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What Guys Said
N/A
(Age:18 to 24)
When: 6 months ago
In the past year I've gone from being really skinny to pretty big. I started bench pressing at 95 pounds and am up to 185 with a little help. All I take is protein and a multivitamin. If you are eating a perfect 6 meals a day with all the fat, protein and carbs you need then this isn't really necessary. But being a student makes this almost impossible, therefore I recommend getting a protein supplement for before and after workouts. You could look into getting a weight gainer with extra calories as well.
As for exercises, do everything but cardio. Cardio burns fat and you want all the energy you can get for high weight, low reps exercise for building muscle. Only do cardio once you have reached a weight goal and want to lose the bit of stomach you will probably have to show off your abs.
Ask someone at the gym or your school gym teachers what exercises to do, as there are too many for me to name right here. You should be doing 6-8 reps with a spot for maximum gains. (A spot means someone helping you so you don't hurt yourself, this is ESPECIALLY important on bench press)
There are any number of exercises that build muscle. At your age if you work out at all, it's hard not to build up. Your body can crank out all the hormones you could ask for, if you just trigger it by getting off the couch. You can literally almost feel the a difference overnight after a good workout, but usually its weeks when it starts to show in the mirror. The military can get men on the road to being in shape in about 12 weeks to 6 months with no weights. It helps if they were active in school. They had a regimen called the daily dozen exercises (chin ups, push ups, squats and so on). All were things you could do without a gym. Supplements are for the guys who are past that age and the hormones have dropped off some - or they are at their peak but willing to risk cancer to become super-sized. So stick to a regular multivitamin and just do the work.
I realized we may not be on the same page. When you said supplements, what came to mind was pills that are legally herbs, but close to being a steroid. You don't want that. There are protein drinks and powders that as far as I know are not harmful. But unless you're at an advanced level, those would likely be $$ down the drain. A rounded diet should give you as much protein as your system can convert. Also, don't try to advance too fast and end up tearing something! - 6 months ago
N/A
(Age:18 to 24)
When: 6 months ago
I'm not exactly buff, I have a well built athletic physique. I stretch my shirts now, I have a pretty full chest, and a six pack. I didn't take any supplements to get this way and you shouldn't either, it takes time and a lot of effort. I go to the gym everyday after school and do everything from bench to cardio. It takes time but knowing there are actually improvements without harming ur body by using "supplements" is a bonus when you can surpass those people who are taking them with sheer work alone