I just bought a gym membership. What do you do at the gym?

If you are going through the hassle of getting to the gym, getting changed, showering after etc.. then make the most of it. Be the one there with sweat pouring off you and a luminous red face. Push your heart rate (find out what your ideal is), by going beyond what you think you can do you'll build stamina and fitness.
Can't recommend getting a pt too much - even if it's on an occasional basis to keep you focused and on track and to push you.

Personally I do a bit of machines but also do my on mini circuits on the floor which keeps me from getting bored as well.

enjoy it (or at least the feeling afterwards!)

If you're new to gym you should be able to spend some time with a trainer who you can talk to about what you want to achieve and how best to do that. They'll also talk you through the equipment and show you correct technique, etc. Whatever you decide to do, mix it up so that your body doesn't know what to expect. At my peak of exercising a few years ago I did an hour of cardio on Day 1, 1/2 hour of cardio and weights on Day 2 and swimming on Day 3. If I missed a day of exercise I just picked up with the next day in the routine, so I was never being in the habit of Tuesday being weights day, etc. which can get a bit boring. Worked for me!

I exercised at a gym for the first time in about a month. The reason I stopped was because my membership ran out and I was working a lot at my manual labor job. But I haven't been working as much there so I finally got a new membership What do you like to do at the gym?

I use weight machines. Each day I focus on different body parts. Then I do abs and cardio either the treadmill or the ark or elliptical. Sometimes I use the stationary bikes. But the ark is supposed to be really good. It burns lots of calories!!!

Some days I exercise for 60 minutes, other days 80 min, and other days min 30 minutes (w. the exception of today --I only did 22 minutes).

On a 30 minute day, I will do treadmill, arc trainer, elliptical, or bike for 30 minutes. I will usually do intervals at high intensity or lower consistent intensity.

On 60 minute days I work with my trainer and we work hard. This is a big lift weight day. If I am not struggling by 5 reps in, we increase the weights. A set consist of 15 repetitions and we do 3 sets. I would recommend that you try a month with a personal trainer. Anyone can benefit from the experience.

70 minute day I workout with my trainer for 60 minutes and then bike or do the stair climber for 20 minutes.

My trainer has me exercising 6 days a week. Three days of weights and 3 days of cardio. It's my trainers philosophy that you need to build muscle, but you also need to do cardio, for at least 30 minutes, the other 3 days to lose weight.

Best,

You freaking do work! You remember during each rep, each set what you did to yourself and what you know have to do to reverse that! You sweat, lift large amounts of iron, spend way to much time going cardio and best of all...you enjoy every single minute of it@

Ignore the sass. It can be a bit intimidating so I totally get it. Those machines- where do you put your leg? face down or face up? lift or pull? When I was new to the gym, I went during slower times just to get familiar.

Once comfortable-
20-30 minutes on the stairclimber, treadmill or eliptical.
30 minutes on weight lifting (focused on arms or legs but not both)
20 more minutes on stairclimber, treadmill or eliptical
15-20 on abs
I do more cardio if I haven't burned at least 500 calories

Now I skip all that and go to a 60 minute class- Turbo Lift, Turbo Kick, whatever.

Good luck!

This is a good routine, although I prefer going to various classes such as Zumba, or whole body workout.