Beginning weight machines, help!

Okay, so I've been doing cardio for awhile now but I have a huge amount of muscle under all this flab. I think weight lifting would really, really benefit me. I can't really afford a trainer at this time so I've been scouring the internet and found this beginning weight machine routine.

Chest press, 12 x3
Pull down, 12 x3
Shoulder press, 12 x3
Seated row, 12 x3
Leg press, 12 x3
Leg curls, 12 x3
Abdominal crunch, 12 x3

Apparently I should do this for 6 to 8 weeks, 2-3 times a week, starting with a weight that is comfortable for me and then working my way up. Can any of you weight lifting pros tell me if this sounds like a reasonable beginning routine? Should I add or subtract any machines? Is this enough reps, etc? Thank you ever so kindly!

It is not bad as far as using machines goes, but a lot of people including myself would tell you that free weights are much better.

I have been using resistance bands. My BF has some free weights but also uses the bands on certain workouts.

You might want to think about training certain body parts on different days. For example, today was shoulders/abs for me, and tomorrow is legs. Other days are back/biceps etc. - you get the picture.

Even if you don't follow the whole program, you should check out Jamie Eason's LiveFit program on Bodybuilding.com - it has 12 weeks of weights already in a schedule! You could use that for ideas. Good Luck!

Oxygen Magazine has great, easy to follow workout! Just use the wight your comfortable with!

Okay, so I've been doing cardio for awhile now but I have a huge amount of muscle under all this flab.

I don't understand, cardio does not usually build large amounts of muscle.

I think weight lifting would really, really benefit me. I can't really afford a trainer at this time so I've been scouring the internet and found this beginning weight machine routine.

Chest press, 12 x3
Pull down, 12 x3
Shoulder press, 12 x3
Seated row, 12 x3
Leg press, 12 x3
Leg curls, 12 x3
Abdominal crunch, 12 x3

Apparently I should do this for 6 to 8 weeks, 2-3 times a week, starting with a weight that is comfortable for me and then working my way up. Can any of you weight lifting pros tell me if this sounds like a reasonable beginning routine? Should I add or subtract any machines? Is this enough reps, etc? Thank you ever so kindly!

You should add the Lat pull down machine. I've read that it can't be duplicated with free weights. Otherwise your program looks fine, but after 8 weeks, when you've built up a foundation of strength, you should try free weights as well. (You could try them now, but it seems as if you've decided on a program.)

You also might want to try the assisted pull up and dip machine (you use part of your bodyweight), the Captains Chair (a station that allows you to do crunches using your body weight) and body weight exercises such as push ups. Start with the wall version if you need to.

Don't be scared of free weights. Much more bang for your buck!

My favorite website is www.exrx.net. This page in particular: http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html It will show you a listing of all muscles. For example, click on "Upper Arms" & it will give you each muscle group in the area (triceps & biceps). Under each muscle, it will give you lots of different exercises to do, grouped by machine, cable machine, dumbbells, body weight only, etc. If you click on the exercise, it gives you a video & a written description of how to do the exercise. This is an excellent resource for building your own routine. When I first started, I would do something for quads/glutes, calves, biceps, triceps, shoulders, back, & stomach. I progressively moved into doing more varied exercises with more weight & now I only use free weights, other than the leg press occasionally.

It's a good workout to start with, so the most important thing is to just DO IT - you can tweak or change later as you get more comfortable with weights. That said, my recommendation would be to mix up the order - alternate legs and arms, and start with large muscles. So I'd modify the order of your workout to do something like this:

Chest press, 12 x3
Leg press, 12 x3
Pull down, 12 x3
Leg curls, 12 x3
Shoulder press, 12 x3
<add in another leg exercise such as calf raises>
Seated row, 12 x3
Abdominal crunch, 12 x3

Good luck!

i too was just going to start with weights but have no idea what to do ? i currently only have 3 and 5 lbs hand weights. i am getting 8 lbs this weekend. can i use 5 and 8? will i get results with that? right now i am doing 30ds and rin30 which has a lot of strength exercises in it, i was thinking of doing those but more of them... like 3 reps of how ever i can get in? ( maybe around 10 ).....i will get heavier weights when i can handle the 8lbs good and go up from there, but i wasn't sure that if lifting lighter weights with more reps was even wise or just a waste of time as so many seem to only promote lifting heavy, so only a few times...

Weight machines are as good as any free weights. Both have their place and I wouldn't train at a gym without both.