[William Wallace]

I don't really endorse self help books but for shyness and conversation pointers, give Leil Lowndes a try. In particular, "How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships" I'm an introverted computer geek, but there are some pointers in this book that really help to start a conversation and keep one going.

Also, being a bodybuilder, you'll appreciate "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr. In order to grow socially (as well as physically, mentally, and spiritually), you have to get out of your confort zone. A bodybuilder knows that if you lift the same weight and use the same routine over and over, you won't grow. In fact, that isn't enough even to maintain. You atrophe. The same is true socially. If you stay in the same circle of friends, never go to social events, never take a chance in creating a new relationship, etc. you won't grow socially as well. Like weightlifting, its hard at first. It can even hurt like hell and cause a few injuries, but after a while, you will get used to it, master it, and have to go to the next level.