Personal Trainers online?

Hi! I'm pretty new to this exercise stuff, but my physical therapist gave me a list of things to do for my core, to help with back pain. I love my exercise ball! There are so many exercises to do at home, crunches, reverse sit ups, leg lifts, side crunches, to name a few. I also got some resistance bands and saw results almost immediately. As for the gym, I stretch to warm up, walk for about 20 minutes and do various machines. I'm not sure what they are called but I alternate between legs and arms and chest/back. I hope this helped.

Do you have a gym memembership?
I go to Goodlife and they have a great 20 min circuit where you go through about 10 machines. They will take you through an orientation where they show you how to set up and use the machines. When I started out I did the cicuit and then approx 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 times per week. Since then my regime has changed several times, but that is a good starting point.

P.S. I sent you a PM

Thanks for all the advice!

@ Katie, how do you really use the ball, I always end up falling on my butt! and how much do resistance bands cost, do they come with an instruction book by any chance?

@Bug, Is pilaties better with a group of people in a class or something? or are DVDs okay, if so what is your personal favorite?

@ Kat, I the pm, and yes I do have a gym membership, I go to Snap Fitness.

@jtintx Where do you live? I reside in MI. I don't think I do squats right. I never feel much of a burn. and sadly I do girlie push-ups. I don't have a strong enough upper body for the extra weight I have gained.


Please keep offering suggestions.
So you know I usually do about 60 minutes of walking/elliptical whenever I go to the gym and about 20 minutes of weights. but I really am not seeing any results. and I keep with in my calorie limit of 1,300 set by myfitnesspal.com... given it has only been a week and a half but, I thought I would have lost something by now. please any fitness advice at all is WELCOME!!!

Both the ball and the bands came with an instruction book and a dvd. As for staying on the ball, start out with it not so full of air, get used to the exercises and inflate it as your comfort level increases.

B... I think all the suggestions you've been given so far are all helpful (the only other erercise I would add to push-ups, crunches, and squats would be pull-ups to get those back muscles, shoulders, and arms... I call those exercises the "Fab Four" :bigsmile: ). One thing I think may help too is to think about and write down some goals for yourself, and give yourself reasonable time frames to achieve them. That way, you have something objective to measure your progress by. Also, as you know, our bodies don't get the way they are overnight, so patience is a virtue in fitness for the long-term.

You mention that you need someone to be your trainer for you. I would suggest the workout programs from Beachbody (see my site below or Beachbody.com). The workouts are already on the DVD's for you; just pop them in and away you go, and you have the advantage of doing that at home and paying for it once instead of every month for a gym membership. I used to do the gym thing, but I'd never go back, and I get better results at home than I ever did in the gym. Of course, everyone has their own thing. At the end of the day, stick with what works for you and that you can stay consistent with, and the results will come.

Best of luck to you on your fitness journey. If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me.