How do I start lifting weights? Tell me how you started.

Why didn't you like it?
It's what I am using currently. I read the book, wrote out the workouts myself (because I couldn't get my head around the program until I did that), ignored the food section and bought/set up the equipment I needed. Now I'm loving it and I get sad if I miss a workout! I find it a good program for beginners. The exercises are simple, each workout takes about half an hour so it's not a big ask time-wise, and I can measure how much I am improving.
I hear that Stronglifts is an excellent program though, so perhaps that one is worth investigating?

I actually started using a "game" on the XBox 360 called Nike+Kinect Training. It starts you off with body weight exercises and you progress to using dumbells and continue to bump up your weights with heavier dumbells as you go (at your discretion). It also has different lengths of time you can choose to train and different levels of difficulty. I started on "Easy" for 15 minutes and wound up finishing on "Intense" for 45 minutes - the highest difficulty and longest time period. At that point, I had gone from using 5 and 10 lb dumbells to 25 and 35 and felt ready to transition to the barbell and to start StrongLifts. Keep in mind that I started as a very weak person (couldn't do a proper push-up, chin-up, etc.) who had never done any work with weights before. If you are starting from a similar position, then I definitely recommend a program like the Nike+Kinect; it's a great introduction to strength work and can build you up for the true lifting heavy. And you can definitely get your money's worth out of it - I think I used it for around 5 months before I had milked all the gains out of it that I could get.

We all learn differently, and books just don't give the interactive experience of having someone with you. Form is very important to avoid injury when it comes to lifting, and form is best learned by example. For me, it was much easier having someone there to help me see when and how I was making mistakes, so I could correct them. Highly recommend a personal trainer, or perhaps lifting with an experienced, motivated friend who knows what they're doing and can help you with technique.

I started by lifting my crockpot over my head because I didn't own any weights.:laugh: That sucker weighed 14 pounds and I did it everyday 20 times until it was no longer difficult. After almost two years of building up from nothing, I am now doing New Rules for Women. I even have a weight lifting bench on one side of my living room.:smokin:

It took me a while to un-complicate NROL it so I totally understand. If you like I can PM you the link to the spreadsheet I made up, if that will help at all? I have it on google docs. Each workout has it's own little sheet and lists the sets/reps/rest times. Beats me why they didn't just do that in the first place but oh well!
Best of luck with whatever option you go with. Lifting is fun! :happy:

I started as a poor, fat, teen with no money and little hope, lol. I found an old rusty bar that someone was throwing out, dragged it home, and for the longest time used cinder blocks for weights. It doesn't sound like much, but I feel in love with it.

I loved NROLFW!!! It does have a ton of information though. I'd start with the very first two workouts. Then worry about the eating after you get the hang of those two. Then when it's time to graduate to the next level you can research the next level.

I was perhaps 11 when I bought my first set of weights (small ones). Initially I was guessing or being shown things by older friends I suppose. A couple of years later I bought my own bench, barbells etc and by that time knew enough to make some progress (honestly I was stronger at 15 than I am now). The best thing you can do is empower yourself by reading a lot.

Any decent beginner routine will work for you so just pick one (SS, SL, All Pro's etc) and spend time researching exactly how to do the lifts (watch reputable youtube tutorials) and how to appropriately approach the progression. Then you just have to jump in, try things and - importantly - be prepared to fail.

I probably wouldn't waste my money on a trainer but that is your choice really.