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2004/05/21, 03:59 PM
Hey everyone. Been reading the boards for a bit and I have found a lot of great info. I have some questions I was hoping I could get answered. First of all, I will give some general info about my routine:
First of all, I am 32 and I started working out about 5 years ago because I was getting really fat. I had NEVER worked out in my life and I never played sports or anything else like that. I partied a lot during college and always ate whatever I wanted. I am 6-3 and I was up to about 235-240 pounds with no muscle.
I made a New Year's resolution to start working out and basically taught myself. It was slow going at first but I stuck with it and I probably average 3-4 times a week at the gym for about 1 1/2 hours each time. I am in much better shape now -- I weigh about 220 and I have decent muscle definition. Tons better than before, when I see my old friends from college they are like "damn, you've gotten big!"
I feel like I kind have reached my peak. I try and switch up my routine and I try new exercises all the time. I'll have to admit, my diet isn't great. I TRY and eat good (much better than I used to) but my diet isn't the greatest. Plus, I like my cold Budweiser on the weekend.
I have decided to try supplements since I had never tried them before and I think they would be beneficial. Here's what I bought:
--Myotrophy Chelated Creatine Phosphate by Anabolic Solutions
--GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein
--An Alpha Lipoic Acid pill (not sure what this does, the guy at Nutri-Sport told me I should take it with the creatine)
I have been making a protein shake (soy milk, one scoop of when and some fruit and fat free yogurt) BEFORE my workout and then drinking the creatine with water AFTER my workout. I have not been using the Creatine on my off days (this is one of my major questions, is this right?). I am also wondering if that is good for me to drink the shake before my workout. I found it gives me energy for my workout.
My workouts consist of 45 minutes of weights (3-4 sets of each exercise, I work out one body part each day and do biceps and back on the same day) I usually do about 12 sets a week for each body part. I don't work legs, I rollerblade and do a lot of cardio (30 min each workout) and ride my bike so I have never been interested.
My abs are a big trouble spot. I have a really bad back which has limited my weightlifting recently. There are a lot of exercises I don't do anymore because of my back (I don't mess with heavy dumbells any more, sometimes just bringing them to the bench will tweak my back) I started an intense abs program but it seemed to take out my back to the point that I couldn't work out anymore until it felt better. I do a lot of stretches for my back but I never realized that abs could be such a strain on your back.
If anyone could give me some pointers on anything I am doing right/wrong it would be much appreciated. Like I said, I taught myself everything I know about this so some of it may be way off. Thanks for your help in advance. I may post this in the newbie forum also...
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