weight training and cardio

Lola7791

Not sure what all I should actually be doing. I need all the help I can get!! I have a gym membership. Anyone wanna be my friend and guide me in the right direction?

HawkeyeTy

Depends on your goals.

To look the best on yoga pants, you should be doing both.

Lola7791

I have no desire to be "skinny". I like big booties, thick legs and boobies, Im way to big now! Just really not sure where to start. Are the machines ok vs the free weights?

HawkeyeTy

I have no desire to be "skinny". I like big booties, thick legs and boobies, Im way to big now! Just really not sure where to start. Are the machines ok vs the free weights?

I use the machines because I have arthritis in my hands, and I can't grip free weights.

You can get a hell of a workout using the machines.



Don't be scared of the free weights though.

"New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women"

Look it up.

AJ_G

Free weights are superior for a fuller muscle development, but machines have their place as well

Lola7791

Maybe I will run into someone at the gym to help me out!

LeighTaylor97

I don't really enjoy free weights all that much, so I will use the machines. Working on muscles is great for weight loss. I believe you need both cardio and weight training. You don't necessarily need to weight lift though. Try things like crunches, squats, push ups, and other exercises that just use your body weight to start. Or you can just jump on the machines, or free weights if you prefer. Whatever you do, build lean muscle buy doing low weight and high reps.

RedheadKnitts

My gym membership comes with one personal training session. It was great and might be what you need. The trainer showed me a lot of stuff I wouldn't have tried on my own, and also a lot of exercises not requiring machines or weights for that matter.

33Freya

I suggest you find a program to follow. Bodybuilding.com is a great website to find a free program on. I'm doing the Jamie Eason LiveFit program, with a goal of transformation (I don't wanna get skinny either). I use the app to track the workouts, and it has detailed descriptions of each exercise plus an optional video on each too. I love it. It's a great way to get started.

odddrums

I'd look into a quick PT session to get started on weights, then do some cardio to warm up and maybe cool down and stick with weights. So long as you're eating what MFP says and lifting you'll keep your body but lose the parts you don't want.

Let me know if you have specific questions! I'm not perfect but I can let you know what's worked for me.

ndj1979

Look into starting strength and new rules of lifting for woman and then build a program around lifting heavy using compound movements = deadlifts, barbell squat, overhead press, rows, chin ups/pull ups, bench press < you should probably you tube videos of some f these to get the form down ..or hire a PT at your gym for a few weeks to help you get the form down …

once you do you should work out in the four set range at say 8 reps each …something like …monday - chest/arms; tuesday - cardio; wednesday - legs; thursday - abs; friday - back/shoulders; saturday cardio/abs, sunday rest….

Sunshine2plus2

Well for me personally I have really only done cardio!

ndj1979

Well for me personally I have really only done cardio!

look into lifting, it will do wonders for your body …seriously ...

deztopstylist

I go to the gym every day I walk on thr treadmill and I lift weights I was running but I hurt my knee so now I have to take an easy good luck dont be afraid to lift.. Muscle burns fat.

Lola7791

I have tons to lose so I figured I needed tons of cardio

Tony_Von_Stryfe

It seems that a lot of women are having better luck leaning out by doing weight training ( with heavier weights) as opposed to hours of cardio. The new rules of lifting for women, might be a good place to start doing some research and try to find a competent trainer at your gym that can get you started in the right direction. Compound movements like squats and dead lifts will put muscle on you fast. Rule of thumb, start your workout with free weights when you are fresh and finish your work out with machines when you don't have to focus on balance and control, just the push or pull movement. Best of luck

zillah73

Like someone else said, gyms often offer a training session when you sign up. I would suggest asking about that.

When I joined my gym and met with a trainer, the program he set me up on was the following:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 5 minute cardio warm-up, upper and lower body weight lifting workout (all major muscle groups worked at a weight where I could lift at least 12 reps but no more than 15, two sets each), finish with 30 minutes of cardio.

Tuesday & Thursday: 45-60 minutes of cardio.

I don't know if that would work for your goals, but it has certainly worked for mine.

averyyclaire

DEFINITELY do weights! Cardio has it's place too, but adding muscle will increase your basal metabolic rate, which basically means you'll burn more calories all the time, not just when you're working out. I like to switch up stuff so it doesn't get boring - someone mentioned Jaime Eason's Live Fit Trainer, which I'm currently doing to add more lifting into my routines.

Another great thing to add is HIIT. I don't mean sprinting and walking - I mean doing a full body workout at high intensity for short bursts. Doing regular HIIT workouts with some additional cardio and a proper diet, I transformed my body - I got lean and muscular.
An example of a HIIT circuit I would do:
50 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Do the entire circuit 3-5 times as hard as you can while keeping good form, and you will sweat like a pig.
1. Burpees
2. Back lunge with bicep curl
3. Mountain climbers
4. Squat Jumps
5. Bike Abs

Seriously, HIIT is amazing. You literally torch fat and build muscle and the workouts are short because they are so intense. You get resistance training and cardio done together. Also, theres TONS of variety - you can put anything into a circuit. Lately I love doing 50 seconds of weight alternating with 40 seconds of jump rope- killer

OK SO resources:
bodyrock.tv
dailyhiit.com
http://www.pinterest.com/bodyrocktv/workouts/
https://www.youtube.com/user/mioja1978
https://www.youtube.com/user/ssolom9

I know this reply got long but I really love this stuff! It makes me sad to see women slaving away on the elliptical for 2 hours and not losing weight - that is freakin miserable! I used to do that and I never stuck with it because I hated it and I was just punishing myself. Doing these workouts has changed my relationship to my fitness and body - now I LOVE my workouts, I love to push myself, and I love my body. I'll stop now but seriously, don't be scared of the weights!!

rjmelton

I second the personal trainer!! My gym came with 1 free PT session a month for the first year he had me forget about counting calories (just stay under 2200 per day was his rule) for the first month and focus on building muscle. Every one is different but our bodies are close enough biologically that more muscle will aid in fat loss ffocus on getting your bf% down not just on the scale weight.

Best advice he gave me... "prefatigue" your muscles with weight lifting before cardio, it burns the stored glycogen and forces the body to burn fat during the cardio session.