Underweight Exercise Advice?!
Question:
Underweight Exercise Advice?
Hey, I'm 6'0" and I have been noticeably underweight since about 6th grade maybe. My weight fluctuates a bit, my lowest being 134 lbs to about 145. I eat a LOT, so I'm sure I just have a "good" metabolism or something around that area. I have big bones so I'm incredibly bony.
People always ask me if I have some kind of disorder, or that "Travis you are sooo skinny", and it makes me pretty insecure. I'm not going to lie about that. Plus, after spending my first year at college my weight and my health kind of went under, and so now before I go back for next semester I want to try and make myself healthier. It just occurred to me recently that I need to start taking care of myself so that I can gain weight, look normal, and keep myself fit so that my body will last me my lifetime.
I just have no idea where to start because I know absolutely nothing about this kind of stuff. I've never exercised on my own accord, I don't know even where to begin. I don't know the "basics".
Help?
1 week ago
I should probably also mention I'm a vegetarian, so that might pose a problem.
Answers:
How many calories are you consuming on an average day? Most hard-gainers who claim they "eating a lot", are not getting near the amount of calories that they think. If you go to www.fitday.com, you can start your own nutrition calendar and input the foods you're eating. That will give you a more accurate idea of how much you're REALLY eating.
Begin lifting weights. Forget about the cardio, at least for now. Start lifting three days a week. You can break the days up however you'd like, but I suggest something like this:
Monday: Upper Body
Wednesday: Lower Body
Friday: Full Body
Work with free weights whenever possible. Work in the 8 repitition range. Do 3-5 sets per exercise. The goal is to do heavier weights than you did last week on the same exercise. So if you bench press 95lbs 8 times last week, aim for 100 lbs for 8 this week.
Do this while eating enough calories (probably 3,000 plus for you), and you'll see a slow but steady weight gain.