Ey up!

[sproutandbean]

Just wanted to introduce myself to folk on here. I've been vegan for just over a year and I live in the East Midlands, UK. I'm looking to bulk up a bit, as there's not a lot to me! I eat a pretty healthy diet and do a mixture of cardio and resistance exercise at the gym, at least twice per week, but progress is slow. To be honest, I don't really know where I'm going wrong, I'm pretty much just going through the motions... so any advice would be much appreciated!

[loveliberate]

Hello & Welcome!

[xrodolfox]

welcome!

[JS]

Ya awright? Welcome

[xrodolfox]

What is your goal? To bulk up or to be fit for aerobic work, or to be lean? Or all of that? Because that'll measure your success. If you try to do everything at once, it is less likely you'll succeed.

[sproutandbean]

Thanks for the welcome folks. I'd really like to develop some muscle bulk, not fat. I just want a basic level of fitness to keep my heart healthy, not to run a marathon or anything like that... Does anyone have any pointers to routines/diets which would help me gain bulk? Am I wise to be mixing cardio and resistance training on the same day? Also, should I be using free weights or machines? Many thanks and keep up the good work - making the world a kinder place :0)

[etherspin]

theres a blast from the past.. when I was living in Nottingham (Im Aussie) I went with friends to Cyprus for a week, one of their mothers came along too and gave a bloke serving at the hotel banquet the biggest WTF face I've seen by saying "Ey up, Ill ave the prawn salad duck"

welcome to the forums!

[NatB]

Greeting!

Are you doing classes or your own routines? If you want to build muscle you need to use heavier weights and do lower reps til failure (which im sure you know). free weights are better but form is very important and if you dont know what you are doing you could injure yourself.

My advice would be (if you can afford it) get a personal trainer for a few sessions. They will talk through your goals, assess your current strength and fitness, and give you a routine to start with. Once you have the hang of it you wont need them for a little while at least. eventually you will need to vary the routine and up the weights to progress further. but by then you should have more of an idea of what you are doing. and just ask loads of questions, of trainers, experienced people in the gym etc.

its also very hard to motivate and push yourself as well. if you can find a training partner thats a big help. or join a couple of classes!

Good luck!

[rattus]

Ayup me duck!

Are yer reet, youth?

Nottingham born and bred, me!

[sproutandbean]

Hello again and thanks for the further welcomes to the forum! Your advice is much appreciated NatB, thank you. I'm currently doing my own routines, but like you say, I think I would benefit from a trainer/fitness coach.

[big-green]

Welcome