Weightlifting - so many questions!!!!!

Elfentoe

Hi guys,

Apparently im a "hardgainer" (ye learn a new word everyday!) which means i find it very difficult to put on weight - i am fairly active in that i go for a quick run every morning (5 days) along with some basic exercises and then cycle anything from 100-200kms at weekends. I want to introduce some weightlifting to try and 'bulk up' a bit but have no aspirations to be the incredible hulk! Unfortunately I was 'gifted' with my fathers genes resulting in embarassingly skinny legs so hoping to concentrate on squats/deadlifts etc. General advice seems to be to only train twice per week (due to my high metabolism) and then rest for the remainder of the week. My question is should i stop or reduce amount of running in the mornings and cycling at the w/e to maximise muscle and weight gain or will this compliment my training?

Also, any advice on where to buy a decent set of weights - only place i have come across so far is Argos which do a 50kg set of barbells and dumbells for a reasonable €80 - additional 10Kg plates can then be bought separately. I know I have to start low to get correct form etc but what kinda weight and reps should I be aiming towards?

Any help would be much appreciated - there are no gyms nearby where i live so have to search the net for tips!

thanks!

crotalus667

Elfentoe wrote: »

- i am fairly active in that i go for a quick run every morning (5 days) along with some basic exercises and then cycle anything from 100-200kms at weekends.

Thats alot of cardio !!

but have no aspirations to be the incredible hulk!

Dont worry you wont wake up the next morning looking like the hukk:rolleyes:

My question is should i stop or reduce amount of running in the mornings and cycling at the w/e to maximise muscle and weight gain or will this compliment my training?

that depends on your diet can you post it so we have an idea of what its like ??

Also, any advice on where to buy a decent set of weights

www.irish-lifting.com

The site is owned by Mickk so pm with any questions about equipment (and just about anything else come to think of it) I have always found him excellent to deal with (the argos stuff is not great)


ps

there are some great articals on bodybuilding.com

Hanley

You're a "hardgainer" because you do SO MUCH cardio. Stop doing that and start eating more and you'll gain weight.

Might not be what you want to do, but it might stop you thinking you're a "hardgainer".

Vegeta

Hanley wrote: »

You're a "hardgainer" because you do SO MUCH cardio. Stop doing that and start eating more and you'll gain weight.

Might not be what you want to do, but it might stop you thinking you're a "hardgainer".

Agree with the guys, you do a lot of cardio.

If you want to gain muscle you need to eat lots of good food and train hard with weights.

So what do you weigh and how many calories a day you eating? How many of those calories are carbs/protein/fat?

Al_Fernz

Your lack of muscle mass is because you burn large amounts of calories doing cardio and don't eat a sufficient amount to allow for hypertrophy on top of your base metabolic needs. Also your training routine is not geared towards muscle growth.

You are not a hardgainer and the fact that you're skinny is certainly not because of your genetics.

If you want to increase your muscle mass you should adopt a weight training plan that incorporates the major compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench press etc. and eat a nutrient/protein rich diet.

Check out the stickies.

Elfentoe

Thanks for all the info guys - I realise that i am currently overdoing it with the cardio - and thats why im changing it. I weigh about 12st (76kg) and am about 5'-11" - i eat a fairly healthy diet and try and get as much protein as possible (for the last six months i have been trying to get at least 100-125gms of protein every day) but again probably because of the cardio its all been 'used up'.

I am planning to concentrate on weights twice per week (goin for a quick run as warm up), then keep the cycling at the weekend to see if that works!

thanks again

Transform

No need for the run before to 'warm-up' as its not specific to the weights you are about to do.

Use light weights first then work into the actual weight you want to use.

More cardio is not an option if you want results even if its just a quick run