HELP ME :/

im no expert, but i usually stretch then do a cardio (usually and elliptical) then do weights and if im up to it walk a mile on the treadmill. great job on getting started for your goal!

elliptical is a godsend for cardio and great workouts! good luck on your journey!

I would say start out with 20/25 minutes of cardio, something like running, cross trainer or bicycle, same at the end In between do something for your legs, a little bit for your arms, stomach, you know everything else

Is there anyone that works at the gym you can ask/talk to? I don't use a treadmill so I'm not sure;however, when I walk outside I usually start with some jumping jacks to warm up then set off at a very brisk pace. The path I walk has varying degrees of incline/decline and I usually walk about 3 miles in under an hour. Hope this helps>

Does your gym offer any classes? These are a great way to get some cardio in and not be bored to tears on the treadmill.

As far as a weight routine, there are some aps for smart phones that will give you suggestions for routines. Or if it is in the budget, you might want to hire a personal trainer for a few sessions, and have her/him help you come up with a routine to do for a while.

Also I subscribe to a few fitness magazines, they always have ideas. Don't be discouraged! You can do this!!

Feel free to friend me if you want!

I'd suggest making a plan for 2-3 days of cardio and two days of weights. But beyond that, it's really just what you like and what will keep you going back. Some people swear by classes (Zumba, step, etc) but I've got two left feet. Cardio machines are all good (I like the treadmill and the stationary bike) but other people would be bored to tears. My husband loves the elliptical machine. So whatever you find exciting and is within your body's ability (maybe you have bad knees, etc).

As an aside, I wouldn't plan on getting to your goal in "less than a year" - that would require you to sustain a loss of over 2.5 pounds a week every week. You will probably be able to do that in the beginning since you have a lot to lose, but as you get closer to your goal it's going to be near impossible to lose 2.5lbs a week and you're going to end up frustrated and/or disappointed.

Here's my two cents. If I were in your shoes, I would concentrate on cardio and diet. The diet calculators on here are fantastic. Use them religiously. Most treadmills will tell you how many calories you've burned. I try to burn at least 400 a day and then I hit the workout room. All in all, if you stick to this site and work out 4 to 5 times a week, you should start seeing result relatively soon,

Completly agree. Started in January just walking on the treadmill at first for half and hour. Once that became almost easy I went to the elipticals,other cardio machines and then running. Don't push yourself too hard at first, you will get sore and quit. Just remember you didn't put the wieght on overnight, it isn't going to come off that way either.

Completly agree. Started in January just walking on the treadmill at first for half and hour. Once that became almost easy I went to the elipticals,other cardio machines and then running. Don't push yourself too hard at first, you will get sore and quit. Just remember you didn't put the wieght on overnight, it isn't going to come off that way either.
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So very true

Start small. Some gyms offer a free consultation with a personal trainer. This might be a good idea. I'd encourage you to do resistant training sooner rather than later (my biggest regret), however cardio is the easiest place to start because there's less chance of injury and less complications of knowing correct form.

Thanks for the input. I too have absolutely no clue where to begin. I've just been doing the treadmill cause 3 min on the elliptical seemed like torture lol

Here's my two cents. If I were in your shoes, I would concentrate on cardio and diet. The diet calculators on here are fantastic. Use them religiously. Most treadmills will tell you how many calories you've burned. I try to burn at least 400 a day and then I hit the workout room. All in all, if you stick to this site and work out 4 to 5 times a week, you should start seeing result relatively soon,

My best advice would be to pace yourself. You will do more harm then good if you try to jump right into a heavy workout routine, because to this point your body is not accustomed to it. For the first month you need to concentrate on your diet, and be sure you are exercising in some capacity 30mins a day, 3-5 days a week. Allow your body the time it needs to start getting stronger, and use to the physical activity, and then you can ramp it up in the coming months. -- You've got a great goal of 130lbs, and here's a secret, you CAN do it! What you need to remember along your journey is that it took a while to put on the extra 130, so it's going to take a while to remove it. This is the real world (and not the MTV kind), so it's going to take your best effort, and it may not come as fast as we see on TV, but here again YOU CAN DO IT. --- If you only remember one thing from this thread, please remember this. You control the effort, not the results. You need to be proud of your efforts DAILY, and do all you can do to get yourself to a healthier place. I promise you that the results will come, but your success isn't tied to any specific number. It's tied to your efforts, and what you are doing to give yourself the life you deserve.

Good luck, and we can't wait to see your progress along the way!

If its been a while since u've (please forgive my shorthand) last worked out then you should start off slow. You dont want to get all Gung-ho and make urself sore and unable to move for three days. Then ur back to where u started, and if u keep this up u wont make any progress.

Always warm up. When you walk into the gym, start on the treadmill, 10 mins at a normal walking pace. Depending on ur fitness level, either continue with the treadmill (if you havent worked out in a while) but picking up the pace and perhaps the incline, or jump on the elliptical machine (if the treadmill isnt enough of a challenge). The nice thing about the elliptical is that u can set the step height and increase as u become a pro at it.

I would do this for a week, untill ur body became used to it and then start mixing it up with circuit (i'm a bad spell too) training, like maybe every other day, or daily but pick upper or lower body to work on. Always give the muscle group 24-48hrs to rest after working it out. Most gyms arrange their circuit training equipment by upper or lower body objective.

You could always higher a personal trainer for a few weeks to run you thru some routines you could do for a while. Consistancy is the key.

If you've ever tried to dig a hole in the sand near the water line, you know you have to move pretty fast to keep the whole from filling up with water and the sides sliding back in and filling up your hole. And you'd have nothing to show for your efforts.

Working out is very simular. If you dont keep at it, you'll just slide backwards and will have nothing to show for your efforts, so keep with it and it wont be long before u reach ur goal!

I know that at our local Anytime Fitness, you get a free personal trainer for the first three months. They write up an exercise program for you and help you track your measurements and fitness levels. They show you proper form as well. Then you're on your own after that.

I know you say you're motivated by I Used to Be Fat (I am too, awesome show!), however it's similar to Biggest Loser--they work out around the clock & maintain a super strict diet. The show from last night isn't really similar to what people accomplish in real life, that kid did nothing all summer but sweat in the gym w/a trainer constantly by his side. I don't know many people who have the time to spend in the gym, or the money for a trainer to be constantly w/them.

I'd start out slow, walking, jogging...try all the cardio equipment at the gym and see what you prefer. Anything that gets your heart rate up is gonna be good for you Just don't set yourself up for failure by thinking you're gonna do in one summer what a kid on TV did..

They best thing to do is to do what you feel is right for you, but at least get and hour of cardio and strength train 3 times a day. I like to jog myself but doing 20mins on the treadmill, 20 mins on the ellipitcal and 20 on the bike worked out for me in the beginning.