Gym Newbie Needs Tips

Stop yelling. Also, if you want tips, its only polite to, you know, come back to the thread and read them, instead of expecting people to spoon feed them to you via pm so you get a message on your phone'.

agreed, no need for the caps.

Try reading teh book, New Rules of Lifting for Women, that would be a good start and base for you.

Also join a gym and talk to a personal trainer and learn to lift correctly, bad form leads to injuries.

If you're joining a gym I would def recommend speaking to the person who does your induction, I have joined my local gym just over 2 weeks ago now and am loving it, they've been great at working on a 'programme' for me, and fitting around what I like doing too. I do think personally you need to 'enjoy' your workout as much as possible. Also to have commitment to work hard, and not give in to excuses not to exercise etc. If you don't like something change it. But also you need to commit to eat wisely.

There is much debate on here about eating the calories you burn, but personally I find that has never worked for me. So use MFP as a tool to work out how many calories you can eat, and eat them well.. I'd love to have cake and custard every night but sadly that is what got me to my heaviest weight. After all the fad diets I've tried in the past, I found the 'old' way of calorie counting and allowing myself the odd treat works best. I am no longer on a 'diet'. I CHOOSE not to eat something, and to work out. I have had to be honest, totally honest with myself, I have overeaten, in the size of portions. In my choices of food, and in ignoring my own misery as I lifted that spoon or whatever. Don't fool yourself, be honest, now, so you know where your trouble area's are. You mentioned you snack, you know that's not right don't you? Really? so why not plan smaller meals / snacks that are healthy but give you the option of eating 6 or 7 times a day, nothing wrong with it, no one will slate you for it, but it'll give you energy and the feeling of eating.

As for skin, I can't promise you you won't have skin. Some people don't, but then some do. Genetics, age, skin elasticity, speed of weight loss is all things I've read have a bearing on it. I've come to terms that if I have 'bingo wings' then they're better filled with as much muscle as I can put in them than to be skinny and flabby, or just plain fat for that matter. Same with my belly, which I know will be my problem area. I have the lovely 'apron belly' that many mums and over weight women have. I have had operations on my tummy for appendix and gall bladder removal and even a breast lump removed, so, I'm not heading for a bikini.. no way, But if I can put on a pair of jeans or whatever I choose to wear, look in the mirror and see a smaller me, and a healthier me, what does it matter if my hubby has to put up with me in knickers that allow for my belly skin? Does it matter? He loved me fat, he loved me at my slimmest and loved me 9 months pregnant with stretchmarks crying because I felt fat! lol

So.. do this for you, for the new you and realising you're a healthier you. Don't worry what the downsides are of losing weight the plus sides are so much more amazing!

Those, are my tips! lol