs + 1tbsp peanut butter as my last meal. The yolk of the egg contains a bunch of nutrients that are good for you. Same thing with red meat / white meat. Currently I'm on a 1 meal chicken 1 meal lean red meat diet because the red meat has micronutrients that are good for bodybuilding. Not sure what kind of nutrients the huell contains.

And yeah idk how you are getting fibers on a diet like that again im not an expert.

On October 27 2021 23:06 hiems wrote: Not sure what the problem is im obviously making progress. I don't think online coaches are a scam I think for the most part the actual lifts is alot easier than nutrition which is 90% of what I use my coach for. I don't think recomposition is something as easy as you make it out to be. I also love how you say "just eat right" as if thats just so easy to get 100% correct. Edit: im on a cut you dummy not sure how you expect my main lifts to improve by a ton esp on 12 rep scheme or to gain a bunch of muscle

Beginners are given the gift of being able to make insane progress in a very short amount of time. This is the golden time to build your foundation which will help you for the rest of your life. Most people squander it with shit workouts/shit dieting and/or the low-gains mentality you seem to have.

Recomposition is quite easy and people are addicted to overcomplicating things and imagining that everything is hard. The only hard part is to be consistent and not be easily influenced by random people/celebrities/whatever is hip to do. If you are consistent with a linear progression program centered on a full body routine 2-3 a weeks (main big lifts + accessory workouts and cardio at the end) and some light cardio throughout the week you will lose fat and build a lot of muscle quickly.

If you're not doing linear progression and your main lifts are not improving much you are pretty much wasting your time. In your language, that translates to, you are being a dumbfuck. Especially when you are paying money for a gym and a coach. Aren't you supposed to be Mr. Efficiency? Mr. Best Value? I can promise you you're not being that with what you've been doing. You're not some chick who is dieting for the summer to have a beach body, are you? Then stop fucking around with cutting and put some muscle on that frame before worrying about definition. You have nothing to define there.

Simple question. If you want a beginner to win at NL 10, what do you teach him? Is he better off learning ABC poker and learning to focus on how to be patient and disciplined or do you tell him to go for some advanced lessons for high stakes players with a specialized mindset coach?

On October 30 2021 15:53 Loco wrote: Show nested quote + On October 27 2021 23:06 hiems wrote: Not sure what the problem is im obviously making progress. I don't think online coaches are a scam I think for the most part the actual lifts is alot easier than nutrition which is 90% of what I use my coach for. I don't think recomposition is something as easy as you make it out to be. I also love how you say "just eat right" as if thats just so easy to get 100% correct. Edit: im on a cut you dummy not sure how you expect my main lifts to improve by a ton esp on 12 rep scheme or to gain a bunch of muscle Beginners are given the gift of being able to make insane progress in a very short amount of time. This is the golden time to build your foundation which will help you for the rest of your life. Most people squander it with shit workouts/shit dieting and/or the low-gains mentality you seem to have. Recomposition is quite easy and people are addicted to overcomplicating things and imagining that everything is hard. The only hard part is to be consistent and not be easily influenced by random people/celebrities/whatever is hip to do. If you are consistent with a linear progression program centered on a full body routine 2-3 a weeks (main big lifts + accessory workouts and cardio at the end) and some light cardio throughout the week you will lose fat and build a lot of muscle quickly. If you're not doing linear progression and your main lifts are not improving much you are pretty much wasting your time. In your language, that translates to, you are being a dumbfuck. Especially when you are paying money for a gym and a coach. Aren't you supposed to be Mr. Efficiency? Mr. Best Value? I can promise you you're not being that with what you've been doing. You're not some chick who is dieting for the summer to have a beach body, are you? Then stop fucking around with cutting and put some muscle on that frame before worrying about definition. You have nothing to define there.

Wowz thank you for teaching me about noob gainz you are so smartz...I swear you better be walking around like GSP in the video game laboratories.

You can be doing linearprogression / progressive overload without your lifts going up much. If your form improves or if you really take advantage of your eccentric/concentric movements that qualifies as progressive overload. If you are doing 12 reps of something like tricep dumbbell skull crushers your not really going to move to a higher dumbbell unless you get alot stronger.

The most important thing about lifting is probably more diet, form, workout intensity, and rest/recovery. Whether you train hypertrophy or strength aren't as important so really have no idea why you are hounding me so hard. I have no desire to do some mark rippetoe shit at this point in my life. I'm not trying to play some sports or be a powerlifter im just trying to look better and avoid injuries.

There is nothing wrong with some dude that diets to have a beach body. I'm not sure whats your point there. Imo you take things written on the internet and online forumz WAY too fucking seriously. I feel like you spent too much time in old school bodybuilding.com forums

The money I spent on the trainer is like...extremely insignificant I'm sorry you can't afford any sort of coaching in anything in life. Getting help is indeed an efficient way to do alot of things alot of epeople do this

On October 30 2021 19:05 Loco wrote: Simple question. If you want a beginner to win at NL 10, what do you teach him? Is he better off learning ABC poker and learning to focus on how to be patient and disciplined or do you tell him to go for some advanced lessons for high stakes players with a specialized mindset coach?

Lol I love how you are just Soooo hellbent on portraying me as some beginner that knows nothing. I think its fairly obvious im not a beginner in the gym. A few weeks ago it was that "your soo fat". I kind of understand given how much I've made fun of you but it's just not a sustainable position.

This is why you are famously called the rasputin of liquidpoker.

Being a novice lifter doesn't mean you have never been in the gym. You could spend 5 years in a gym with fuckarounditis and eat like shit and still be a novice. It's generally thought of in this way:

Beginner: Responds to linear progression

Intermediate: No longer responds to linear progression, needs to implement short term periodization

Advanced: Needs to implement long term periodization

With the body that you have, you are a novice. Period. This isn't a jab at you. You have enormous gains to be made on a novice linear progression program waiting for you. But your ego is just in the way, like the ego of a beginner who wants to mimic high stakes poker players and who plays outside of his roll. This is one of the most common novice mistakes there is.... people doing programs that are not adapted to them, or not doing any program at all, or switching around too often.

And yes, you cannot possibly go wrong with focusing on strength for a year. Strength will have the most impact on building your foundation and your looks, it's what will give you the best bang for your buck and how you can best track true progress. Doesn't mean you can't add some hypertrophy accessory work in there, there are plenty of variations to these programs.

Anyway if your coach sold you on some bullshit program and you feel obligated to keep following it in order to justify the money you've already spent, that's understandable. It's just sad to me that with all your talk about being alpha and efficient you're not milking your novice phase or you don't mind staying there forever.

When I got to 230 lbs. @ 15% bf it took over 1 year maybe not 2 years but I was very intense. Towards the end I had to be really on my food intake and working on weak links. I feel like anything less than a year or even 2 years and everyone is still a beginner. I feel like today I am definitely an untrained beginner but there are certain exercises I know very well that yield big gains for me.

Also, I mean it's good to be humble and have your own goals but if you took your picture to t-nation you would get roasted off the site. I am saying you look fine how you are. Put on some designer clothes with a roll of $4,000 in hundos in your pocket and you'll do fine in Vegas. Short people should want to look like someone like Tom Cruise.



You don't want to get super pumped up because it looks ridiculous but you also don't want to be super skinny.

So many guys want to get a 6 pack and just end up emaciating themselves instead. It's so much easier to sculpt some good muscles and work from that position.

On October 30 2021 20:04 RiKD wrote: When I got to 230 lbs. @ 15% bf it took over 1 year maybe not 2 years but I was very intense. Towards the end I had to be really on my food intake and working on weak links. I feel like anything less than a year or even 2 years and everyone is still a beginner. I feel like today I am definitely an untrained beginner but there are certain exercises I know very well that yield big gains for me. Also, I mean it's good to be humble and have your own goals but if you took your picture to t-nation you would get roasted off the site. I am saying you look fine how you are. Put on some designer clothes with a roll of $4,000 in hundos in your pocket and you'll do fine in Vegas. Short people should want to look like someone like Tom Cruise. You don't want to get super pumped up because it looks ridiculous but you also don't want to be super skinny. So many guys want to get a 6 pack and just end up emaciating themselves instead. It's so much easier to sculpt some good muscles and work from that position.

Idk anything about that site but yes I'm sure at some reputable forum some guy would get roasted for posting a few months progress pic in much better shape.

On October 30 2021 19:57 Loco wrote: Being a novice lifter doesn't mean you have never been in the gym. You could spend 5 years in a gym with fuckarounditis and eat like shit and still be a novice. It's generally thought of in this way: Beginner: Responds to linear progression Intermediate: No longer responds to linear progression, needs to implement short term periodization Advanced: Needs to implement long term periodization With the body that you have, you are a novice. Period. This isn't a jab at you. You have enormous gains to be made on a novice linear progression program waiting for you. But your ego is just in the way, like the ego of a beginner who wants to mimic high stakes poker players and who plays outside of his roll. This is one of the most common novice mistakes there is.... people doing programs that are not adapted to them, or not doing any program at all, or switching around too often. And yes, you cannot possibly go wrong with focusing on strength for a year. Strength will have the most impact on building your foundation and your looks, it's what will give you the best bang for your buck and how you can best track true progress. Doesn't mean you can't add some hypertrophy accessory work in there, there are plenty of variations to these programs. Anyway if your coach sold you on some bullshit program and you feel obligated to keep following it in order to justify the money you've already spent, that's understandable. It's just sad to me that with all your talk about being alpha and efficient you're not milking your novice phase or you don't mind staying there forever.

I didn't hire the dude for some program I hired him to help with my diet how many times do I have to explain it to you, you dumb fuck

Did he recommend eating at a 500 calories deficit to you? Either way he is an unprincipled dumbass. I would not agree to work with someone who is starving himself during his novice phase.

On October 31 2021 15:09 Loco wrote: Did he recommend eating at a 500 calories deficit to you? Either way he is an unprincipled dumbass. I would not agree to work with someone who is starving himself during his novice phase.

Damn dude. I don't get it if you are so much better than people winning mr Phillipines and shitz...why are you working as a video game tester?

So you're telling me you are paying a premium price to get some male pageant competition winner to tell you to starve yourself into sexiness when you can barely lift? lmao

On October 31 2021 17:51 Loco wrote: So you're telling me you are paying a premium price to get some male pageant competition winner to tell you to starve yourself into sexiness when you can barely lift? lmao

Yeppp exactlllyyyy....You are the smartest obviously. Its me that is dumb not you!!!

thread had such good potential but degraded quickly

The title of the thread is "I just joined a gym now what?"

You wouldn't believe all the threads on t-nation that would emerge of some like 160 lb guy starving himself to look like Tyler Durden. Then, you would get some Dave Tate like charachter...



Dave Tate

Anyways, you would get a Dave Tate character come in and say something like "I'VE HAD SHITS BIGGER THAN YOU!! WHY NOT LIFT SOME WEIGHTS AND EAT SOME FOOD!!!" and then most people would pile on until that guy left or sometimes they would listen.

I had a roommate in college that was 5'3'' and less than 120 lbs. Women do not want to party with men smaller than them. Now, you don't go and overcompensate looking like a weirdo. I already said you get a bit buffed up like Tom Cruise and that is good enough. That roommate was merciless on the MySpace grind and he rarely pulled anything. It was actually good for him to pull anything as his personality sucked too. Now, he is married and we never talk so that is what he wanted and good for him.

That is my bad for bringing up designer clothing in this thread. Obviously, status and money can overcome height but biceps the size of your torso is just stupid. In fact, there is an argument to be made for no protein powder and swimming. This is a thread about what to do in the gym though ie LIFT WEIGHTS.

And I also think it's weird that Loco is trying to be like a Dave Tate/Jim Wendler guy but also a David Goggins guy. I guess Goggins knew his way around a weight room and was pretty yolked (and still yolked) converting to 100 mile + stuff. I don't know enough about Greyskull LP. It's good they added auxiliary work because it feels like people would be leaving gains on the table. I just feel like it would be fire to get the central nervous system fired up and get some more sculpting in. I like having deltoids and all the back muscles (teres major/minor/rhomboid). Problem is I suck at squatting. I weigh 250+ lbs. and have 0 mobility. I think there is a world in which I could gain 20 lbs. of muscle and lose 20 lbs. of fat on a modified Greyskull LP though........

Or I need to start running and swimming and not eat so much.

One interesting thing is my calves have never been better in my life.