Beginner's Question

[timmyparker]

So I am starting working out and so on and I am a skinny fat kind of guy. I have some fat over my chest and a pot belly but small arms. So I decided to go on a calorie deficit to lose some of that belly and then go on a bulk. I know a bit about nutrition as I have read around but one question is concerning lifting weights. I know you can't gain any muscle on a calorie deficit so I was wondering if it was worth doing Riptoes Beginner Strength program, or if I should start the Riptoes after my cut and I start eating at excess calories?

I was thinking of doing my own made program during my cut.

Monday:

Dumbbell Bench Press : 5X5
Squat : 5X5
Bent Over Dumbell Rows: 3 X 8
Chinups: 3 X Failure

Wednesday:

Barbell Bench Press: 3x8
Squat : 3X8
Bent Over Dumbell Rows: 5X5
Dips: 3 X Failure

Friday:

Dumbbell Bench press: 5X5
Squat: 5X5
Bent Over Dumbell Rows: 3X8
Chinups: 3 X Failure

5X5 => 80 percent of 1RM
3X8 => 65 percent of 1RM

 

[evan]

You should start lifting now. Since you're new to weight training, I think if you eat at a small deficit and eat pleanty of protein, you will gain muscle as you burn fat.

Your routine looks good, the only change I'd make is to do Dead-lifts instead of squats on Wednesdays and add shoulder presses somewhere into the mix, maybe instead of dips.

 

[Dry]

<3 Dips, I'd leave those in there...

I would change up the wednesday compounds to something different from M/F to stir things up a bit.

Bent over barbell rows or wide grip pull ups and dead lifts would make me happy.