- Joined
- Jun 13, 2013
- Messages
- 512
There's a ton of info on different workout programs and such online. And really, at the end of the day, a lot of different training regimens will work provided you actually stick to the program. Here's just a list of things they all will have in common whether you're looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or just be a little healthier:
-Water: Drink it. No need to over-explain this one. It helps you in a million ways, including making your skin look healthier and your breath smell fresher. A lot of recent research indicates you don't necessarily need to drink 8 cups a day (lest you want to spend the entire day pissing). If your urine is clear to light yellow in colour, chances are you're properly hydrated
-Sleep: Necessary for proper muscle recovery. Not to mention it aids in improving your moods and your overall efficiency as a human being. It varies from person to person in how much sleep they actually need, but make sure you're well rested.
-Train regularly and hard: Don't skip workouts. And when you go into the gym, don't half ass it. This is why I never recommend people working out at home; there are just too many distractions.
-Protein: The magic number seems to be about 1g of protein for every pound you weigh when dieting. If you're trying to put on mass, it will be more.
-Fiber: Most North Americans do not get enough fiber. It's crucial to weight management as well as as having loads of other benefits, including disease prevention
-Your diet is 70 - 80% of everything you do: If you go hard pounding iron at the gym, then go eat some Macdonald's after, you may as well not have gone at all. When I first started working out years ago I heard this multiple times and ignored it. How I wish I listened...
-Eat immediately after going to the gym. I won't go into the science of it (unless someone really wants me to) but your muscles need to be re-fueled as soon as you're done working out. The longer you wait, the lower the results you'll be.
-Believe in "tried and true": If there's a new fad diet or way to get shredded that just came on the market, chances are it will not work. Ask anyone who has done it. There are no shortcuts. You have to exercise and eat well.
-Limit your supplements to Whey Protein, Creatine, BCAA's, Glutamine, and muti-vitamins: Supplements are a necessity, but there's no need to be getting into testosterone and steroids if you're a beginner. I'm not here to discuss the moral ramifications or health concerns in using these. All I will say is that even the guys who are on steroids would only advocate their use after you've reached a plateau. This usually happens after about 2 years of solid training. And I'm talking about competitive bodybuilders here, not the guy at the gym who takes steroids like candy and never works out his legs.
These are very basic rules, but they are often overlooked. When I started going to the gym, I ignored most of these things and my results were very slow and extremely gradual. Once I implemented them, it's amazing how much my progress skyrocketed.
That's it for now. If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
-John
-Water: Drink it. No need to over-explain this one. It helps you in a million ways, including making your skin look healthier and your breath smell fresher. A lot of recent research indicates you don't necessarily need to drink 8 cups a day (lest you want to spend the entire day pissing). If your urine is clear to light yellow in colour, chances are you're properly hydrated
-Sleep: Necessary for proper muscle recovery. Not to mention it aids in improving your moods and your overall efficiency as a human being. It varies from person to person in how much sleep they actually need, but make sure you're well rested.
-Train regularly and hard: Don't skip workouts. And when you go into the gym, don't half ass it. This is why I never recommend people working out at home; there are just too many distractions.
-Protein: The magic number seems to be about 1g of protein for every pound you weigh when dieting. If you're trying to put on mass, it will be more.
-Fiber: Most North Americans do not get enough fiber. It's crucial to weight management as well as as having loads of other benefits, including disease prevention
-Your diet is 70 - 80% of everything you do: If you go hard pounding iron at the gym, then go eat some Macdonald's after, you may as well not have gone at all. When I first started working out years ago I heard this multiple times and ignored it. How I wish I listened...
-Eat immediately after going to the gym. I won't go into the science of it (unless someone really wants me to) but your muscles need to be re-fueled as soon as you're done working out. The longer you wait, the lower the results you'll be.
-Believe in "tried and true": If there's a new fad diet or way to get shredded that just came on the market, chances are it will not work. Ask anyone who has done it. There are no shortcuts. You have to exercise and eat well.
-Limit your supplements to Whey Protein, Creatine, BCAA's, Glutamine, and muti-vitamins: Supplements are a necessity, but there's no need to be getting into testosterone and steroids if you're a beginner. I'm not here to discuss the moral ramifications or health concerns in using these. All I will say is that even the guys who are on steroids would only advocate their use after you've reached a plateau. This usually happens after about 2 years of solid training. And I'm talking about competitive bodybuilders here, not the guy at the gym who takes steroids like candy and never works out his legs.
These are very basic rules, but they are often overlooked. When I started going to the gym, I ignored most of these things and my results were very slow and extremely gradual. Once I implemented them, it's amazing how much my progress skyrocketed.
That's it for now. If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
-John