I'm scared, lack of knowledge, joint probs, and more

[Sasori_Te]

I know what you mean. Your brain wants to do more than your body can handle. It might not seem like your getting a good work out, but take it easy and you'll see results much quicker.

[Rich67]

What you experienced is typical of beginning weightlifters. You're young, you think you can jump in and lift six days a week for an hour or more a pop, and things will be hunky-dory. BUZZZZZ! Wrong answer! A starting lifter has to take a lot more time off in the beginning and you need to ease into it a lot longer than an experienced lifter. Secondly, joint pain may mean you are not performing exercises with proper form. You really need to get a good weightlifting instruction book and study proper execution of lifts. For example, if you go too deep in dips, you can screw up your shoulders. Too deep in squats or knees not over the ankles and you can mess up your knees. Don't watch the other meatheads at the gym, 8 out of 10 of them are working out with terrible form, and are setting themselves up for injuries. Work out 3 times a week with light weights and proper form. If you feel good after a month, add a day and work out heavier. Re evaluate yourself every month. If something hurts, rest it until it gets better, and make sure you are doing the exercise correctly. The most important advise is this: IF YOU ARE A NON-DRUG ASSISTED LIFTER, LESS IS BETTER. Us natural guys have to give our bodies time to recover.

[ramymensa]

Ouch! that sucks bigtime. 2 weeks off for 2 days?

 

Its so hard to take it easy your first few weeks though, cuz you just don't feel like your doing any good if your not maxing out and doing your hardest......ya know?

I wasn't a beginner, though acted like one

 

In karate, we were on a vacation for 4 weeks, no training because of the college exams and I thought I was as fit as 4 weeks ago. Well, I wasn't and though I did the whole set and felt quite OK, the next day I was in hell. Teaches you a lesson, a painful one

[Decapitate911]

Yeh, I'm all natural pretty much.

 

I take like, 20 vitamins and minerals a day to keep healthy, and eat nothing butt good stuff.