i got back on a diet and i am working out regularly. i lost 16 kg's so far (i lost more in body fat as i gained a lot of muscle). im currently 98 kgs and 180cm tall. so this thread is very interesting for me.

yeah, my advice is this. going to the gym isnt the only way to maintain a healthy body and athletic build. there are many activities and sports you can do that can be a lot more helpful. find something you truly enjoy doing, and you are most likely to commit to it rather than going to the gym to just work out. you can go hiking, play football, learn martial arts, go rock climbing, skate boarding. anything really. as long as you enjoy it, you are most likely to commit to it more. 

I'm as fat as the day is long. This might be a great thread for me.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks. A lot of this will come down to confidence no doubt and practice makes perfect. I play tennis to a reasonable level already which is something I enjoy, perhaps upping this practice and going for more adventurous walks, whilst also doing basic exercise like Reim suggested is a good place to start! 

Great to see such a turnout already!

@Sundin: Perhaps you just aren't interested in the exercises you are doing. There is so much variety in physical activity that you could try almost countless things to see what you love! A lot of them are so fun it doesn't feel like exercise! If you are looking to build muscle, I would suggest starting with passive exercise, or bodyweight lifting, while you watch tv for example. It may become a habitual thing, in which case you will build nice lean muscle before you know it!

@Classic: I know the feel, bro haha. My sleep patterns are pretty terrible as well :/

@Banana: That's awesome to hear, man! Keep it up!

Great thread. I just started seriously working out at my school's gym at the beginning of May. I don't follow a workout plan, I just go to lift and then eat. I usually go 3 days a week but I'm going to be increasing that to 4-5 days a week starting tomorrow. Even though I've been going to the gym for a month, my body looks pretty much the same. However, I do feel stronger at the gym as I can lift relatively heavier weights than before. I usually work with middleweights, I'm not trying to bulk up but rather trying to get a slim athletic body. I've been doing abs exercises quite a bit and my abs do feel more "solid" but I need to burn some fat before I can see the results so I definitely need to work on cardio and work more on my legs (Something that I've been neglecting). Also, I eat pretty healthy; mostly eat rice, spinach, cauliflower, zucchini, red meat. But I need to start eating more vegetables which is also something I've been lacking. Also, I'm celiac so I can't eat anything with gluten (which is basically everything) so it's a little difficult following diet plans when I can't eat anything. Any tips or advice on anything would be greatly appreciated!

Sure, I got a few things to add!

1. From a health standpoint, being Celiac isn't so bad! Most glutenous foods is made with refined wheat and sugar; stuff which honestly is not that healthy. By skipping the wheat and eating alternatives such as rice, rice/corn-based pastas, and ancient grains, you are already en route to eating better haha.

2. Lifting weights and gaining weight naturally is a slow process. You will not notice that much of a difference (expecially after a month), but others will. Ever hear of this saying? "The day you start lifting is the day you are forever small." It is very true. You are the one who sees yourself in the mirror everyday and the change when lifting is so incremental that you will not even notice. This is a reason why so many people quit! Other people will notice though, and I guarantee that you are getting stronger. I bet if you took before and after pictures for reference that you would notice a difference, if only a slight one at minimum.

3. If you are looking for faster results, push yourself! Go a little further than you thought you could, and then keep going!

4. LEGS ARE IMPORTANT

Thanks a lot! I'll use that advice and adjust my workouts. I'll continue posting in here on workouts when I need more workout ideas and/or I start seeing results.

I'll be sure to keep up with this thread (hopefully, I'm pretty bad at doing that usually xD)

Legs are indeed important, even if you just want to look better. Leg workout use core muscles and they burn a lot of calories, and more muscle mass in the lower body means better metabolism and it will make your body feel lighter during cardio.