Gym Membership: Any Personal Trainers out there??

Gogretchen1

Hello fellow MF Pals,

I am looking for some fitness advice. It is always difficult for me to develop a fitness plan that supports my goals in the most efficient way possible. If anyone is willing to offer some advice, I would greatly appreciate! I am one semester away from graduating college, so I am ultimately looking to find a consistent routine.

Here is a bit about me... I am 23. 5' 4'' and 131 lbs, looking to tighten and slim. I have always been strong and muscular, whether I work out or not, so cardio has always taken a front seat to strenth training. I am more concerned with looking and feeling awesome than achieving a specific weight but I would love to lose a good 10-12 lbs. I primarily gain weight in my lower tummy and upper thighs, which is always a challenge to get rid of.

I am a dance minor (ballet and modern) so I get almost 2 hours of light aerobic exercise each day during the week- but I need more. I crave the heavy, dripping with sweat work-out that I get from running or doing elliptical. I am huge into pilates, yoga, and zumba... again, I am not a huge fan of weights but know it might be good for me to change my attitude about them. Mostly, I just don't know where to start with them... which muscles do I work, for how long, how often, etc.


So basically, my two major concerns are:
- Is it not enough to run or do elliptical each day? Should I be switching it up more?

- Should I be lifting weights? If so, what is a good way to start?


LAST THING: I live in Wisconsin...There is 2 feet of snow on the ground outside , so sadly any outside work outs aren't an option for another few months.


Thank you for reading- I hope this wasn't too long. I am a college student so cannot afford a trainer- but I would love input from someone who is willing to give it

cwolfman13

The weights are going to do more for your body composition than dieting and cardio, cardio, cardio, cardio. I would seriously try to balance out your fitness regimen. Look into "New Rules of Lifting for Women"...from you pic, it doesn't look like you really need to lose weight...I'm sensing more of a body comp issue which actual resistance work/weight training will address. More cardio and dieting will not do it, you'll just end up being "skinny". For "tone" you need to do resistance work plain and simple.

Also, with all of that activity you're going to need to eat more than the average woman.

chrisdavey

The weights are going to do more for your body composition than dieting and cardio, cardio, cardio, cardio. I would seriously try to balance out your fitness regimen. Look into "New Rules of Lifting for Women"...from you pic, it doesn't look like you really need to lose weight...I'm sensing more of a body comp issue which actual resistance work/weight training will address. More cardio and dieting will not do it, you'll just end up being "skinny". For "tone" you need to do resistance work plain and simple.

Also, with all of that activity you're going to need to eat more than the average woman.

seconded

WVprankster

The weights are going to do more for your body composition than dieting and cardio, cardio, cardio, cardio. I would seriously try to balance out your fitness regimen. Look into "New Rules of Lifting for Women"...from you pic, it doesn't look like you really need to lose weight...I'm sensing more of a body comp issue which actual resistance work/weight training will address. More cardio and dieting will not do it, you'll just end up being "skinny". For "tone" you need to do resistance work plain and simple.

Also, with all of that activity you're going to need to eat more than the average woman.

seconded

3nd :laugh:

fleetzz

Agree with above.

Gogretchen1

Thank you much for your input! And I think that you're right in regards to body composition. I recently tested my fat and muscle ratios in a "herballife" store and saw that my muscle mass had gone down...fat percentage had gone up. (dun dun dunnn)

Like I've said, however, I am sort of clueless when it comes to "resistance training."

Do advanced Pilates and Yoga programs provide the level that I need? Or do I need to suck it up and grab the weights?


To clarify: you say that cardio isn't really what I need and that it will make me "skinny." I by no means want to look unhealthily skinny- but I will say that when it comes to being a dancer... being *quite* thin is simply a must and those who aren't simply do not get professional jobs. I have always been healthy and fit, but never particularly slim > which is why cardio is still important to me. Are you saying that I can melt away access fat more efficiently by doing resistance training instead?