My questions are near the end; everything else is just background information in case it's needed. I've been lurking around these forums for a few days, trying to figure out what I should do with myself, but I'm really new at this and still have no idea what new directions to take. I'm totallly open to suggestions. I will keep reading through these forums, though.

I'm an 18-year-old male, with roughly 21% BF, and I've been told that I'm endo-meso, though I'm pretty sure I'm all out endomorph. I'm 5'6", weigh 166 lbs (down from 170 after 4 weeks of a wildy fluctuating routine and no dietary consideration), and it seems almost all of my fat is stored in my gut and handles - something that angers me greatly.

My primary goal is to get rid of the immense blob of fat that has swollowed my abs. I'm also trying to slightly develop my upper body simply because it's so terribly weak, but my gut is my main concern.

Right now, my daily routine has developed into this:
- 500 speedrope jumps (my parents say to do at least 1000, but once I pass 500 I start stumbling and hitting my toes really hard on the rope x.x)
- 500 punches (probably useless, I think)
- 400 crunches
- 200 presses (with two 15-lb dumbells. Yeah, my chest has NO muscle whatsoever; it's quite sad.)
- 100 curls (same dumbells)
- 30 of those things where I lay down with my arms straight out to the sides holding the dumbells, and then raise my arms without bending my elbows until the dumbells touch over me. Whatever those are called.

I would very much like to add pushups, but my chest muscles are so bad that I die before I can do 50.

If I start watching what I eat, does this workout seem passable? I don't have regular access to workout equipment, so I have to make do with the dumbells and speed rope.

Also, I have an extremely childish fear and question. Does jumprope do anything like stunt height growth or make you shorter? My shins have been hurting like the dickens recently, and I'm stupidly thinking it's because all the jumping is hammering my height down.

Thanks in advance! If anyone wants to read all that rambling I just typed, that is.

Welcome to the boards!

WOW!
First off, you can't spot-reduce...your gut will remain until you cut out fat (not the fat from your diet, but fat from your body).
Next, your workout just seems like a really brutal overkill. You're simply doing 10X too much.
Finally, you need to read the sticky posts and figure out a diet plan that will correspond to a redesigned workout.

p.s. I don't think jumproping will stunt your growth, but if your shins are hurting continueing to jump could cause serious problems to your legs and joints.

Also, I have an extremely childish fear and question. Does jumprope do anything like stunt height growth or make you shorter? My shins have been hurting like the dickens recently, and I'm stupidly thinking it's because all the jumping is hammering my height down.
You're getting shin splints. Micro-fractures in your leg bones. Put ice on them, and stop doing the jumping and running on hard surface kind of activity until they don't hurt anymore, and then a couple of days more. Otherwise it can get bad over time.


I would very much like to add pushups, but my chest muscles are so bad that I die before I can do 50.
:lol: You can do 50 pushups and yet you think your chest muscles are bad?

Hell no!

my parents say to do at least 1000
This I absolutely do not understand. :( :d_confuse

Anyway, as mentioned,
1) you need to get your eating in order to lose that tummy fat
2) you're overtraining horribly

Also, you really need some bigger dumbbells. If you can do more than 12, let alone 20 curls or presses, you need a bigger weight. :db:

Wow is right! What Gulag do you live in?

You get that diet in order and you'll be able to do a much smarter workout.

:tu: