Getting big for sixth form/ college

[YoungMan]

I'v almost finished my exams which means I'm going to a solid 3 months holiday before I go to sixth form or if I cock up my gcses, go to college.
Anyway most people at school are all under the impression that summers going to be one big joyride of parties, sex and gym and for most the lads with a foot in reality its going to be centred around the gym.
To the point then, I'v worked out on and off over the school year but now everyones planning on hitting the gym almost everyday I want to stay ahead. So any great recommendations as to what could help improve my performance and gains?
I'v looked at testosterone boosters, protein supplements, creatine and all the rest but I just don't know whats best.

Edit- I relise I should of pointed out I'm not new to the gym, I'v been regulary working out for pretty much the whole academic year so far, if that helps suggestions.

 

[YoungMan]

I'd probably say what's best is just to do exercise, eat a healthy diet (for 99% of people that just means cut out the extra carbohydrates you're and replace them with fresh fruit and vegetables).

Why do you think you need testosterone boosters etc? Why not do it without them?

I'v been told it helps improve performance in the gym and some testosterone boosters can help gain muscles mass and obviously testosterone boosters come with other things which are pretty helpful.

 

[Batou667]

It depends, do you have any previous experience of working out? Are you trying to lose weight at all, or just increase muscle mass, or gain mass in general? (How much do you care about that precious six-pack, or do you not care as long as you get big and strong?) Are you already signed up at a gym, and if so, what equipment do they have?

I'd recommend a beginner's lifting program like Starting Strength or Stronglifts, both of which focus on big compound movements that will bulk you up quickly and proportionally. Both of those are three days a week, as rest days are important and overtraining has no benefits. If you absolutely must do "curls for the girls" and a million obscure ab exercises, do those after the main workout or on your rest days. Don't forget some kind of cardio - jogging is free, skipping or hitting a bag are both cheap.

Nutrition is important but forget test boosters, there's no reason you should need those at your age and stage of training. Eat clean, get plenty of protein. Try creatine if you like, it gave me an upset stomach but perhaps it'll benefit you. All I take these days is fish oil and a multivitamin and as far as I can tell that's all I need, plus enough food and sleep.

 

[Ubiquitous Duck]

Eat.Sleep.Train.Repeat.

Make a schedule, so you know what you will be targeting and when, so that you can have appropriate rest for your muscles - you can't hit your biceps three days in a row for simple example.

Get a good amount of sleep, otherwise you will put yourself off your training and you will be damaging your gains.

Eat plenty of protein, but stay away from fatty proteins, like fast food and fried rubbish.

Eating clean is pretty essential. You can put in tons of work and ruin it with bad nutrition, so be wary of that. Easiest way is to plan all the food you are consuming and keep to that plan, so that you don't deviate away to something spontaneous and potentially crap for you.

Make sure to train with big compound moves, before moving into any sort of isolations. You want to build up the strength of your body before targeting specific areas for gains. This normally means the holy trinity of bench press, squat and deadlift. If you haven't done them before, get someone who knows what they are doing to show you, because you don't want to hurt yourself or do these moves wrong or you can hurt yourself.

If you have a problem with excess fat and weight, you will want to mix in some cardio (and reassess your diet). Lots of options there, running, cycling, rowing, football, squash, tennis, skipping.. etc.

Eat.Sleep.Train.Repeat.

 

[buffbabybear]

There's a certain website that specializes in this information. Anyway, eat clean, lift heavy, sleep hard, and don't forget to take yer multi brah.

 

[OneCatch]

...for most the lads with a foot in reality its going to be centred around the gym.
To the point then, I'v worked out on and off over the school year but now everyones planning on hitting the gym almost everyday I want to stay ahead.

Bloody hell, where about are you living if you don't mind me asking?
I'm from central South Wales, otherwise known as (Ste)'Roid Central', and there was never that kind of pressure when I was in school. Then again, I was more the scruffy metalhead type so maybe I was just in different social circles...

Regardless, I agree with most of the other posters here. Temporary kudos with your peers isn't worth risking the potential side effects of treatments that affect hormones, especially since with graft you'll get there anyway at your age (an age at which you are still developing and messing with hormones is probably not a good thing btw).
Long term you'll surely be far more stable if you rely on 'natural gains' and then build on them - both in terms of actual physiology and the mental attitude of consistent commitment.

By the looks of it, Batou and UbiquitousDuck are probably the people to question further!

 

[YoungMan]

...for most the lads with a foot in reality its going to be centred around the gym.
To the point then, I'v worked out on and off over the school year but now everyones planning on hitting the gym almost everyday I want to stay ahead.

Bloody hell, where about are you living if you don't mind me asking?
I'm from central South Wales, otherwise known as (Ste)'Roid Central', and there was never that kind of pressure when I was in school. Then again, I was more the scruffy metalhead type so maybe I was just in different social circles...

Regardless, I agree with most of the other posters here. Temporary kudos with your peers isn't worth risking the potential side effects of treatments that affect hormones, especially since with graft you'll get there anyway at your age (an age at which you are still developing and messing with hormones is probably not a good thing btw).
Long term you'll surely be far more stable if you rely on 'natural gains' and then build on them - both in terms of actual physiology and the mental attitude of consistent commitment.

By the looks of it, Batou and UbiquitousDuck are probably the people to question further!

West Midlands, its not my area where kids care as much I get bussed further up North and its the done thing. Yeah I get the message everyones being saying. I need to eat more healthily, I am stronger and bigger than most my friends but it doesn't show as much as it should. I'll give it another couple years before experimenting with the various things to boost performance and muscle gains.