Lifting for 7 months... NEED HELP!

[ezcheese42]

Ok guys if you can't tell I'm new here and I'd like to start off by saying thank you. You all provide me with a lot of great info through this site.

Now for my specific situation, I'm 5'11 140lbs. That's pretty skinny although my physique is not bad. However, I'm still not seeing any differences in my body. My main goal is not strength increases, although that seems to be my biggest advantage, but instead I want to actually look like I have muscle rather than being the skinny guy that I've been for my whole life.

My workout is as follows:

Mon-Chest/Arms (10-8-6)
Tues-Rest or Run
Wed-Shoulders/Back (7-6-5)
Thurs-Rest or Run
Fri-Chest/Arms (12-11-10)
Sat-Legs
Sun-Off

The following week would have Mon/Fri as Shoulders and Back and Chest/Arms would be on Wednesday, with the reps being the same based on the day, not the excercise. That is my pattern.

I know that this is not the greatest workout but it fits into my schedule quite well going mon/wed/fri and saturday...

Any and ALL advice that is given to me would be greatly appreciated. Once again, I am seeing strength increases but not significant physique increases, which is what I am looking for. Thank you once again.

[Explorer]

I've been lifting weights for the past 4 years. I satrted out with a similar routine, and gained some results, but not much. For your body type, you'll be able to build weights and experience gradually, not overnight or even in a few months. Since you've been working out like this for seven months, I suggest you switch to working each muscle group twice a week for a while. This is when I started truly seeing results. By doing this you increase strength, and your weights will go up quite a bit. Once you are stronger in a few months, you can go back to working on each muscle group once a week; only difference will be you'll work the muscles fully since you will have increased the amount of weight you lift. This should allow you to put on some bulk, especially if you're a hard-gainer like me.

JP has a great routine, or similarly try:
DAY 1: Chest, Legs, Biceps
DAY 2: Back, Shoulders, Triceps
DAY 3: off or cardio/abs
DAY 4: (repeat day 1)
DAY 5: (repeat day 2)
DAY 6: off or cardio/abs
DAY 7: off

---DAY 1---
CHEST
Bench Press (3 sets)
Cable Flies (1 set)
Incline Dumbell Press (3 sets)
Incline dumbell flies (1 set)

LEGS
Squats or Leg Press (3 sets)
Leg Extensions (1 set)
Leg Curls (3 sets)
Calves (4-6 sets)mix high weight, low reps with low weight and high reps

BICEPS
Barbell Curl (3 sets)
Dumbell Curl (1 set)
Concentration Curls (1 set)

---DAY 2---
BACK
Close-grip pulldowns (3 sets)
Low Pulley Row (1 set)
Wide Grip Pulldowns (3 sets)
Pullovers (2 sets)

SHOULDERS
Shoulder Press (3 sets)
Lateral Raises (1 set)
Front Raises (1 set)
Upright Rows (3 sets)

TRICEPS
Dips (3 sets) keep doing them, reps will go up!
Tricep machine press (1 set)
Cable Tricep extensions (1 set)

Build the weights up in a pyramid fashion. Set one should be 8-12 reps, set 2 should be 6 reps, and set 3 should be 3-4 reps.

This is my personal experince. I suggest you get various opinions.