Who did you learn from?

[Sliheaven]

When you first started getting into Fitness and competing, who did you learn from? I am just curious because I know everyone had to have started somewhere. I am at the beggining stage and looking for any tips anyone has about when they first started. For example, is there anything you wish you would have focused on more before competing for the first time?
-Sliheaven

 

[Arnold]

As far as competing, I wish I would have known more about dieting, meaning proper dieting to get ripped while maintaining LBM.
Always remember that the most important part of contest prep is conditioning, especially with bodybuilding. You must come into the show ripped, period.

 

[Mudge]

I was 11 years old so all I had were magazines. I actually almost got my first weight set when I was 8, but the Sears we went too had all busted up weights (so my dad said anyway), back then they were all plastic coated cement.

I have never competed, but being young I ignored diet for a long time. Sometimes I would try to observe protein intake here and there, but not regularly.

 

[nikegurl]

i wish i hadn't listened to the guy who helped me with my first contest diet. i was really lean - but i also lost tons of muscle. he competed a lot so i figured he knew what he was talking about.

WRONG! there are always people who think they're in a position to give advice/instruction based on the fact that they compete. thing is...competing isn't hard. doing well is the hard part!

(moral of the story - be very careful about who's advice you listen to)

 

[Arnold]

oh, the very first book I read was a beginning bodybuilding book (cannot remember the name) by Franco Columbo.

 

[plouffe]

Learned the basics from my dad, then did alot of research, joined a gym and learned tons of useful information

 

[I Are Baboon]

I learned about working out from magazines, books, and the internet. It took three years to realize how big a role diet played. I suppose that's what I get for having to go it alone. None of my friends or family worked out.

 

[Rissole]

I learnt from this guy Mick Moss
I too agree about the diet 70% of what you do, but i would also like to say that if you are just begining then stick to basic compound movements for about 3mnths Bench press, deadlifts, squats, military presses, chin ups....build a good strong base to work off and life will be alot easier.

 

[prophet]

i learned from what i saw on tv and in movies that the internet.. checked out articles from those men's health magazines online.. lol.. my routine was terrible before i started checkin out message boards

 

[vanity]

read as much as you can.

Build the mind with knowledge and the body will follow.

Trust your instincts.

 

[KataMaStEr]

I learned to lift from my football coach in middle school. And I learned how to keep a propped diet from this forum.

 

[vanity]

what are you eating to make your face red like that?

 

[HoldDaMayo]

muscletech ads...

 

[KataMaStEr]

 

[gr81]

My best friends dad was an accomplished powerlifter back in the day so he taught his son when he was young, and my friend passed it on to me. That is definately where I learned my extreme intensity mindstate from, I am eternally grateful to both of them for that. Where it a different influence I don't think I would've had the characteristics instilled in me that I have now regarding my training mindset.

 

[butterfly]

I was always active in my early days... swimming, basketball, softball, volleyball, even jumping on our trampoline. When I got pregnant at 18 my mom bought us both a membership to what was then called President's and First Lady's (now Bally's) and I learned basic stuff there. I also took a weight lifting class in college. After college I got into competitive water skiing for a couple years and kept playing volleyball and softball with church groups and work groups. About age 26 I wasn't as active and started to gain weight. About two years ago I finally got feed up with the extra weight and started coming here and reading ALOT. Fade helped me with new routines and some basic eating principles. But Twinpeak was the one that made it all make sense to me. Through his guidance (and patience) I've been able to make significant progress towards reaching my goals!!!

 

[vanity]

I signed a pact with the devil.

 

[vanity]

Butterfly : you have classical facial features.

Were you in Greece about 2500 years ago?

 

[butterfly]

Originally posted by vanity
Butterfly : you have classical facial features.

Were you in Greece about 2500 years ago?

What a sweet thing to say!!! Thanks!!!

 

[BabsieGirl]

READING....DO THE READING.

Then again.....you may end up running into conflictive issues.

Go slow. Listen to Prince's advice.

try dif. diets for 6 weeks at a time and keep track of what you ate then and keep track of how your body reacted to the food. Same thing with weight training. Switch it up every 6 weeks.

The only think you can do is learn from yourself and your experiences.

I learned a lot from reading. I'M TALKING........DAILY READING....I don't put books down and I never stop scoping the internet and I ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS.

 

[DeadBolt]

I got pretty lucky when I first started I guess. My cousin has done mutliple competitions and has been at it for about 9 years. And one summer for 3 months straight I trained mon-fri with him learning all the basics. The one thing he made sure I always concentrated on was form. Don't worry about the weight when you first start just your form. Then everything else about diet and many many other thigs I got from here. And don't be afraid to try something new even if you look like a jackass. Do it rite and you will get it eventually, don't let anyone at gym intimidate you but then again don't be afraid of helpful critisizm.

 

[BabsieGirl]

 

[Jim1954]

I got inspiration watching my dad work out, when I was a young kid, he had quite a few old York Barbells which I still have today.
He also used to read Strength and Health magazines, I always was reading them too.
I probably learned most from going to gyms, one in particular had a bunch of powerlifters that trained there.
I have a very small frame, and poor genetics for size, and most likely over trained most of the time. Diet pretty well sucked most of the time too.
Since joining this site I've learned quite a bit, especially about diet, which I am still working on.
I'm pretty happy with the way I look and feel physically, and I'm probably in the best shape of my life.
You can teach an old dog new tricks.

 

[vanity]

welcome