Weight loss before starting weights

[Tal106]

Hey there guys

Over the past 3 months or so I've went from chubby to near skinny, I'm 15 years old and as soon as I'm 16 (birthday is Jan 16th) I'm thinking of joining a gym, getting a yearly membership for my birthday.

So I have a few questions

1. Is the gym an intimidating place? Not the machines, but the people there? What was your first experience there like?

2. After working my body to the limit for about 3 months (From running, cycling, pressups, crunches, situps) will I be used to the pain of weight lifting and will it be as hard as that?

3. Is getting sort of skinny a good idea before starting weights? I.e less body fat?

4. I was thinking of going after school, either walking to a gym or going home getting ready and cycling there. Would you reccomend that? Or would I have ran my body down a bit from getting there in the first place

5. Will I need much training before I can start lifting?

6. Is it true weight lifting can stunt your growth?

7. Are most gyms relaxing places? I.e relativley quiet or quite busy and loud

Edit: 8. Should I start off lightly? You know, start off with a fair bit of protein in my diet and fairly light weights and work my way up adding more protein and weights im lifting every so often?

Thats all I can think of at the moment, I'll add more if I need to

The gym I'm thinking of joining is a lesiureplex so I think I will get free swimming in the pool which could be quite nice after working out.

And can I just say a big thank you to everyone on this forum (especially those on the weight loss forum) for inspiring me to get into shape

Thanks in advance guys =)

 

[Big_Idiot]

Hi man, theres ppl who'll tell you a lot more in depth than me but ill just start it off

1. Gyms are not intimidating at all, iv never heard someone say they are either. Most ppl are willing to help ppl out and basically everyone just does their own thing.

2. Running & Cycling are totally different, and you never get used to 'pain' in the gym, i see it as a good feeling when im pushing myself with weights as its the way to see optimal results.

3. No, dont think you should be losing weight when weight training, depending on what your goal is, but to put on muscle you need to be eating a calorie surplus, meaning eating as much as you can.

4. If i was you, research on a diet and routine and stick to it. Many ppl on here will ideally say a FBW (full body workout) 3 times a week.

Thats just a little info to start it off

 

[Psyk0sisS]

Answers

Here's some of my answers:

1) The gym isn't intimidating, but some of the people may look like it . Everyone does pretty much stay to themselves, but I've found everyone is helpful if you have a question about form or diet or whatever. If you dont want to ask a patron, ask an employee...that's what they are there for .

2) The pain from lifting weights may be pretty bad the first week or 2, but after that the pain isn't near as bad (at least for me it wasn't).

6) I think the thing with weights and stunted growth is if you start lifting when you're like 11-13 when your bones are growing. I'm quite sure at 16 it wont be a factor...but I'm no expert.

7) My gym is pretty quite, there is music in the back ground and most people are doing their thing. I wear headphones though and work out solo.

8) I started low, but not slow. I found a comfortable weight that I could do a 3-4 sets with and each week I added 5-10 lbs (depending on the muscle area). I started out about 145lbs and was taking about 160g protein a day. I was told to take the amount (in grams) of protein a day that would be your ideal weight. (I.E. 160g protein to get 160lbs). This may be a myth, but it worked for me, got to ~162lbs in about 2 months of working out 5 days a week. IMHO, you dont want to kill yourself in the first 2 weeks of lifting because its typically the most painful. Gradually work your weight up...just my 2 cents.

Hope these help! GL!

 

[dswithers]

Proper resistance exercise (lifting weights) will not stunt anybodies growth, no matter how young they are. If a prepubescent youth attempts to lift supermaximal (near or greater than their 1RM) weights there is a remote possibility of damage to the growth plates. If you start with light weights, keeos the reps high (10-15) and gradually increase the weights over time you will probably stimulate your growth NOT stunt it.