stu21t

i joined a gym last week, time to get in shape, and i have a few questions

whens best to eat? before/after gym? how long? 1hr/30mins before/after?
whats best to drink when exercising? just water? some squash?
what about when you get home? better to have a juice/squash???

whats best to do on the machines? more reps/ less weight? more weight less reps?

i want to get in shape and then once im a bit fitter i wanna bulk up but i dont wanna be a he-man. lol

just ive never been before so not sure what to do thats best.

also do any of the supplimnets work and are they worth taking?
the milkshakes? power bars.. alll that nonsense or are they more for serious users/ a gimick?

cheers

robocos

--Best to eat at LEAST 1 hour before training and something light.

--Personally I would recommend only water when working out.

--If you are lifting weights then immediately after your workout you need some carbs by way of a fruit juice drink. Within 1 hour of your workout you need a good healthy portion of protein in the shape of food-lean chicken, tuna etc etc

--Free weights IMO are always better than machines. Machines can position you such that your form is compromised and that should never be the case. Start slowly with light weights. Pay no attention to whatever anyone else is lifting. You are looking for strict form and someone working at the gym should be able to instruct you on that plus there are any amount of resoruces on the net to assist with exrecise instruction.

--Concentrate on the basic exercises such as squat,deadlift,bench press, shoulder press and get conversant with these before you start doing bicep curls etc etc. By doing the basic exercises with progressively more weight your whole body gets a workout and you will grow in all areas.

--Protein shakes are OK as a last resort when trying to maintain calorie intake but food is always best.

You also MUST get your diet right if you want all that hard work in the gym to be maximised.

Hope this helps,

stu21t

thanks for that
ive got an induction at the gym for them to set up the training key thing for me so i know what weights to use for what.

lets see how it goes,

robocos

Also remember that some of the most dangerous advice you will receive is from so called 'experts' who work at the gym. Try and do as much of your own reserach as possible and educate yourself.