Not rocket science: Deadlift, Bench, and Squat

[Donny]

Agree with everything written here. You can build a tremendous physique with about 5 exercises. We all have our favorites but I like bench, squat, romanian deadlift, row and overhead press. Your arms will grow from all of this.

As for calves- either you got them or you don't. I remember the late Pellius said, after doing an extreme routine to build his calves, it wasn't worth the effort in the end. Yes his calves grew but the workouts were insane.

I prefer parallel bar dips over flat benches. Incline BB press puts your shoulders in a better position too.
so the best choice for me is always Dips or Incline press

[WrongAdvices]

It’s very very easy for a starting skinny person to quickly slip into overtraining and undereating/under-resting.  As so many here are so knowledgeable and advanced the thread can quickly change to rocket (bro) science.

[wes]

I have been getting great results doing twice a week 20 minutes of light cardio and 20 minutes of machines (once upper body, once lower body)

Less is more

Be careful not to overtrain !!   

[SweetDaddySiki]

Agree with everything written here. You can build a tremendous physique with about 5 exercises. We all have our favorites but I like bench, squat, romanian deadlift, row and overhead press. Your arms will grow from all of this.

As for calves- either you got them or you don't. I remember the late Pellius said, after doing an extreme routine to build his calves, it wasn't worth the effort in the end. Yes his calves grew but the workouts were insane.

Good info. Just curious: why romanian's over the standard deadlifts? I follow the same routine but do standard deadlifts instead of RDL's. I'm new at doing deadlifts so trying to see what they really do for me.

[Donny]

It’s very very easy for a starting skinny person to quickly slip into overtraining and undereating/under-resting.  Evans’s so many here are so knowledgeable and advanced the thread can quickly change to rocket (bro) science.

Arnolds Encyclopedia caused more skinny persons to give up than anything else
6 days a week & double split Bullsit 

[MajorDomo]

Good info. Just curious: why romanian's over the standard deadlifts? I follow the same routine but do standard deadlifts instead of RDL's. I'm new at doing deadlifts so trying to see what they really do for me.

I used to do traditional deadlifts but wanted to hit the hamstrings too - and leg curls just didn't hit them like I wanted. When I tried RDLs I felt it both in the hamstrings and lower back at the same time. You can't go crazy heavy on rdls and still maintain form so it made my back feel a lot better too.

[IroNat]

Why 5 sets each? Why not 3, 6, 25?

How many did Bhanky do?
That's your measuring stick.