Hey guys

I've been lurking around red pill subs and reading posts for a few months, and there is one thing that has floated up above all else - having a lean and strong body is non negotiable, and everything else stems from that.

Thus, I have to make it happen and start from somewhere. That is where my issue is - I have never lifted or done any bodybuilding ever, and there is a paranoia since I was very young that weightlifting is harmful, and if done incorrectly can seriously make you look even worse than before, or even you can injure yourself seriously. That is how my upbringing was - against any kind of weight training. Even though I am in my 30s now, that mindset has stayed with me, and I am just worried about lifting.

I have been playing sports though, and I was thinking to just start with high intensity interval sprints which have been working for me in the past. This will at least get my weight down and I can reduce my gut hopefully. Would it? A related question is: abs. What really is the best exercise for abs and getting a flat stomach?

Now I have also seen various kind of lifting programs, and it is confusing for me where to start. Some posts also have said that the standard 5x5 programs are actually bad for aesthetics. Frankly, I am aiming to look super good with lifting, and not doing it for the sake of it. This conflicting information has caused even more confusion.

My idea was to just try and join a gym, cough up the membership fees and then just get the staff over there to teach me some basic weight exercises. I am seriously worried about getting form wrong and stuffing up my body in some other way.

What do you guys think I should do? Even on youtube, I dont know what to follow as there are multiple options and I dont know which one is right. Even if I know, how will I actually do it?

If you guys have a simple idea for me, that would be much much appreciated. I am seriously confused, and I want to start on the correct path.