I could use some guidance on an exercise routine

Allegi32

I'll try to keep the background brief:

Former fitness chick, used to be 20% BF, worked out 6 days/week - old school-style (i.e. back/legs/biceps one day, triceps/shoulders another day), plus anywhere from 25-45 minutes of cardio (usually stairmaster) as well.

Fast forward 10+ years, 2 kids & hubby, life gets in the way. 70+ pounds overweight and totally out of shape. The problem is, I've never had to GET into shape before - my old routine was basically just keeping me in shape and toning me more. I honestly don't know where to start.

I know I need cardio to get this fat loss going, but I LOVE to lift and I love having shape and firmness to my muscles. I build muscle very easily and I still have quite a bit of strength left. However, I just don't know how to design an exercise program. So much has changed since I was into fitness - it used to be that you'd split up the body parts, etc. and now it's all circuit training and totally different.

Is there anyone that can kind of point me in the right direction? How much cardio, how much lifting, some kind of program of lifting to get me going? I was going to hire my old trainer, whom I love, but I just can't afford it.

All I know is what I used to do and I can't do that right now. I can't just jump into what I used to do because my body isn't in the same place and my needs are so different. But I don't know how to take things slowly either.

Help!!!

tabinmaine

I started with just cardio for 8wks, then I started lifting the exact same way I did 8 yrs ago, same exercises just less weight of course. I lift full body 3x a week and do cardio 5x week. I take 1-2 days off each week.

For cardio I run, but I also swim a lot which helps with muscle definition and I also do the elliptical, that helps as well with upper body.

Allegi32

I started with just cardio for 8wks, then I started lifting the exact same way I did 8 yrs ago, same exercises just less weight of course. I lift full body 3x a week and do cardio 5x week. I take 1-2 days off each week.

For cardio I run, but I also swim a lot which helps with muscle definition and I also do the elliptical, that helps as well with upper body.

I will be doing Zumba 2-3 days/week, but I think I need a new exercise routine, rather than my old one.

Any other thoughts?