A couple of days ago I stumbled across this thread on reddit:
What is the one gym exercise you wish you had known from the beginning?
I think most of us (and I am no exception) probably started out the ‘wrong’ way (by which I mean not the most efficient way), doing way too much mirror muscles isolation work.
Not that I am hating on Curls and Co. I still like to do them and think isolation work has it’s place.
But knowing what I know now I would chose a beginner program with the big compound lifts like Starting Strength or Strong Lifts to take advantage of linear progression and the novice effect.
Main Takeaway: Get strong first.
Here are the top things redditors wish they knew from the beginning:
- deadlifts
- squats
- press
- face pulls
- dips
- pull-ups, chin-ups
- clean and jerk
- snatch
- power cleans
- rowing for cardio
- burpees
- hip flexor stretch or couch stretch
- strict muscle ups
- front and back levers.
- Arnold press
- Goblet Squats
- Glute Ham Raise (GHR)
- Good morning
- Yoth-Sarcasmo Press
- “the importance of balance in a routine”
