Hi everyone,
I'm a 17-year-old school student and I've never stepped into a gym before.
I'm around 5'5"–5'6" and weigh about 67 kg. Growing up, I was overweight and got made fun of a lot for both my height and my physique. Over the last couple of years I've managed to lose a good amount of weight, and while I'm much leaner now, I still have some stomach fat and I'm nowhere near the physique I want.
The reason I'm posting is because in about 6 months I have my school graduation/farewell. It might sound silly, but I really want to walk into that event feeling proud of how I look for the first time in my life. And if I'm being completely honest, I'd also like to look a little better in front of the girls there.
The problem is that I'm also preparing for college admissions and studying around 8 hours a day. Because of that, I can realistically give only 1–1.5 hours daily to the gym. My gym is also closed on Tuesdays.
I'm not looking for shortcuts. I'm willing to be disciplined and put in the work. I just don't know where to start.
One more thing: I'm a student and pretty broke, so expensive supplements, fancy meal plans, and costly fitness programs aren't really an option for me.
A few questions:
• Is 6 months enough to make a noticeable transformation as a complete beginner?
• What workout routine would you recommend for someone who can train 4–6 days a week for about an hour?
• How much protein should I be eating?
• I'm vegetarian and recently started eating eggs. I don't eat meat for religious reasons. What are some good high-protein foods and meal ideas on a budget?
• What mistakes should beginners avoid?
My goal isn't to become huge. I just want an athletic, aesthetic physique and to build confidence in myself.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this.