Hey guys!

Been a TRP lurker for a while, first post! Stoked to get into the routine of lifting but looking for advice.

I'm looking for feedback on 3 points.

 

  1. I'm a skinny dude, like 6'3" and 145lbs. Also overthink things. What are the simplest routines for me to start with for hypertrophy? I'm leaning towards bench press, overhead press, squat, and deadlift. I'll probably follow a routine similar to starting strength, lifting 3 days a week. Does this seem reasonable for someone who has never set foot in a weight room? I plan on watching a lot of videos to self correct on proper form. Are there any other basic compound lifts you would recommend?

  2. For the above mentioned workouts, I want to buy the safest yet cheapest equipment. I think I will need a bench, a cage, and weights/bar at a minimum. I've found stuff online and wanted some feedback between two cages... The "Power Cage" and the "Squat Rack". One seems like a half cage (less safe?) and the other a full cage. Are there other important considerations I could be missing here? I'm a minimalist, please try to keep it as simple as possible for me.

  3. I've already started a new diet. I speculate I wasn't typically getting 2,000 calories in a day. I've since been doing about 2,500. Basic meals include oatmeal, egg, cheese and tortillas for breakfast. Spinach, chicken, feta, olives and sesame oil salad for lunch, and then some rice dish for dinner, with snacking in between. What do you guys eat routinely? SS recommends what seems like a very high calorie count for skinny guys. I want to ease into this, not force feed myself like some livestock.

 

Thanks for any help or feedback you're able to give!