Lifting Quandary

cwolfman13

So, I'm having a bit of a quandary...I've lost about 10 pounds in the last couple of months and I've been doing cardio and body weight resistance training, primarily for my heart and upping my overall fitness. My muscles are starting to show again and it has motivated me to get back into lifting. I'm only going to be able to put in 3 days/week (60 minutes per day) lifting due to work, kids, wife, etc and I'm going to be trying to get a full body workout on each of those three days.

First off, is that even possible..three days of lifting full body workouts? I'm not looking to get huge, and frankly I don't know that I have the genes to do so...I just to start replacing this fat layer with lean muscle. Secondly, and this is really my quandary...I'd like to do free weights, but all of my friends and buddies are lazy couch potatoes with no interest in hitting the gym...in other words, I don't have a spotter. I'm thinking I'll be resigned to machines, but I have no idea how well they work. I've always lifted in the past...high school and Marine Corps; I haven't lifted in about 15 years.

IronSmasher

3 full body is ideal for beginners.

No spotter can be got around using safety devices or a different approach such as more reps.

The machines are pretty easy, have instructions on them, or if the gym owners want to keep customers they will explain and demonstrate how to use their equipment.