So I'm starting back up at my gym this week and I'm really excited about it. I really have no problem motivating myself to go as long as i dont have a huge work load or if im not too exhausted from school and work (and since i probably dont sutdy as much as i should that doesnt happen often )

What I would like to know is if anyone has any gym regime that they use that really works? I usually do like 45 minutes on the bike, 30-45 minutes on the elliptical and than 10-15 on the rowing machine, but i dont tend to break a really good sweat. on the elliptical i get my heart going for a bit and i start to pant a bit but i really dont feel like im asserting enough of an effort.

i would ask for a personal trainer but its my university's gym and they dont have that type of stuff, and i looked for stuff on the internet but i didnt find anything.

any advice?

Its taking me a while to realize that I don't have to kill myself at the gym in order to see results. I used to do a hour of cardio and then lift weights but now I do about 30 mins of cardio or if Im feeling lazy and tired I will walk with hills. My goal is to always do at least 3 weight lifting machines when I go to the gym. I go to the gym about 3 times a week but I also walk my dog in between those days. Don't overdue it but it all depends on whats comfortable for you, but I like my workout short and sweet. I kick my butt when Im on the machine and then Im done. For me its no more then 30 mins of hard cardio.

[3fcuser1058250]

IMHO, if you aren't working up a good sweat you aren't working hard enough, plus you don't need to spend hours on a cardio machine to work up a good sweat. Try going for quality rather than quantity, you'll spend less time in the gym and maybe, just maybe more time on studying

Stick to one machine rather than jumping from one to the other. Do some HIIT instead, here is a site which explains it.

There are several sites and books on weight training... It just depends what you want. If you go to the gym 4x/week, maybe workout the upper and lower body... if you go 3x/week, do a full body workout with a day of rest in between.

Here are a couple of sites for workouts:

http://exercise.about.com/od/totalbo...y_Workouts.htm

http://www.stumptuous.com/ -- This is a really informative site and funny too...

The most recent book I'm reading is New Rules of lifting for women...

So the sky is the limit, use your imagination and go for it... What works? Is whatever you do consistently and continuously, that's what works ... Your food intake has to be good too, 80% of weight loss is in what you eat... So eat healthy and put the junk food aside...

Hope this helps keep us posted on your progress...

That HIIT sounds really effective.

Do you think it works on the elliptical? That's my favorite machine.

I really want to tone my arms too (I used to be a drummer and I had some serious "guns" back than, and i MISS THEM!!!!). So I could probably do both of those things every other day in about a half hour and than yoga on the other days and that could be a good workout!!

woo im excited!

[LovebirdsFlying]

My routine:

Warm up stretches. I incorporate a lot of Callanetics into my warm-ups, although I'm really not strong or flexible enough to do her entire one-hour original routine.

Cardio, on a bike or treadmill, 15-30 minutes depending on ability. Usually it's the bike, since walking hurts my back after about 10 minutes. I can go longer on a treadmill than on a track, but pain still keeps me from being able to walk fast enough to challenge my heart. That's what comes of having a strong heart but a weak spine.

At least 30 minutes of weight training. I love weight lifting machines. Not so much on free weights. I start with upper body, since I've just used my lower body on either the treadmill or the bike, whichever I did. Then I do lower body weights after my legs have had time to rest. My general philosophy is lighter weight, more reps. I want to feel it, but not strain too much, too early. On ab crunch machines, I use enough weight to have to really tighten my abs when I raise up, but I like to do as many as 100 reps. Really tightens my abs, and I'm seeing results. The advantage of a crunch machine is that I am not physically able to do crunches bodily, the old fashioned "sit up" style, so with the machine at least I'm doing them.

Cool-down stretches, which I tend to forget if I don't remind myself.

Reward my efforts with a hot tub and sauna.

[3fcuser1058250]

Originally Posted by Ericabauw

That HIIT sounds really effective.

Do you think it works on the elliptical? That's my favorite machine.

Absolutely!! Have fun...

[greeneggsandtam]

I need guidance. I've found that I can get myself up and to the gym but when I get there I can really slack it up if I'm on my own. I tend to exercise more efficiently if I join a spin class or a cardio class, which are drop in freebies at the YM. The other thing I've found at the YW is they've started to offer half hour core classes which go so fast and they are good for me because I will never do core exercises on my own. At our University I've noticed they have drop in classes too. Maybe yours does too?

[LovebirdsFlying]

I'm definitely going to try HIIT on the bike.