PF Workout Suggestions

lilithsrose

I just joined the new Planet Fitness that opened in my town. Its been a few years since I've been to a gym. I am currently 214 pounds. I am very out of shape. I have problems with my knees, so I need to keep any exercises low-impact. I prefer lifting over cardio, but I do realize that I need to do some cardio to help myself lose weight faster and build stamina. Please be conscious that Planet Fitness does not have very much in the way of free weights. Once I get fitter, I may join a different gym that offers more free weight options, but for now, Planet Fitness is my best option due to its price and my ability. No bashing please.

Please give me some plan suggestions to help me get started. I'm looking for something slow-and-steady to start off with. It cannot contain too much cardio at this point. I can probably workout for 30 minutes to an hour, 3 days a week.

Thanks in advance!

rakowskidp

Planet Fitness typically has lots of cardio equipment. Start off with the treadmill at a slow pace (or elliptical if you prefer something easier on your knees, as you've mentioned having a knee problem). I did several weeks of walking only before I was comfortable enough to do run-walk intervals.

Make an appointment with the trainer and see if he/she has any suggestions. I told the trainer that I wanted to lose weight and run a 5K and she set me up with a reasonably effective program that included treadmill and stationary bike for cardio, plus weightlifting workouts that focused on legs, glutes, abs, shoulders and back. I still use her original plan as the basis for my workouts but focus primarily on running.

Good luck!

2011rocket3touring

Treadmill is your friend. Walk and if you need to (I do) watch something on your phone or tablet.
If they have machines then have at it, better than nothing and harder to hurt yourself with them.
Best of luck.
BTW, what's wrong with Planet Fitness?

TR0berts

You may want to give Lyle McDonald's basic beginner machine program a try. It shouldn't take too much time, and it hits pretty much everything. It may take some time to figure out what weights to use, but I'd think you'd get an idea within a few training sessions.

H_Ock12

Bodybuilding.com has a variety of workouts...a dumbbell or cable machine workout might be a good place to start at PF.

lilithsrose

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I know how to use most of the machines already, so that's a plus. I probably will schedule an appointment with a trainer in a few weeks, once I get acclimated to the gym.

TR0berts - Thanks for the link. That's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

2011rocket3touring wrote: »

BTW, what's wrong with Planet Fitness?

Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Its better to go there than to do nothing. I see a lot of PF haters online though. Some people don't like their policies and don't consider it a "real gym" because they don't have heavy free weights and such needed for more advanced weight lifting.