19Yr old wants to bulk up- suggestions needed

StopNotWorking

Well I might as well get this over with sooner or later! I used to work in a very labour intensive job for the guts of about 4 years.(summer fulltime/ winter part time). I was let go in november however and I was lucky enough to get myself another job in an office enviroment. My problem is that when I used to work in my old job(steel workshop) I was fairly healthy, I had a nice enough figure(almost a 6pack, nice arms,legs and decent chest.)

Since I started this new job I have lost pretty much all of that, and returned to my old skinny self. And I think it's about time I tried to fix that. I'm 6 foot nothing, 12.5 stone last I checked with a 32 waist aaand.. I can't think of anything else that would describe me physically..

When I worked in my old job I was eating large meals very often(usually 2/3 dinner sized servings along with lots of junk food a day). I have always found it hard to put on weight and at one point I was even on a weight gainer to try bulk out.

Since I started working here however I have been eating a lot less, probably due to the lower energy consumption/demand? Either way I've gotten skinny, too skinny in my opinion and I have lost what muscle I had. My girlfriend suggested that we join a fitness centre together. And that really was the spark I needed to get this rolling and try get myself in shape again.

So with the long and somewhat useless intro out of the way, what do ye in the know think would be best for me to start out on? I used to love swimming and wouldn't mind taking that back up again but I'm really up for anything. I have a terrible habbit of procrastinating so doing anything at home would lead to me sitting back at my computer.

Also I was looking into the fitness centre just off blanch shopping centre, the one with the 4 astro-turf pitches down the road from millenium park, Anyone go there or know anything about it?

Thanks in advance!

MagicMarker

Starting Strength sounds like it would be perfect for you... and your girlfriend;)

Definitely start swimming, always do something you enjoy. And do a search for ''starting strength'', most folk around here recommend it.

StopNotWorking

ok well I looked up starting strength. From the reviews I've read it seems to be a great book, and hopefully if I can stick to it I'll get some nice results.

A few things though, does this book cover anything about nutrition? From what Ive read people are saying its focused mainly on the lifts alone. Also, I work night shifts, and I've been advised not to to any heavy exercises after my 12hr shift ends in the morning. Any truth to this? I understand it can stress you but I thought no pain meant no gain :pac:

bigstar

can you not get to the gym before work, i wouldnt have thought the gym would effect your shift too much. there was a thread on shifts and the gym recently, check that out.

regarding SS look up the wiki site http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Starting_Strength_Wiki, theres a bit on nutrition mostly about drinking milk i think. look up the stickies too.

brutusthebarber

StopNotWorking wrote: »

ok well I looked up starting strength. From the reviews I've read it seems to be a great book, and hopefully if I can stick to it I'll get some nice results.

A few things though, does this book cover anything about nutrition? From what Ive read people are saying its focused mainly on the lifts alone. Also, I work night shifts, and I've been advised not to to any heavy exercises after my 12hr shift ends in the morning. Any truth to this? I understand it can stress you but I thought no pain meant no gain :pac:

Would you prefer to work out before you got to work or after? When your finished your 12hr shift are you completely wrecked?

IMO if your not shattered then you could work out after your shift, provided you eat properly during work (read the stickies they're class)

StopNotWorking

It's a rare occasion that I have much time to kill before work. Its 7pm to 7am and I try to stay at home and in my OHs an even amount of times. Leaving me out of the way of any gym at least half of the time.

That could really come down to where I go though, right? I was looking at WW in fairview because it is on the dart line. Which is perfect for me coming home from work AND from "d burdz". If I was to go before work I wouldn't be able to half the time.(depending on where the gym is that would be the timeIm at home or the time I'm at "d burdz")

That make any sense? Maybe I would be best looking for a gym closer to work. Anyone know of a good place in or near sandyford industrial estate?

EDIT: Oh and to add, when I'm on day shifts it would be impossible to get a good workout done and still get into work for 7am..

MagicMarker

www.bhaf.ie

It's not open in the morning though so you'd have to go after work.

brutusthebarber

StopNotWorking wrote: »

It's a rare occasion that I have much time to kill before work. Its 7pm to 7am and I try to stay at home and in my OHs an even amount of times. Leaving me out of the way of any gym at least half of the time.

That could really come down to where I go though, right? I was looking at WW in fairview because it is on the dart line. Which is perfect for me coming home from work AND from "d burdz". If I was to go before work I wouldn't be able to half the time.(depending on where the gym is that would be the timeIm at home or the time I'm at "d burdz")

That make any sense? Maybe I would be best looking for a gym closer to work. Anyone know of a good place in or near sandyford industrial estate?

EDIT: Oh and to add, when I'm on day shifts it would be impossible to get a good workout done and still get into work for 7am..

So after work is when you'll be able to work out. Just eat properly thorugh the shift so that your not sapped of energy by the time you hit the gym.

AFAIK there is a gym in Sandyford, I think its a TF gym. Check the gym reviews to see what the gym is like. If you think that the only time you can hit the gym is after work that one close to work will suit. But if you are able/or want to get to the gym any other time then it might be a trek! Just decide which is better for you.

StopNotWorking

MagicMarker wrote: »

www.bhaf.ie

It's not open in the morning though so you'd have to go after work.

Seems decent enough, the times suit me aswell. I could just leave for work at around 2pm, it usually takes me the guts of an hour + 1/2 to get to work from home so that would still give me almost 2 hours of workout and still have enough time to shower and get to work.

Just hope the prices ain't too high

EDIT: Didn't notice the huge image on the home page. 250 a year is the price for coolmine fitness centre. I guess I'll have to go take a look at both of them in person and which is the better.

MagicMarker

StopNotWorking wrote: »

Seems decent enough, the times suit me aswell. I could just leave for work at around 2pm, it usually takes me the guts of an hour + 1/2 to get to work from home so that would still give me almost 2 hours of workout and still have enough time to shower and get to work.

Just hope the prices ain't too high

EDIT: Didn't notice the huge image on the home page. 250 a year is the price for coolmine fitness centre. I guess I'll have to go take a look at both of them in person and which is the better.

With the gym I linked to, it's 29 per month or 250 for the year. There's no joining fee and there's no contract. It's a very small gym but has everything you need and is generally very quiet, especially if you're going after 7pm.

Total Fitness would be much bigger, a lot more equipment but probably a lot busier. It's more expensive, there's a joining fee and a contract, imo it's also too far away to walk from the Ind Est.

StopNotWorking

I don't know which to take.. I could go to coolmine fitness, which has a pool but is further away and I could only really go there 2 times a week. Or I could go to sandyford a good 3/4 times a week, but with no pool. Hmm Hmm

I'm sure I could get a swimming pass to coolmine if I really wanted. The beacon has a "clinic", I don;t want to think about the prices but maybe I should have a look there and see if they have day pass' for their pool.

MagicMarker

The Beacon Hotel? Hmm, didn't realise they had a pool. Let us know how that goes, I'd be interested if they'll let you PAYG.

StopNotWorking

I'm just guessing but I'm sure it would have to have one, they do recovery sessions there so a pool would be a must right?

EDIT: To clarify I'm talking about the whole complex, not the hotel OR hospital, both.