Starting from scratch...

Training your biceps at your stage is of limited use. Just programme chins/ rows and the odd curl and you'll be fine this early on.

As others have said doing a decent beginner routine would be of benefit to you. There's really good resources out there for learning the movements etc.

Mate it seems to me that you are avoiding squats and deadlifts as much as you can, don't be scared of the squat rack being busy, just wait your turn and remember that everyone has to start somewhere. You're pretty much skipping the best two exercises you could possibly do.

Try and persevere with squats. The bar shouldn't be hurting your shoulders, that probably means you had it placed wrongly. Not sure why your wrist would hurt either. Remember to rest properly between sets too, so as to avoid fatigue. It's bound to feel weird at first.

Same with deads, what are your reasons for not doing them?

I also second what a few other say that a beginner program might be of more benefit as first, as you seem to be doing an excess of accessory exercises but neglecting basic compound ones. Plus from what I can see you're only doing between 1 and 3 reps for each exercise? (unless I'm reading it wrong). You may need to do more to build strength and progress at this stage.


But hey, what do I know.. I'm just a girl! Haha.

As for deads, I guess it's because they hit the hamstrings which leg curls do, and they have a tendency to lead to back injuries. The one thing I don't want to do is mess up my back. Dare I say it, deadlifts also seem to be an ego lift, since they're the exercise where people can lift the most weight. I don't think they do anything that I can't do with other exercises, but maybe that's just me

.

It feels like you've made up your mind, but honestly it's retarded not to do deadlifts, there are no substitutes for it. Deadlifts work your whole body not just your hamstrings, they kill your core, work your lats, lower back, glutes, calves, they pretty much work your whole freaking posterior chain, and trust me you will not get any other exercise that does the same. The only way you'll get injured is if you have bad form, and thats the same with every ****ing exercise you do!
Please just get your head oot your ass and do it, it may be an ego lift but that doesnt stop it being the best exercise, period.

Try and persevere with squats. The bar shouldn't be hurting your shoulders, that probably means you had it placed wrongly. Not sure why your wrist would hurt either. Remember to rest properly between sets too, so as to avoid fatigue. It's bound to feel weird at first.

Same with deads, what are your reasons for not doing them?

I also second what a few other say that a beginner program might be of more benefit as first, as you seem to be doing an excess of accessory exercises but neglecting basic compound ones. Plus from what I can see you're only doing between 1 and 3 reps for each exercise? (unless I'm reading it wrong). You may need to do more to build strength and progress at this stage.


But hey, what do I know.. I'm just a girl! Haha.

Get your head out of your ass and understand he doesn't have to do an exercise just because you think it's the best.
It's his choice what exercises he uses and which he doesn't.

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A lot more than the OP it would appear.

First time I've ever heard deadlifts called an ego lift.

DOYOUEVENLIFT?!
Name an exercise that works almost your whole body apart from deadlift, you can even change which muscle is focused on by making the tiniest of variations on form. He came on here so he could track progress, ask questions and ask for suggestions on improvements on his routine. I'm doing the latter. So go take a poo on your hands and clap.

I know, he talks about them like they're done purely for people to show off. Neglecting the fact that they're an absolute core compound exercise that are extremely beneficial. I somehow don't see how isolated exercise like leg curls are going to match what he'd get from deads...

Except that I didn't though, did I? Admittedly maybe it was wrong for me to label them an ego lift but I was frustrated that all I see is "do squats and deadlifts", "they're the best, everything else is literally a waste of time", "deadlifts or nolifts". I said from the start I wasn't interested in them and got the same replies each time I made a post. Of course I realise they work hams and glutes and whatever, like I kept saying, but then so do other things.

Anyway, I'm done with this thread. Only wanted to keep a track of progress but guess I'll go to install Excel to do that, or maybe good old fashioned pen and paper.

The because squats and deadlifts ARE two of the most important lifts. They don't just hit hams and glutes, deads hit the entire posterior chain and squats your entire lower body and core... Aswell as improving posture and balance. You will only injure yourself if you don't know what you're doing, are unsafe or try and lift above your ability.

Abandoning a thread because someone has questioned your decision and tried to give advice isn't exactly productive is it? Isn't that what these blogs are for? To get advice and opinions aswell as track progress...?

I'm not saying they're not important, I'm saying I don't want to do them. Squats I will try and stick with (as I've said), but they didn't feel natural the two times I've tried them so I need to keep trying, but deadlifts don't interest me.

At the end of the day I can hit all the muscles that both exercises do with other exercises, and if I'm progressing and enjoying myself working out, I don't see why everyone has an issue with that.

It would probably just be simpler to carry on with tracking my progress here and just adding some madeup squat and deadlift sets, just to keep people happy that someone they'll never meet is doing the same exercises that they told him to do, over, and over.