Need advice

[SeventySeven]

A quick little history of me. I used to be in decent shape, i was active played hockey, lifted(not as much and as consistent as i should have) and had a rollercoaster diet. I had a traumatic stab injury a year ago to my upper arm( severed the brachial artery among other things) it was a long recovery process shortly after being cleared to fully exercise 8 months layer i seperated my shoulder playing hockey, setting me back even furthur. My 11% body fat shot to like 29%. I was never "fat" just lost alot of muscle being stuck immobile and not eating properly.

The whole ordeal, was a life changing event,i was very close to death. As cliche as it may be i realised life really is short and it made me want to change aspects of my life and better myself and find the best quality of life possible. I have never done drugs, been a heavy drinker or been in trouble with the law, thats not the issue. I simply just want to maintain a healthy lifestyle and better myself physically( and completely natural:P). It also gave me a push to pursue the career i wanted to out of highschool(Paramedic).

My essential goal is to reach 200lbs and be as lean as possible. I currently stand 5"11 182 lbs.

I am looking for lifting and diet advice to achieve this goal, treat me as a complete noob. I want to make sure i do this right and i dont waste my time.

Currently i maintian a high protien, mid carb, low fat diet...whether i am putting the right amounts of each into my body is to be seen. I eat alot fish/chicken and an occasional steak. Whole wheat grains, brown rice, sweet potatoes. Baby carrots, brocolli, mixed vegtables, lettuce and tomato. I use no extra added salt spices, low calorie BBQ sauce, mustard, low sugar/calorie honey mustard, peanut butter. Apples, pears, Bananas and my staple fruits.
I use GNC monohydrate Creatine, 5 g pre workour and 5 g post. I am using the GNC mass XXX protien supplement( 51 g protien, 600 cal, 89 carbs per 3 scoops) which i have post workour and occasionally as a meal replacement.

My current lift routine is two focused muscle groups per day, 3 exercises 3 sets. (bis/back, chest/tri, legs/abs, shoulders/forearms)

I have only been following this for a month, its been changing here and there looking for the best methods.

A pre thank you and great apprecation for those who take time to give me their advice.

Edit: My "stab arm" is not as strong as my other arm, i have been lifting both to the capacity of my weaker arm.

[TopHatPlus]

Hello, and welcome to the rest of your life, haha you seem to off to a great start, fully understand that this is a complete lifestyle thing and not just working out. I would recommend you start a log, i have found it invaluable in helping me stay on track and keep the push on.

You have quite the contradiction there, you want to hit 200 pounds as lean as possible >_< haha i would focus more on getting your body fat % down and just getting really trim, i am assuming being a perimedic you need to have great endurance, so i would recommend keeping up a healthy cycle of cardio. But cardio burns muscle as well and it has plagued me trying to bulk up but i have come to accept that i need my sports! Read through some of the beginner and intermediate workout ideas and compare it with yours.

I do agree that working what the lesser arm can lift is a better idea, as you work that arm up it should help you even them out.

HAVE FUN!

[SeventySeven]

Maybe lean was the wrong word to use 200 lbs and defined! I need to get another BF% as im sure its much lower then my last figure.

I do log my workouts, daily. I am working on a spreadsheet for my diet as well.

I heard explosive cardio workouts help to keep muscle mass and build cardio as well? Is there truth to this? Or is it another fabled myth?

I am not overweight by any means. I just dont have alot of muscle definition.

Appreciate the words TopHat.

Edit: i should also state i workout at home with 2 adjustable dumbells that range for 5-52.5 lbs and a bench. I am avoiding machines, as i prefer the compound exercises. Once i advance i will be purchasing a bench and barbell set.

[TopHatPlus]

haha yeah i did not get the impression you were over weight, 5' 11" and 182 is not by any means heavy for you weight, haha i am trying to talk my brother into that weight =D haha i am not sure about explosive cardio i just do insanely intense cardio, 40 minutes @ 120 rpms on the spin bike, haha burn some calories. I also do not like machines i enjoy to overall benefit that dumbbells and barbells give, i try not to exercise much at home i find it unproductive and generally non beneficial. I find that when i am at the gym i am in an atmosphere and a mind set to workout and destroy and when i am at home its all about diet and rest to let myself heal and do it all over again. I understand what you are saying with your logs in tracking your numbers i have never been one to carry anything around the gym i do the same workouts and its all very repetitive so i get more into the emotional, mental, and the raw spirit of it, i keep a public log on here and it really helps with the motivation. You may also want to talk a buddy into going with you. I can work out super hard and bust myself everyday i am at the gym but when i a friends there i become superman, i am trying so hard to out perform them on everything that my workouts become something of legend. haha sounds like i am a show off but its just how it works, and it is nice to have someone to chat with and spot you. So check out the logs theres guys of every level and we all have our goals.