Intimidated By The weights in my Gym

MCTay23
MCTay23 Posts: 20 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
No one is ever really there when I go at night and I just stick to the stationary bike

Do I need a personal trainer or something because seeing the weights are pretty intimidating to me.

Anywhere I can learn how to make a strenght schedule for myself thats reasonable

I know there are plenty of beginner lists online but sometimes I get confused

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    What weights are calling you? What equipment has your gym got? What are your goals?
  • TheRootofGroot
    TheRootofGroot Posts: 118 Member
    It's good to have some reservations about weights.
    Along with the many routines available online, you'll find even more videos on youtube concerning form/technique.
    You get a good idea of the overall quality of the instructions by the more thoughtful comments.
    Personal trainers are great to guide you, just check their certifications, years experience and speak to their clients, or at least observe how they are with clients first.
  • BarbellzNBrotein
    BarbellzNBrotein Posts: 306 Member
    No need to be intimidated. Im sure they're lovely people. Often new comers at my gym mistake me for being someone I'm not. When they do finally come to the weight area, myself and the people I train with are super welcoming. I actually go out of my way to make them feel comfortable. My point is.. give the weight area a go within the week, maybe once you've had some solid sessions completed.. you'll be fine. You'll never go back to just cardio, I promise.
  • MCTay23
    MCTay23 Posts: 20 Member
    Thanks for the advice. I mean as a beginner am I supposed to using all the machines or what?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    MCTay23 wrote: »
    Thanks for the advice. I mean as a beginner am I supposed to using all the machines or what?

    What are your goals?
  • BarbellzNBrotein
    BarbellzNBrotein Posts: 306 Member
    No you don't have to but it won't hurt, initially. Its good for you to get a feel of things and how your body feels performing new movements.. but having a goal and a strategy puts you ahead of the game, otherwise you're just winging it and we don't want that. I'm presuming your current goal is to drop fat and generally build muscle tone. Pls correct me if I'm wrong.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    edited July 2016
    If the machines are your next step, then pick 5-6 for upper and 5-6 for lower, start with something like 1-2 sets of 10 on each, and go through that circuit at least three days a week. Work up to 3 sets of 10 and then increase the weight. I think you'll get farther faster with free weights and a real program, but progress is progress and machines will make you stronger. I'd rather see you being consistent with machines than afraid to touch free weights. For the record, I started with the elliptical and machines.
  • MCTay23
    MCTay23 Posts: 20 Member
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    MCTay23 wrote: »
    Thanks for the advice. I mean as a beginner am I supposed to using all the machines or what?

    What are your goals?
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    No you don't have to but it won't hurt, initially. Its good for you to get a feel of things and how your body feels performing new movements.. but having a goal and a strategy puts you ahead of the game, otherwise you're just winging it and we don't want that. I'm presuming your current goal is to drop fat and generally build muscle tone. Pls correct me if I'm wrong.
    Yeah my goal is to lose fat and build some muscle.

    Im 270 pounds and trying to use the cardio bike for 45 mins. Only losing 330 calories.

    I was just trying to firm up my flabby body with weights especially the manboob issue. Whatever I can do to fix that would be great
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If you want to start with machines, I think that Lyle McDonald's machine program is a good start. It is on this page. Be sure to read his comments about the program that start in the third paragraph under Notes on the Above. Actually, I'd read the whole post but be sure to at least read that section :)

    Best of luck!
  • BarbellzNBrotein
    BarbellzNBrotein Posts: 306 Member
    Yeah. Get your cardio in be it the bike machine or treadmill and get lifting HEAVY. You can start with the weight machines until you've outgrown them or until you wanna switch things up. Whatever you do include some lifting. The muscle you build will tone you up nicely. Good luck pal.
  • MCTay23
    MCTay23 Posts: 20 Member
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    Yeah. Get your cardio in be it the bike machine or treadmill and get lifting HEAVY. You can start with the weight machines until you've outgrown them or until you wanna switch things up. Whatever you do include some lifting. The muscle you build will tone you up nicely. Good luck pal.

    Not to sound dumb but whats lift heavy mean?

    For example?
  • BarbellzNBrotein
    BarbellzNBrotein Posts: 306 Member
    edited July 2016
    Just means push to your absolute maximum with the heaviest weight you can on every machine.
  • MCTay23
    MCTay23 Posts: 20 Member
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    Just means push to your absolute maximum with the heaviest weight you can on every machine.
    So do 2 sets of 10 of the heaviest weight that can manage?

    If my arms are slightly trembling, is that good or bad?
  • BarbellzNBrotein
    BarbellzNBrotein Posts: 306 Member
    MCTay23 wrote: »
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    Just means push to your absolute maximum with the heaviest weight you can on every machine.
    So do 2 sets of 10 of the heaviest weight that can manage?

    If my arms are slightly trembling, is that good or bad?

    5 sets of 10 reps should be fine. If your arms are trembling that's awesome but lower your reps to 5 - 7 once that starts occurring.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    MCTay23 wrote: »
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    Just means push to your absolute maximum with the heaviest weight you can on every machine.
    So do 2 sets of 10 of the heaviest weight that can manage?

    If my arms are slightly trembling, is that good or bad?

    5 sets of 10 reps should be fine. If your arms are trembling that's awesome but lower your reps to 5 - 7 once that starts occurring.

    That's a lot of volume for just starting out. Multiple machines means hitting the same muscles in different ways so 5 sets of 10 on each machine is quite a bit.
  • BarbellzNBrotein
    BarbellzNBrotein Posts: 306 Member
    sunnybeaches105 wrote: »
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    MCTay23 wrote: »
    BarbellzNBrotein wrote: »
    Just means push to your absolute maximum with the heaviest weight you can on every machine.
    So do 2 sets of 10 of the heaviest weight that can manage?

    If my arms are slightly trembling, is that good or bad?

    5 sets of 10 reps should be fine. If your arms are trembling that's awesome but lower your reps to 5 - 7 once that starts occurring.

    That's a lot of volume for just starting out. Multiple machines means hitting the same muscles in different ways so 5 sets of 10 on each machine is quite a bit.

    Different body part per day. You're average 4-5 day split.

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