Six weeks into lifting/estimate my BF%

[secondhandloser]

Just started lifting at the beginning of this year, as a new years resolution. Not anything amazing, but I think it's a good start.
Before. Admittedly taken last summer, but it's the most recent shirtless picture I have. I tend to wear clothes during the winter months.


New pics- taken at the 6 week mark.
backne...ew.



So, comments, constructive (or destructive) criticism, BF% estimates, whatever is appreciated.

[Jean-Paul]

Welcome to the forums.

You're making great progress.... Congrats.

What is your training program so far?

You appear to be about 10% to me. I wouldn't worry about the numbers though. If you look and feel good and your clothes fit well, that's all that matters. The thing I would stress more than anything is analyzing your program to make sure you're not an injury time-bomb. Trust me, I know all about those!

[secondhandloser]

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul

Welcome to the forums.

You're making great progress.... Congrats.

What is your training program so far?

You appear to be about 10% to me. I wouldn't worry about the numbers though. If you look and feel good and your clothes fit well, that's all that matters. The thing I would stress more than anything is analyzing your program to make sure you're not an injury time-bomb. Trust me, I know all about those!

I'm basically doing:
Monday-Chest Tri's Abs
Tues- Back Bi's Forearms
Wednesday - Legs Abs
Thurs- Chest Tri's Abs
Fri- Shoulders

[JoshDunn]

Head over to TESTOSTERONE NATION | World's Largest Bodybuilding and Weight Loss Underground Nation and check out any program by Chad Waterbury. They are simple, full body programs that will add some muscle to you nicely.

Welcome aboard to both the forum and lifting.

[K-Court]

Great progress so far, man, and welcome to the board. Good advice from Josh!

[jsm27]

First off great job. I would guess close to 8% since your abs are pretty visible. Definately under 14% since I believe you have to be around 13% to have a visible vein running through the biceps.

[Waittz]

I cant tell, can you hold up a shoe?

[secondhandloser]

Originally Posted by TheSteve

I cant tell, can you hold up a shoe?

?

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by TheSteve

I cant tell, can you hold up a shoe?

hA!

[kharris]

You look really GREAT! Awesome progress.

[steelerfan]

Originally Posted by secondhandloser

I'm basically doing:
Monday-Chest Tri's Abs
Tues- Back Bi's Forearms
Wednesday - Legs Abs
Thurs- Chest Tri's Abs
Fri- Shoulders

Doing chest twice a week and shoulders also may be a recipe for shoulder problems.. I would guess your pressing volume is far more then your pulling ...

[Waittz]

how bout the fact that he works his upper body 4 times a week but his legs only once.

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by TheSteve

how bout the fact that he works his upper body 4 times a week but his legs only once.

dude, legs aren't important.

[Simon C]

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

dude, legs aren't important.

just pointing this out to the OP - he's joking

[secondhandloser]

Originally Posted by TheSteve

how bout the fact that he works his upper body 4 times a week but his legs only once.

As of now, my legs are WAY ahead of the rest of my body from time a spent doing crew, plus, I hit my legs regularly as part of crew, so I don't spend much of my personal gym time hitting them. No need.

[Willie]

Uh... I do this as well-- the "hitting legs regularly because of 'crew'" and I still lift legs at least twice per week. You'll increase your power for starts and decrease your risk of hamstring / quad imbalances.

Endurance - type lifting will prove real handy in the last 500m of a race.

(and, for the record, 'crew' refers to the people in the boat... the sport is 'rowing')

I assume you row in college, given your dorm room-esque photos. A club sport, I assume, so you'll have no access to the university's trainers. Your coach may or may not have any experience wrt weight lifting, as most club coaches do not, in my experience. Either way, if you're still rowing-- hitting your legs-- you're about to be in the middle of your spring season, presumably with your first race right around the corner.

I would think that your coach should know about your lifting. Have you told him? As a coach, I insist on knowing the "extracurricular activities" of my athletes (not necessarily to make them stop, but to revise their individual training programs). Furthermore, the split that you posted above is not very rowing-friendly. You might want to check out Rowersworld.com and even Concept II's website for some lifting advice (not all of which is good, but imo, is better than what you're currently doing).

Good luck.

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by secondhandloser

As of now, my legs are WAY ahead of the rest of my body from time a spent doing crew, plus, I hit my legs regularly as part of crew, so I don't spend much of my personal gym time hitting them. No need.

if your legs are that big, why don't we have pictures of them?

[secondhandloser]

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday