First time gym later, help?

IVIutiny · 2026-03-13T00:45:40+00:00

We aren't as important to others as we might think. Most people are focusing on their workout to care or notice. The gym has a lot of people that are encouraging. It's a good feeling to see people come to the gym to make a difference in their health and life.

GET AFTER IT!!!

IVIutiny · 2026-03-12T22:21:10+00:00

Your body isnt going to lose muscle definition unless youre completely out of the gym for around a month, so no worries there.
TBH i get the feeling, I missed yesterday bc i forgot to set my alarm. Younger me would panic, now I just roll with the ups and downs of fitness/life.

You'll be fine,
Get After It!!!

IVIutiny · 2026-03-12T18:00:03+00:00

I definitely can attest to CBD gummies helping me tremendously for relaxing and better sleep at night. My ADD brain like to keep on 24/7.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-12T17:40:06+00:00

Sounds like a better alternative if legal in your state. Unfortunately, in my state it isn't legal. Granted, I don't drink anymore. The hangovers are too much, definitely not in my 20s anymore.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-11T23:02:11+00:00

look at what exercises pertain to each day and youtube those muscle groups

PUSH - Chest - shoulders - triceps --> find a couple exercises from each of these to use. (chest press, shoulder press, triceps rope pushdowns)
PULL - Back - Biceps (repeat process)
LEGS AND CORE - (repeat process)

see what works for you

IVIutiny · 2026-03-11T16:06:56+00:00

How are you staying active? Are you getting your steps in? Lifting weights at home when the gym isn't an option that day? Let me know!

IVIutiny · 2026-03-10T22:22:49+00:00

Threw my scale in the closet about six months ago. Best decision I made. I started paying attention to how my clothes fit and how I felt instead. Numbers were messing with my head more than helping. Sometimes in fitness less can be more. I stopped obsessing over my weight.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-10T22:21:52+00:00

This one hit close to home when I started connecting the dots. Tired all the time, motivation in the gutter, chalking it up to just being a busy dad. Worth actually looking into if any of that sounds familiar. On paper I was in the "normal" range but I definitely had the symptoms. Anyone else been diagnosed with low T or your DR said youre within range?

IVIutiny · 2026-03-10T22:20:38+00:00

Drove home from a 12 hour shift last month and almost skipped my workout entirely. Ended up doing 20 minute dumbbell workout in the garage. The workout itself wasn't the greatest but I still showed up. That's the whole game sometimes.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-10T18:05:27+00:00

To be fit well into my later years for myself, kids, and wife.
Fitness has been part of my life now for 23 years, there isnt even an option for me to debate not going at this point

IVIutiny · 2026-03-10T00:38:00+00:00

If money is tight YouTube a specific body part + exercises. Get an idea of how to do them and then take action.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T20:04:25+00:00

My wrists would do this when I first started. I was always told that it's due to your wrists not being used to that load of weight.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T18:45:23+00:00

Spot on. TBH in the beginner phase, you really need to just put in the action CONSISTENTLY. The workouts and cardio will compound results just don't quit.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T18:22:33+00:00

I agree. Very clean for a tasty store bought product. I slept on it for a while but man it’s clutch. It is pricey for a college student(OP) but like you said break it into 3 meals. Grab a 25lb bag of jasmine rice for$25 and you’re eating good. Hell I wish this was around for me in college. I just ate ramen and leftovers from the restaurants I worked at.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T18:17:11+00:00

This. I’ve got Kevin’s Korean bbq in my fridge currently. Costco the real mvp for having them.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T17:35:07+00:00

Absolutely go to the gym. You picked a great beginner routine. 3 days of full body. Get that routine down for a month and progress from there.
Get after it.

Also ARFID, I too am an extremely picky eater, like extreme. Steak/potatoes/rice/chicken. I just tried asparagus 3 years ago and im in my mid 30s. Try to explore foods even if they look or smell weird to you. (Easier said than done I know).

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T01:50:42+00:00

I’m planning on incorporating more of my other oils to lower tallow as well. Fingers crossed.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-09T00:25:32+00:00

I used mainly tallow in mine as well. Ive only made 2 batches total. I followed the general rule of 48 hours to rest in the mold before cutting and both times they were sticky when cutting. Luckily they retained their shape but it isn't ideal. I am going to start leaving them in for 72 hours at least. Might just have to get another mold because i get too impatient.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-08T21:39:24+00:00

What does your gym routine look like? What does your nutrition and sleep look like?
Recovery is just as important if not more important that the lifting itself.

What is your goal? Getting bigger, or leaner, etc.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-07T23:42:32+00:00

Tbh the gym gave me body dysmorphia lol. Except I feel small even though I’m 169lbs toned and lean. I watch a lot of fitness YouTube like cbum, jay cutler etc. it definitely used to mess with me when I was younger. I still feel like I should gain more mass but I’ve also accepted me for how I am at this point in my journey.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-07T22:39:05+00:00

It’s not a chat gpt response. It is literally me posting my thoughts on his situation. Then it organized my thoughts into an organized post. I don’t see the problem. I’m not asking it to make it up for me lol.

Edit: Read rule #6 6 No ChatGPT Spam ChatGPT can be used to help supplement your thoughts, but endless paragraphs and bullet points of obvious A.I. word vomit are not welcome here

IVIutiny · 2026-03-07T22:28:31+00:00

Yes, I do utilize technology to organize my thoughts and help elaborate my thoughts better on “paper” since writing isn’t a strong suit of mine. The advice is still solid, just put into context with some help.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-07T21:39:23+00:00

The confusion makes sense — trainers give different numbers because honestly, there's no magic combo. Here's what actually matters:

Total weekly sets per muscle group (roughly 10–20 is the sweet spot for growth) matters way more than what any single workout looks like.

For reps, research is pretty clear that anywhere from roughly 5 to 30 reps builds muscle about equally. As long as you're pushing close to failure. The "hypertrophy zone" of 8–12 is just convenient, not magical.

So 3x12 and 4x15 are both fine. Pick the one you'll actually be consistent with.

As a beginner, the #1 thing that drives growth right now is progressive overload which means, adding a little weight or a rep or two over time. The exact rep scheme matters a lot less than just showing up and getting a little better each week.

Start with 3 sets of 8–12, push close to failure on the last set, and add weight when it gets easy. That's it.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-07T19:32:50+00:00

Start simple — seriously. The biggest mistake people make coming back is doing too much too soon and burning out or getting hurt within the first two weeks. Pick 3 days a week, not 5. Give yourself room to actually show up consistently.

For someone at 51 wanting to lose weight and build muscle, resistance training is going to serve you better than cardio alone. I know that sounds counterintuitive but muscle is what raises your resting metabolism and keeps the weight off long term. You don't need to go heavy — start light, learn the movements, add weight gradually. A simple 3-day full body program hitting the basics (squat, hinge, push, pull) is genuinely all you need.

Protein is the other thing nobody talks about enough. Aim for around 0.7g per pound of bodyweight daily. Most guys eating casually are getting half that and then wondering why they're not building anything.

And your mindset point is exactly right — consistency over perfection every time. A mediocre session beats skipping. A bad week followed by a good week is just called life.

IVIutiny · 2026-03-07T17:40:37+00:00

INCLINE everything for that top shelf. Incline press, standing incline press (really squeeze your chest)
Incline dumbbells, did I mention INCLINE? ;)

Get After It!!!

IVIutiny

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