Exercise noob

[DWarrior]

I've been wanting to start exercising for some time now, but I don't know how to set up my routine. The sites I found all had some pretty advanced info about muscle groups and whatnot. I'm 21, 5'9 ~150lbs. ectomorph. don't drink or smoke, but I've never had a steady exercise program in my life. I started jogging a while back, but I only jog about 1 mile and today I jogged 1.5. I got this 3-day coupon to LA Fitness, so can you guys recommend some beginner exercises I can do?

I guess this is just another example of perfectionism due to procrastination. I'm starting to think the best way is to just go to the gym a couple of times and do whatever, then start to form an exercise routine.

[moltar]

Have a look at Getting Started by AST-SS. I did it for a few month when I got started, then switched to their Max-OT 12 week program - also great.

[JeffS]

Wow--that's a great article, moltar. Thanks for the link!

[peter]

Become an Urban Ranger and build yourself a Shovelglove
These 2 systems are extremely easy to start.... and are very efficient...
I adopted them both and I feel great...

[Jim]

DWarrior -

You're the very person that RunFatBoy was built for. Sign up my site, and you'll get a workout plan that is easy to read (all of the steps are explained in plain English) and customized to your body. RFB makes it very easy for the beginner to get up and running with a workout plan.

[markholden]

Also, you should check out ExRx (Exercise Prescription) on the Net. Lots of excellent info there.

You're right, though -- the best way to get into an exercise routine is to just do it. Go to the gym and jog on the treadmill until you feel tired. Lift some light weights and see how that feels. You don't need to know your body type. There are some basic exercises that apply to everyone: bench press, curls, arm raises, squats, et cetera. If you don't know what those are -- doesn't matter! Imitate what you see other experienced people doing. Or you can look them up online. As Nike says, just do it.

[Hsiang-Lin]

I had a rather interesting path to adopting an exercise lifestyle.

I had no intention originally of exercising on a regular basis when I first started. In fact, I had six fat rolls instead of a six pack. This was back in 8th grade.

I was seriously out of shape and ate all the junk food I could get my hands on (my motto back then: "quantity over quality"). I was the typical gym loser. I was picked last in gym class. Ran/walked a mile in 11+ minutes (well some people might consider that an achievement so bear with me for a bit )

Want to know how I started? 1/2 a push-up. Not even 1 push-up. Just 1/2. My sister could do a complete push-up better than I could!

I love to shower and took 3 showers a day. So one night my dad was like why don't you just do something before you shower? You might as well sweat a little. I thought, "Fair enough" and began my 1/2 push-up routine. Well, first night was...damn easy! 1/2 push-up (and I cheated) and yay I was on my way to my lovely shower.

Next day, 1/2 push-up. Third night I wondered, hmm 1 push-up? Nope. 1/2 push-up but I could feel a slight improvement in strength. Nobody was pressuring me and I didn't feel obligated. But it became a sort of unconscious ambition. And it just built from there. Eventually, I reached my peak at 121 consecutive push-ups in high school. I also ran 5:47/mile in college (it was a casual competition between a friend and I, but boy was I tired!).

Now I exercise 6 days a week and I love it. People often say exercise is hard. In fact, I think it's fun! There is nothing torturous to me about it at all. I love the smell of the gym, the sweat, the "pain" (more like therapy to me), the atmosphere. Don't believe the hype! Exercise is a privilege and a gift. This is one occassion where I believe it truly is a social conditioning that exercise is some kind of torture or work. No it's not. I used to hate it, but now I love it. As Ronnie Coleman (8-time Mr. Olympia) would say, "Lightweight!"

Go out and become the great person you were meant to be! I know you can do it

[elai]

The urban ranger is a very nice, KISS, elegant, idea.
Lin's system is also pretty elegant too.

But if your time constrained (like you MUST use the car and walking for an hour a day is not a time option) and want something that works, is pretty KISS, and works really well and would only take about 10minutes / 15minutes of your day (and also don't have to pay anyone money and not have to make exercise plans because it's done for you, already, all the time). Do crossfit: Welcome to CrossFit: Forging Elite Fitness

[peter]

Originally Posted by elai

The urban ranger is a very nice, KISS, elegant, idea.
Lin's system is also pretty elegant too.

But if your time constrained (like you MUST use the car and walking for an hour a day is not a time option) and want something that works, is pretty KISS, and works really well and would only take about 10minutes / 15minutes of your day (and also don't have to pay anyone money and not have to make exercise plans because it's done for you, already, all the time). Do crossfit: crossfit.org

I think the link to crossfit is:
CrossFit: Forging Elite Fitness
As for the time consuming of Urban Ranger.... well you can leave your car farther away from your work... sometime this might save time if finding a parking space is an issue where you work.