weight training

Try picking up the book, New Rules of lifting for Women.

Hey - If your gym has classes, that's a GREAT place to start. I know the gym I go to has some different classes like "tight and tone" that teach you different kettlebell and weight techniques. Another place to check: youtube. You'd be surprised at the number of how-to videos you can find. They'll at least give you a good place to start! Take it from someone who DIDN'T do strength training soon enough: that trainer did you a HUGE favor!!! I lost 90 pounds just doing cardio, and yeah... loose skin isn't fun.

Trainers can be expensive. I have one once or twice a week because he makes me do stuff I hate (which is conicidentally the stuff that helps lose weight) and he motivates me. But if you want to go solo, invest in a good workout book that shows different exercises for different body parts.

I would recommend circuit training, upper body twice a week with a 2-3 day rest in between, and 1 day a week lower body. If weight loss is the goal concentrate on Chest, Back and Quads and a little hamstring. The first three are the largest muscle groups you have, therefore they burn the most calories when you work them. Also, working your back (pulling motions) indirectly work your biceps, chest motions (pushing) work your triceps.

Trainers, for me, are first and foremost motivational, but the knowledge is out there in any fitness books. But I couldn't agree more, some weight training will further your fat loss.

The best I've found is Nike training app.. It's free and like having a PT... if you haven't a smartphone try going to the Nike site. A while back I photocopied several routines 20+ and then made them into a pack of cards, shuffled (sets upper & lower) and just did the next one that came up... I would do 3 mins of cardio and 3 sets of weights and alternate.

I had no idea about strength training until I did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I would suggest doing work out videos that show you AND teach you what exercises to do to work certain areas. I am self-learning. You can mimic those exercises in the gym. Also, from working muscles from doing certain exercises, you learn what it works, so you can make up exercises. That probably makes no sense, but for example, from doing certain moves on Jillian, I learned that my shoulder muscles would ache after. That taught me that when I do that movement, it works my shoulders. From there, I could go into the gym and use the exercises Jillian taught me to mimic that move on machines. Does that make sense? I know I am working my shoulders because I learned what exercises worked what muscles.

There is an amazing site you can go to to look in their forums and create an account. bodybuilding.com
They have a female bodybuilding section that will seriously give you just about everything you need to know. They have plans made up by female bodybuilders and fitness models to help start you somewhere. Check it out! You won't regret it.