I'm 6'0, 24, and weigh 260 pounds. I've never really done any weight training, and last time I was truly physically active was when I was a teenager, probably 16-18.

I got a simple weight bench in January and finally started using it regularly in March. Unlike aerobic exercises, I find I'm really enjoying weight lifting, but there's a lot of things I'm unsure of.

This past sunday I upped my barbell to 100 pounds (Yes, I'm weak, but this is up from 50 pounds mind you ). I did two sets of 15 pushups on pushup bars to warm up, a set of 10 wide grip bench presses and 5 narrow grip presses. I will still feeling frisky so I did another 40 pushups. I did the rest of my exercises - straight bar curls, isolated dumbell curls, triceps and forearms, shoulder shrugs etc.

Now it's Tuesday and the rest of my muscles feel pretty good, only a tiny bit of residual soreness, but my pecs are still very sore and a little swollen. This is the most tired/sore I've felt any of my muscles to be since starting. Do I need to wait until ALL the soreness is gone before I start working those muscles out again? I really don't want to just destroy new muscle tissue

This got me thinking about supplements as well - I haven't been taking any, other than trying to get more protein in my diet (through eggs, more milk, string cheese etc). I don't really want any "bulking up" supplements, since I've got lots of weight to lose, but I would like things that would help speed recovery. I've heard that I should take some kind of fast absorbing protein right after a workout (like whey protein) as well as take glutamine. Opinions or suggestions on this?

Also, if I'm working out during the work week, it's often just an hour before I go to bed. Is it ok to be working out just before bed time?

Sorry if I seem really noobish, but that's what I am I'm just glad I've found a type of exercise that I enjoy and look forward to, instead of just becoming fatter and fatter while sitting around.

You can push through the soreness, but I would advise for someone just starting out to wait it out. If your soreness lasts for prolonged period of time (>1-2 weeks).

Also, you need a back exercise. Such as the bent-over row. Eat some sort of protein post-workout along with simple sugars. An example could be a bowl of a sugary cereal with milk.

As for workout time, whatever works for you. When do you have the most energy? Before bed? In the morning?

From this soreness I can tell it probably won't be gone until Friday-Saturday. I'll wait until then before I do more presses or pushups (I think it was the extra pushups that killed me.... I do weigh 260 pounds after all)

I think I will add the bent over row to my routine, thanks(maybe with the dumbbells... doing it with barbell makes me nervous). Any other back exercises you would suggest?

As far as energy, I feel pretty pepped up before bed. I'm groggy in the mornings, irritable and tired after work, and loaded after 10PM. Would a whey protein shake be good? (instead of cereal)

With DB's the one arm row, possibly a reverse fly as well. You could use the whey protein shake after your workout instead of the cereal. As long as the whey shake has some sugary carbohydrate in it, for example mix the whey with milk.