General / Off-Topic Weight training / multigym thread

[Quddus]

So... my wife says I'm skinny.

She's allowed to say that but I'm not allowed to make "beached whale" jokes about her. Not fair.

Anyway, about time I get back onto doing some weights. I want to be roughly as big as Schwarzeneggar but as I look a little bit like an anorexic pregnant girl at the moment I know it won't happen over night but it may take a couple of montths or so.


So... Got free weights with barbells etc, best way to build muscle BUT for some exercises you really could do with a machine so I'm looking at getting an upright multigym for lat pill downs and butterflies etc...

Confusing me though because they quote the weight stack (of say 50kg, which is too low) but then some say that provides a resistance of like 100kg or so. Is this just marketing nonsense or does it make some sort of sense???

 

[Surfinjo]

Weights will more likely tear some muscles as build you up.

Suggest you join a Karate Class. Find a good Dojo with a properly accredited sensi. Generally speaking the better ones are totally confident and skint. Generally renting their hall from a school or community centre, by the night.

The rip off artists try to sell keep fit with Karate Training included.

Unless you really want to injure yourself and have permanent disabilities, you will find a good quality trainer who knows what they are doing.

 

[adoredtv]

Use free weights and find a partner who is equally as motivated as you are. There are plenty of guys out there in that position and when two of you are doing it you'll push each other on.

You're gonna have to eat a lot more though and I suspect that most "skinny" guys have this as their main issue (I was one for years). If you're working out right then it won't be an issue though as you'd eat a horse.

 

[Groowie]

IMO, free weights are much better. Just get a bench and a friend to spot you, check your diet and you're good to go.

 

[Quddus]

Cheers guys

Jo - did competition judo and wado ryu karate for years: was kinda fit but it never put on (much) muscle. Now I'm in the worst of all worlds. Skinny, bit of a belly thanks to silly therapeutic steroids, and wouldn't be able to fight a 7year old girl...

Atv and Groowie - thanks yeah free weights are the way to go to utilise stabilising muscles etc, which I plan, but I've found some things you can't as well on freeweights so having a multigym helps

As an update, in case anyone else lurking on this thread is wondering, I've since realised that the weight stack and resistance are separate things i.e. the weight stack can be 50kg but the way they pulleys are arranged and the friction within them can give you extra resistance, but only for certain exercises so beware of sneaky advertising

 

[Guido]

A rigorous combo of a high protein diet, with plenty of free weights and bodyweight exercises are a good start.

TBH getting from your typical 7 st skinny type to full on terminator is going to be more than months.

I had tried that route. Ok I got a bit bigger, but the realised that means sod all. If you want the look but fewer drawbacks, try to work on strength, stamina and tone, think more Bruce Lee than Arnie. Either way it's going to take some commitment and time.

 

[Surfinjo]

Cheers guys

Jo - did competition judo and wado ryu karate for years: was kinda fit but it never put on (much) muscle. Now I'm in the worst of all worlds. Skinny, bit of a belly thanks to silly therapeutic steroids, and wouldn't be able to fight a 7year old girl...

Quite.

You can have all the muscle mass in the world but if you don't have the strength and stamina to carry it, you're not much more than a useless lump.

I had real strength. I could lift what I needed to, and had the confidence to match it.

Whatever approach you choose, it is essential you find a properly trained trainer, not some guy with a sun lamp running a keep fit gym.

At least find a trainer who is registered with an Olympic recognised organisation.