I need opinions on strength training

Forgive my frank manner, but here we go.

Do you guys think Shred it With Weights would be a good alternative to weight lifting for now?

No.

I plan to switch to weight lifting once I'm a little less embarrassed in the gym, but for now I just wanna get my cardio done and get out there. So, I need suggestions/advice, please! Thank you!

Get over your fear. No one else actually cares.

Go to the squat rack and do your squats. You'll never get over the fear unless you do it, no matter how much weight you lose.

Or work out at home.

Get over your fear. No one else actually cares.

Go to the squat rack and do your squats. You'll never get over the fear unless you do it, no matter how much weight you lose.

Or work out at home.

I HATE going around lifting weights in the gym because honestly I'm fat right now and sitting there scrunching my fat up is pretty embarrassing.

So don't sit.

I do big compound moves and don't sit for a single one. Squat, bench, row, shoulder press, dead-lift.

And yeah, you've just got to try to not care about what other people think. I don't see how doing cardio is any less "embarrassing" than doing weights.

Sometime more cardio is not the answer. Weight lifting has changed my body, from flabby to much firmer.
I've only done shred once (so I'm no expert) but the weight she has you doing is not really weight lifting, too light.
I've never seen shred it with weights so I have no opinion, but if the weights are challenging to you then Yes do them.
It's the difference between smaller arms with lots of skin vs small arms that are rounded and firm.
Elephant butt or awesome butt. I still do cardio so I can eat more without guilt but lifting has changed my mindset forever.
I go to a city owned gym, it's mostly old people, students and people who can't afford a Goodlife membership.
Sometimes I feel funny lifting in front of others, especially when I am lifting a small amount.
Who cares though, I almost have abs, my bum got way smaller very fast and rounder as well!
I do compound exercises (google it) so I can spend the least amount of time at the gym.
I go 2 times per week, sometimes 3 for about 40 min + 5 min warm up on the elliptical.

I think any program is good if you do it...however...

You have every right to be in the gym. You have every right to claim your space in this world and do what you need to do for YOU. So my real advice (and a little tough love) would be to suck it up, Buttercup...hold your pretty head up high, march into your gym, and get your lift on... Don't let ANYONE stop you from becoming the woman you want to be. :flowerforyou:

I know I have every right to be there, and that no one cares, but it still doesn't change how I feel unfortunately.

I'm going to be completely honest here:

With that attitude, you're never going to get to where you want to be.

Walk up to the barbell, do your workout, and be awesome. Or else you'll never look awesome.

I say just get in the weight room, and screw what everyone else thinks. And honestly, no one really judges anyone as much as we do in our own heads.

Invest in some weight lifting equipment and lift at home?

I think any program is good if you do it...however...

You have every right to be in the gym. You have every right to claim your space in this world and do what you need to do for YOU. So my real advice (and a little tough love) would be to suck it up, Buttercup...hold your pretty head up high, march into your gym, and get your lift on... Don't let ANYONE stop you from becoming the woman you want to be. :flowerforyou:

I know I have every right to be there, and that no one cares, but it still doesn't change how I feel unfortunately.

What you feel matters not--only what you DO.

Feel the fear and do it anyway. I say this to you as an ex-fat girl who was uncomfortable in the gym...but I did it anyway. . And you can too.

Like another poster said, of course the JM dvd's are better than nothing. But why bust your backside doing things like that when you could be getting far far better results lifting weights, which you say you want to anyway.

You might get some girls look at you like you are crazy (while they do 100 reps with their pink plastic weights), but most who actually know about what lifting can do, will look at you with respect. You don't have to have a great body to lift weight, lifting weights with calorie controlled diet is what will get you there. Stuff what everyone else thinks girl, you go and get them! You know it makes sense

I'm in total agreement. I currently weigh over 300 pounds but 60 days ago I got myself a personal trainer and now I am in the gym 5 times a week. Losing on average 2 to 2.5 pounds a week. I thought I would hate it too, but I really love it. I do get some looks, but I don't really care about that. I read on Bodybuilding.com, and I choose to believe that if people are looking at me in the gym it's out of respect for what I am doing. And anyone that doesn't respect me is a donkey hole anyway.

Don't let your fears or insecurities get in your way. Life is too short and you are worth it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It takes time to get over the uncomfortable feeling in the gym, so you can either just do it until you do feel comfortable, shouldn't take too long, maybe a few weeks, or you can buy stuff for at home. You can go far with some adjustable dumbbells and your own body weight.