BASICS FOR STARTING A BODYBUILDING PROGRAM 1st part: At Home Free-Hand Training

[Jigsaw]

I did a search so forgive me if this is a repeat....

Has anybody tried Beach Body's P-90x or Insanity before and after starting T?

I love P-90x and did it a few years ago and it helped me so much with hockey.  I was lighter and faster, more confident.  I plan to start either that or Insanity again in about 2 weeks once my life is back to normal (and seeing if I can put up my doorway pull up bar since my stand alone will be in storage).   Just really curious if the results would be much better now that I am on T, even if it's a small dosage due to just starting.  I also plan to totally revamp my diet to cater a faster fat loss. I made the mistake of gaining about 50lbs in the last 6 months.   Not looking forward to the hard work to get it off, but I know it has to be done.  I am ashamed of my body totally now.

[emil]

i apologize in advance for it's probably a dumb question *blush*

i have been doing wrist curls and reversed wrist curls, dumbbell triceps curls, and dumbbell shoulder presses. now the thing is , though my biceps and shoulder muscles did get bigger  (though it most of that only shows when i'm flexing ....yes i was even skinnier than in the picture i am about to show you), my arms still look super skinny from behind. is there a way i can build up muscle in the place indicated by the arrow?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/5699976307_dc6117e242_b.jpg
(sorry i was gonna crop the picture so it wouldn't show that i was in boxer briefs, but then realized that my (arm-) proportions are  part of the issue and therefore should be in the picture)
thank you guys for any help!

[KamTheMan]

Emil- I meant to help you out with a reply earlier but completely spaced. You need to work on your triceps. Dips dips dips. Start with a chair or bench with your legs out until you can dip all of your body weight in between two chair, then you'll have serious muscle to show off. And you should be doing pushups galore to work up your shoulders. Good luck bro!

[emil]

thanks man!

[bojangles]

What I am currently in the market for is a weighted vest that I can take from 5lbs to around 30lbs so I can keep doing pushups where I max out around 25 and keep adding weight as I get stronger. That way I can keep gaining size in my muscles.

Maybe something like a military load bearing vest would work.

Or a backpack.

Good thread. Much appreciated.

[kalshady]

aight so right now i have access to literally nothin... i jus do a ->-bleeped-<-load of pushups every day. im not on t. what can that do for me

[KamTheMan]

kalshady, pushups do amazing things for your upper body, so don't be discouraged if your workout options are limited. My first suggestion is to start doing the 100 Pushups program. In two months I was able to increase my pushup ability from 4 good form reps to 30. I stalled for a while after that and lost a lot of motivation, but I am getting back into it. Right now I can do 25 pushups in a row. Pushups build up your chest, shoulders, and arms. I've found that the more bulk I put on top to counter my wide hips and butt, the better I look and pass. You can also do dips at home with the help of two chairs. Dips are for your triceps, and necessary for getting that arm bulk and masculine definition. Throw a solid jogging regime into the mix (something I've been trying and failing at incorporating into my schedule as I HATE cardio) as running slims down your body as a whole (especially the stomach, hips, and thighs). If possible you should absolutely invest in a pullup bar of some sort. Building up your lats is pretty ultimate for a masculine physique. That's what I'm working on right now. Good luck bro!!

[kalshady]

kalshady, pushups do amazing things for your upper body, so don't be discouraged if your workout options are limited. My first suggestion is to start doing the 100 Pushups program. In two months I was able to increase my pushup ability from 4 good form reps to 30. I stalled for a while after that and lost a lot of motivation, but I am getting back into it. Right now I can do 25 pushups in a row. Pushups build up your chest, shoulders, and arms. I've found that the more bulk I put on top to counter my wide hips and butt, the better I look and pass. You can also do dips at home with the help of two chairs. Dips are for your triceps, and necessary for getting that arm bulk and masculine definition. Throw a solid jogging regime into the mix (something I've been trying and failing at incorporating into my schedule as I HATE cardio) as running slims down your body as a whole (especially the stomach, hips, and thighs). If possible you should absolutely invest in a pullup bar of some sort. Building up your lats is pretty ultimate for a masculine physique. That's what I'm working on right now. Good luck bro!!

Thanks, this is exactly the type of response I was lookin for and the type of stuff Im lookin for. Helped a lot man. Im really wantin this type of work out bc Im a very "petite" dude. I pass almost all the time but bc Im short I look really young.  Good luck to you too man

[RyGuy]

seriously guys pushups and running are miracles. we're all strapped for cash due to the various expenses of transitioning so you can save a lot of money on a gym membership. pushups develop all the best muscles of the upper body and running gets in your cardio.

[mruriah]

Hey, just wanted to throw in my two cents. First of all, to Sophie, those 'perfect pushup' things are a waste of money. They're not proven to give you a better workout. I highly suggest doing the '100 pushups' program. I'm pre-T and I went from being able to do 4 pushups in a row to 25 in two months. My shoulders are getting huge and my triceps really pop. I can also feel my pecs growing under my boobs, which has made them slightly more pronounced, but it's totally worth it if I plan on getting chest surgery. Plus, the workout is all free. Now I'm doing a program where I do a minimum of 200 pushups daily (3 days on 1 day rest, repeat). What I am currently in the market for is a weighted vest that I can take from 5lbs to around 30lbs so I can keep doing pushups where I max out around 25 and keep adding weight as I get stronger. That way I can keep gaining size in my muscles.

I just wanted to throw my two cents back at yours, so we have $.04!

I've used the perfect pushups on and off for YEARS and haven't gotten as good a workout with them as with regular pushups.  I started the 100 pushups program and can only imagine how much better results I'd get if I used those rather than doing plain pushups.  The big difference between doing a regular pushup and using the perfect pushup is how much it works your back/shoulders.  Because you're not completely still as you go through the motions, you have to balance yourself a bit more, which doesn't hurt the process, either.  I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to work their upper body at home.

[Prince Larien]

I'm gunna buy a shake-weight... FOR MEN!

[RenM]

Figured I'd throw in my thoughts,

I started the Insanity program about three weeks ago. I've actually noticed changes in my arms and abs/chest already.
However, due to the mini-vacation I took to celebrate my birthday, I'm starting over from the very top.
My hope is to have my first round done by christmas time.
I'll let you guys know how my results go! Cause right now I'm a puddy dumpling at 186lbs for someone who is only 5'2''....Besides that, I HATE my bubble ass. lol

[Jason623]

ok so im not gonna lie but how can you work on getting rid of a bid a$$ and sattle bag? i was unfortunatly bless with this gift from my mother i want to get rid of them sooo bad! any help is great!!!

[Miniar]

ok so im not gonna lie but how can you work on getting rid of a bid a$$ and sattle bag? i was unfortunatly bless with this gift from my mother i want to get rid of them sooo bad! any help is great!!!

Despite all the ads telling you the opposite it's just not possible to target the fat on one area rather than another. The body generally burns the "last added" first. So, if you've recently put on a pound on your hindquarters then that's what'll go away before the older added weight.

What you can do however is focus on the areas that you want to be larger than the area that you want to make smaller.
That means, for us trans-men at least, that working out arms, shoulders, upper back and chest to increase the muscle mass in that area is what'll make the hips and ass "look" smaller by comparison. We won't ever get that "perfect" V shape that bodybuilders chase, but we can make the upper torso broader than the hips by a bit if we work on building that area up.
Then of course, while we do that, we do burn off some of the buildup elsewhere on the body which doesn't hurt either.
_

I've been doing a physical rehabilitation program these past 5 weeks (got 3 to go) which is "prescribed" by the system 'round here.
I've actually lost about 4 kilos so far, and I'm starting to be quite pleasantly surprised at the increased muscle mass and definition in the arms and shoulder areas.
Anyway, we've done a lot of "core strength" exercises using a Pilates ball. I'd actually recommend getting one. It's bloody brilliant!
Most of 'em come with pamphlets with exercises on 'em so there's those you can use for ideas and you can always google for more to your heart's desire, focusing even on certain parts you want to work on.
Combine it with free weights (or just coke bottles full of water or sand) and you've got a lot of gear you can work with to do most of the things people pay a fortune for doing at the gym.

[Lee11]

ok so im not gonna lie but how can you work on getting rid of a bid a$$ and sattle bag? i was unfortunatly bless with this gift from my mother i want to get rid of them sooo bad! any help is great!!!

It is true you can't spot reduce, but combined with a good diet, cardio and general weight routine focus on walking lunges and use a wide foot placing on leg press. When your weight starts coming down then increase your abdominal work.

[Jason623]

thanks for the help  sorry it took me forever to get back on here lol computer crashed... thanks agian tho

[Felix]

This thread didn't lead me to do anything dramatic, but it inspired me to do exercise for its own sake, which I used to find silly (cuz you can get strong and exhausted w real sports and other activities). Now I do 50 modified pushups a day (I'm out of shape/surgically altered so this is fine), and it is great. Also I've always done repetitions with a medicine ball, but now that's getting more directed. Now I stretch better and find more ways in day to day life to work my upper body muscles.

This is a nice reminder of really enjoyable and free ways we can make ourselves look and feel better. I dig.

[Nygeel]

I was looking at resistance bans and kettlebells as sort of inexpensive multipurpose tools for working out. What are some inexpensive options for a person getting started who doesn't have much space? I'm not looking for body building, but overall fitness.

[Felix]

I was looking at resistance bans and kettlebells as sort of inexpensive multipurpose tools for working out. What are some inexpensive options for a person getting started who doesn't have much space? I'm not looking for body building, but overall fitness.

I'm curious to hear answers to this myself. I have some therabands that I got free from the hospital, but I don't like to use them. I have a 5 lb medicine ball and a leather sand-filled cylinder that feels about the same. I do squats and pushups in front of a mirror so I can see my positioning and try to understand which muscle groups are working.

I used to use a bike for transportation, and it kept me pretty fit without my having to even think about it. That's not an option for most people, though.

[insideontheoutside]

Randomly stumbled on this tonight and thought I'd share:
http://transfitness.tumblr.com