Fitness Nation Forum

Just signed up for the gym. Thinking I should start with the basics squats, bench, pull-ups but not sure if I’m overthinking it. How did you guys start?

Basics are the way to go, man. I wasted my first year hopping around different machines. Once I focused on squats, bench, deadlift, and rows, the gains showed.

Yep, start with compounds. They hit multiple muscles and build a strong base for everything else you’ll do later

Focus on good form before adding weight. Speaking from experience—throwing too much on the bar too soon had me nursing a bad back in my second month.

Warm-ups matter more than you think. Even 5 minutes of mobility work before lifting can save your joints down the road.

6. Pull-ups and dips are like cheat codes for upper body strength. Add them early.

Track your lifts every week. It’s motivating when you look back and see how far you’ve come.

Don’t worry about advanced stuff yet. You’ll get there once the basics are second nature.

Alright, basics and good form it is. Gonna starts tracking from day one. I appreciate the input.