You can get great gains your first year.... I was 185 lbs at 5'8" with a gutt and never lifted..... I went on a diet and lost 25 lbs in about 8 months... Once I got down to 160 my gutt was flat... I then started working out 4 days a week and maybe took two weeks off during the hole year... One year later I was back at 185 lbs. And to me, it's all muscle..... I was also at a 34 waist before I started, I'm now in a 32..... Keep the faith, you will grow fast in your first year as long as you eat right, train right and get plenty of sleep...... Thats my two cents.