I don't know what to do at the gym?

I try to do things that are fun so that I'm motivated to actually do them. So in addition to the gym (where I strength train, do the elliptical because it feels like a moonwalk, and also swim), I take walks, sign up for road races, hike, play tennis (even alone - find a wall and hit the ball against it), ride my bike, and do home workouts via DVD and the web. If your only option is the gym, see if they have a personal trainer and sign up for a few sessions; maybe that person can give you some fresh ideas.

When I first started at the gym I was lucky enough to get a corporate offer on some personal training sessions to help me get started. Trying to rotate your routine really helps, and setting goals for yourself of weigh increases and things of the sort to work towards. If your gym offers group exercise classes I've found them to be really useful! Someone else telling me what to do, they change up the routines for you to keep the variety, and you have a room full of people to keep you going

Decide your goals. Then look into some beginner programs. There are a lot of things out there, and I imagine that many (most) of them work depending on your goals. Pick one (or two or whatever) and give it a try. Keep working. Profit.

You've met the first and probably hardest goal, deciding you want to lose weight and get healthy. Great choice and good job, that was the hard part making that decision and starting on that journey.

Now you want to take it a step further by exercising to further improve your health and fitness. Research says that if you do something you enjoy you are far more likely to stick to it for the long haul. Sounds as if you have not quite found what that will be, yet. Don't feel bad about it. Everybody here chose a completely different road to travel, even if some of the exercises sound the same. Many had false starts and restarts until they found something that appealed to them.

When it comes to fitness, what appeals to you? Do you want to walk in a lot of local 5k charity events? Do you want to run a half or full marathon? Do you want to break guys necks as they turn to see your toned body stroll down the beach in a bikini and you totally kill that little red dress in the club as you dance all night with your husband? Once you settle on an end goal, then search for exercise programs that will help you achieve it. Each of the goals listed has multiple routes available to get there. Try as many of them as you can and you will eventually find one or more that work for you and your personality. Until you find that combination just keep moving forward with some type of exercise. Even if it is as simple as walking around the neighborhood.

Happens to me, I rather to go on my own pace. Jog, lift and stretch by my own rather than on a gym.

I can use a gym for free at University, yes - free! And I hardly ever go because I get too bored. I do some rowing and a bit of strength training, but it's no fun. Do something else! I know it's difficult to fit it in; I used to work 45-55 hours a week and it was really hard to make time for exercise, especially if you've got kids as well. I've started the couch to 5K challenge and I really enjoy it; give it a try. And, like mentioned above, you might enjoy classes they offer at the gym? Find something you enjoy doing!

Spend some time figuring out what you might enjoy and do that. Maybe you don't like working out by yourself, in which case classes are a possibility, or maybe you would benefit from having a personal trainer work with you to develop a goal in the weight room. There are also swimming and aquatic workouts.

If you find the gym is not a pleasant place to be, running or bicycling are great solo workouts. Both have their own communities to get involved with so you can find others to engage with.

Boredom is the result of a poor fit.

Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance: these are the five stages of getting fit.

We move up and down this compendium. In preparation, you may be just getting information, looking into options, assessing your schedule.

In the action stage of working out you should be aiming for 150 minutes a week. You can perform all of your activity in one half-hour a day, five days a week, or approximately three and a half 60 minute sessions. This stage is when relapse into a prior stage is most likely, so stay motivated with friends, trainers, regular weigh-ins, scheduled measurements or other quantitative reinforcements.