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I want to add pullups to my routine at home. The only location I have for the bar is hanging from the rafters in my garage. Should I use chains to suspend the bar or 2x4's?

Whatever is most secure. I think depending on the setup, chains could be an interesting choice.

And a question of my own: what's the consensus on glutamine here? I've been taking it for a while but I recently read a few articles (google david barr glutamine) that don't treat it very kindly. What do you guys think?

Originally Posted by sirsungy

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might be a dumb question, but if you never worked out before, how do you know which weight you should start from for all the different exercises?

When I was following the Bill Starr 5x5 program, I just used trial and error to figure out my maxes and the weights I should be using for each exercise.

agreed. If you can do the subscribed # of reps for the exercise easily then you need to move up your weight. Finishing the last few reps should always be somewhat of a struggle (keeping good form).

Like PolePosition said, its mostly trial and error.

Originally Posted by kaiimac

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Thanks guys! It is much easier to do them all in one day and memorize a limited number of exercises. Looking at the routines with splits was a bit overwhelming to a beginner. So I do this workout every other day, and then can I do cardio the days in between?
yeah, cardio is fine on off days. start with 2 circuits, soreness should subside in a few weeks, and then feel free to bump it up to 3. There are a lot of great beginner programs out there that are far more structured though if you prefer something like that.

Originally Posted by db_ggmm

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I want to add pullups to my routine at home. The only location I have for the bar is hanging from the rafters in my garage. Should I use chains to suspend the bar or 2x4's?
what about rings? I've always been dying to try them but haven't had a spot for them. Seems like they'd be perfect if you're going to hang something anyway.

Originally Posted by robertorex

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Whatever is most secure. I think depending on the setup, chains could be an interesting choice. And a question of my own: what's the consensus on glutamine here? I've been taking it for a while but I recently read a few articles (google david barr glutamine) that don't treat it very kindly. What do you guys think?
I like glutamine. Not necessarily to build muscle, but I notice a difference in how long I'm sore. Also, the immune function is touted a lot. Antecdotal of course but I rarely find myself getting sick. Bottom line: I like it. try it for a few weeks and make your own deciison though. if you can't tell a difference after about 2 weeks? then put your money elsewhere.

Originally Posted by sirsungy

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might be a dumb question, but if you never worked out before, how do you know which weight you should start from for all the different exercises?
Like others have said, trial & error. Probably less weight than you'd like, but check your ego and make sure your form is proper. Strength will come quickly though - it's a great part about newbie gains.

^Rings are great. Hang it from a tree, soccer goal, bball backboard, or whatever else. Use them all the time.

Thanks Noir. I've actually been using it for a week and I definitely noticed a difference in terms of soreness reduction, but I'm not sure whether I could attribute that to my increased periworkout protein intake or to glutamine. I guess I'll wait and see how it goes.

I'd guess it's both. Most post workout drinks do supplement some glutamine - I tend to recommend much higher doses though (between 10-20g/day is typical: I put a scoop in each shake ~ scoops are 5g each), but it's an amino acid so of course it's in the majority of your standard protein powders as well.

Of course you can do some testing, I'm always interested in hearing what works for different people. If you're fresh off a break or just starting out though, soreness will taper off simply because you're getting used to working out.

I've done heavy lifting for a good two years. I no longer have the energy or the time to do it anymore. My new goal is to loose some mass, mostly in my chest and hamstrings. I guess I'm just going to eat less, up my reps from 5-6 to 6-8, still only do compound lifts but only 3 days a week, and do more cadio? Should be easy?

Do you have any clue what glutamine even is?

I guess I could hang rings. I hadn't thought of that. If people don't think there is any advantage to a static bar as far as basic strength training goes, rings sound fun. I guess I'll try to find a triangular type ring to mimic a 'bar'.

+1 on getting rings. I wish my gym had them. You can do so much stuff on them and rings is one of the ways those male gymnasts have such amazing strength. I doubt anyone on here has the strength to do an iron cross, levers, or planche.

Something easy you can start off doing on them is a muscle up (I think there are other names for this) which is doing a chinup and then immediately pushing yourself straight up (like pushing up from a dip).

I used to be able to do front and back levers and I think I could again if I trained them a little. My friend who I trained with could do a planche. Iron Cross is a whole other level though. Muscle Ups are fun. Also, don't get triangular rings. Get them from www.ringtraining.com.

Originally Posted by jaydc7

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I used to be able to do front and back levers and I think I could again if I trained them a little. My friend who I trained with could do a planche. Iron Cross is a whole other level though. Muscle Ups are fun.

Also, don't get triangular rings. Get them from www.ringtraining.com.

Interesting. I found the iron cross to be easier than a true form lever. Although that may be because I'm long limbed.

The levers are an A skill, while the iron crosses are a B skill. Thats really surprising, I'm not close at all to an Iron Cross.