I'm going to seriously suggest reading Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. There's a link to a writeup on this page. I'm new and have been following it after having followed something similar to your training plan. The difference is HUGE in every way imaginable. Big movements like squats, deadlifts, and flat BB bench (get rid of the dumbbells if you can, it's a stability/too-much-weight issue...you shouldn't be wobbly) will help more than calf raises, bicep curls, and eyelid pulldowns.

Also, your diet is BY FAR more important than your training, how's that look?

http://training.fitness.com/weight-t...rst-34522.html

On the contrary, dumbbells and barbells are all you should be using. If your "wobbly" just drop the weight and learn the correct movements and then slowly increase the weight.

Dumbbells/Barbells > any machine

Old school, I like that. Where is the one gallon water jug that you used to use for bicep curls?

I think maybe you misunderstood me, or I didn't explain myself clearly enough. What I was trying to say was that he SHOULD be using the barbells, but I believe I read something Rippetoe said recommending against novices using dumbbells and that barbells should be used instead so that differences between sides of the body can be worked out to be evenly strong.

Okay, so I just looked it up, Rippetoe didn't say it, but it's in the writeup of his program that I found a link to on this site.

Guide to Novice Barbell Training, aka the Official RIPPETOE-STARTING STRENGTH FAQ - Bodybuilding.com Forums

"There are a few reasons why the barbell version is the preferred "initiation" to the supine press (as the bench press used to be called). The primary one is simply that it is more appropriate to start with the technically easier exercise.

The learning curve for the barbell is much smoother than for DBs. Picture a complete novice trying to do a bench press. The bar wobbles everywhere, it is lowered at a variable rate of speed, it is pressed crooked, the left side flops forward, the right side flops backward, etc. Very few things are as humorous as watching a complete newb try to perform a bench press.

Now...add the aspect of unilateral balance and symmetry to the equation, both of which are required for dumbbell use...both of which are completely lacking in the untrained athlete-to-be. Since the majority of people are either right OR left-hand dominant, they will not have unilateral balance and symmetry. As a result, trying to teach a novice to do the DB press is a train wreck in the making.

You could possibly spend weeks just trying to get the trainee to learn how to balance the DBs. Those precious few weeks are going to be when the trainee is most adept at adding muscle and strength. Better to spend it with weight progression, rather than spending it trying to iron out balance and symmetry issues.

First learn walk, then learn run."

Buckets of concrete, get it right! LOL

Damn, either you were a really strong 4 yrs older or started working out late. I was curling pint of milk as a baby!!!! concrete, you started as a teenage..blaaa!!!!

This is the first time I've ever worked out in my entire life.

I mean really worked out, weights, running, the whole 9 yards. I've worked at a desk for the past half decade.

I figured my muscles were wobbly having never really used them. I'm a week into my training and focusing on mastering my diet and hitting weights 3 times a week, 10min of cardio warmup prior.

I can't afford to purchase anymore equipment and wanted dumbbells because I'm doing this alone, the gym is too far (cant afford the gas or the time.. working 2x shifts to make ends meet).

I've been eating clean for 4 months now, but I've about doubled my calories so I can hit the weights.

Meal #1: tuna on wheat, slice of cheese, healthy choice chicken soup
Meal #2: quaker oats oatmeal, 1/3rd cup of cranberries, fat free milk
Meal #3: 4 eggs, onions, peppers, little A1 sauce
Meal #4: chicken breast with either salad (no dressing), white rice/vegetables, or pasta/tomato sauce.

No beer, no pizza, no sweets, no butter, no cheat meals period. Sorta driving me crazy as the foods are making me sick (mentally..) but it seems to be working thus far.

The veins in my hands and forearms are pulsing recently. I feel stronger. Could be in my head but it's a nice feeling all the same.

I'm no expert by any means, so I'm just going to send you this link and say "keep looking around this site, there's lots of good stuff."

http://training.fitness.com/nutritio...1-a-32846.html

"You need to eat 5 - 6 small meals, eating every 3 - 4 hours."

I read on this very same forum this was debunked. Is the rest of the information trustworthy?

I don't see anything wrong with my diet at the moment unless someone can tell me otherwise.

Where? Are you sure it wasn't some n00b making an incorrect statement. Maybe you saw Chillens post about eating frequently "raising" your metabolism. That in itself is untrue.

You need to eat frequently for a fewreasons:

1) keeps your sugar levels high so that you don't crash and become more likely to succumb to cravings for crappy food
2) Keeps your metabolism up...doesn't raise it, but keeps it at its working level.
3) provides constant fuel for your muscles to rebuild.

There is a TON...let me emphasize that again TON of info on this site. Take some time, read it (especially chillen's info) and work out your diet and exercise plan.

I didn't read this entire thread but figured the OP might find some utility in this article:

How to Bench Press with the Pecs | BodyRecomposition - The Home of Lyle McDonald

And while we're reading Lyle, you might want to check out this article:

Meal Frequency and Energy Balance | BodyRecomposition - The Home of Lyle McDonald