So it's summer right now, and I have lots of free time. All I've been doing is playing basketball and video games, partying, or going to extra classes at uni. Whenever I hit the gym with friends, I always go an hour before closing since there won't be many people. I'm trying to go alone, but I can't bring myself to do it. Closing time comes around, and I get too tired to leave the house, so I end up doing pushups and calling it a night. I feel like a total loser doing this, and I can't help but have irrational thoughts about how I'll embarrass myself in the gym with improper form or end up in some random ass TikTok clip. I go to sleep every night being ashamed of myself. I wanna bulk up so I can look good for the fall semester and be proud of the face that's looking back in the mirror.

>>33342672 (OP)
Unfortunately you just have to push through it early on. Try to ignore other people and eventually they become background noise while you're chasing your pump. Also,

>freeweights are generally better than machines, but machines are great for building up a base of strength before you transition over to freeweights.
>anabolism is about time under tension more than anything. A solid pump is a decent gauge of how you're doing for larger muscles.
>have a plan before showing up
>drink lots of water
>YOU HAVE TO EARN THE WEIGHT. There's nothing wrong with being weak to start: people will respect effort more than weight.

Get dressed at home, and go to the gym. Bring headphones and a water bottle. Walk on the treadmill for ten minutes. Go do the bench press. Go do dumbbell curls. Do dumbbell press. Do tricep pulldowns. Go home. Again tomorrow.

>>33342687
shit advice. You don't do the same exercises every day, especially for larger muscle groups with long recovery times. Also, walking for 10 minutes is useless unless you're obese or geriatric.

>>33342683

>YOU HAVE TO EARN THE WEIGHT. There's nothing wrong with being weak to start: people will respect effort more than weight.

Yeah, but every time I lift it feels like people are staring or judging me, even though I know nobody gives a fuck as long as you dont do some weird shit with the machines. idk how to get over that

>>33342690
Calm down and you’ll live longer. He goes to the gym to build routine and develop himself physically and mentally. Basic principles are apparent.

>TikTok clip
well videoing some1 without their consent is punishable by law. fines and up to 3 years in prison, regarding if it has audio or video only.
dont know hows that in your country
>gym
is that a must for you?
i dont know whats up with the ppl obsessing about going to the gym, paying to move weights.
you dont need to brainlessly lift weights to get ripped.
gymnastic exercises, even without any addon weights are already going to bring you to your limits, without any machines or weights
also these are way more healthier and useful in the long run.
when youve perfected gymnastic exercises by using your body weight, then id suggest to start using weights or lifting.
also you should not lift if you are under 21 years old, since your body is still developing

I knew some judoka who started lifting early 17-18, he was RIPPED, but never had growth, since the muscles were too strong/held it tight together and prevented height growth.

>>33342672 (OP)
>>33342693
you don't feel that way during basketball or anywhere else? only at the gym?

>>33342672 (OP)
Find a gym which prohibits filming inside
or
Buy a home gym (I recommend latex resistance cords)

>>33342690
For total noobs who are doing household lifts (like less than a gallon of milk weighs) they are just learning proper form and every day will be OK.
Once you "feel sore" before you even get to the gym because you've been slowly increasing weight (like 5 pounds/week absolute max increase for a noob) then its time to do all kinds of crazy programs and plans in a notebook.
Noobs need to go as often as possible with at little weight as possible (just the bar, 5 pound dumbbells, etc) and work on having absolutely perfect form, THEN worry about increasing weights which results in longer recovery time.
A gallon of milk weighs like ten pounds and nobody goes to the store, lifts it into the cart, and then obsessively doesn't lift it again for precisely 47 hours.

>>33345376
Probably the most important skill OP needs to learn is how to read a book and apply it, so develop a plan based on a textbook that has lots of endnotes of medical journal articles.
If you run your life based upon some anons old wives tales and broscience you will get totally F-ed up in life. See the post I'm quoting thats almost entirely imaginary in nature.

>>33342672 (OP)
You're going to the gym to improve, not to show off. Just go. I can't even lift one plate at the moment because I've cut so much weight, and nobody judges me. Just use the right form and do things the way you need to. Don't worry about anyone else. Nobody is going to make fun of you.