I just started working at the local YMCA, and with my new job I get a free membership! (What a great perk!!) So tomorrow I am going to start working out!

Now, I know how everything works because I've joined gyms before! (I'm notorious for signing up, paying six months in advance and then never going back...)Everytime I've joined a gym I've done the orientation where they tell you how to work all the machines and even give you a routine. But I really want to do this now!

So my question is what does/did your workout looklike when you first started? How many days? How long? What machines/exercises/weights?

Thank you in advance

Day 1- warm up for 5 min, stretch, seated leg press, leg extention, leg curl, adductor, abductor. cardio for 30 min, stretch.

day2- 60 min cardio, sit ups and push ups

Day 3- warm up, stretch, chest press, pecfly, seated dip, arm curl, cardio 30 min. stretch

Day 4- 60 min of cardio and stretch, sit ups and push ups

Day 5-warm up, stretch, shoulder press, lat pulldown, seated row, low back extention, cardio 30 min, stretch

swim at least 5 laps every day. week 1 do 1 set of 12 reps, week 2 do 2 sets of 12 reps, week 3 do 3 sets of 12 reps, etc.. for 6 weeks then bump up the weight on week 7 and start over again.

This was my routine set up by my trainer and it was working really well until I blew out my knee on our trampoline. Now I just do as much cardio as my knee will allow, the swimming, and the upper body along with my physical therapy that is mostly stretches and leg lifts.

Congrats!!! I go to the YWCA and I normally work out on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes and 30 minutes on the treadmill. I am planning on participating in water aerobics. Good Luck!

Ask for an induction with one of the trainers and they should be able to set you a programme based on your current fitness level and your goals

Yay for you! I love my YMCA, my family started a membership when I was about 12 and I liked it so much the Y was the first thing I thought of when looking for a gym membership here. I started out doing the elliptical and the machine weights, doing a full body weight workout and 30-45 min on the elliptical. I did that about twice a week, along with swimming laps and/or water aerobics 1-2 times a week.

I got pretty bored with that quickly, I especially felt the weight machine routine to be repetitive and I just wasn’t seeing progress there like I wanted to after a few months (if you want you can read an exhaustive list of my old lifting routine here http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79712). When I started avoiding the gym and missed a few weeks here and there I knew I needed to change something. So I got lots of ideas and support here at 3fc and started trying lots of new things. I’m pretty good friends with the weight bench and dumbbells now and started going to yoga and pilates classes, got some rollerblades, I’ve ordered a stability ball, etc. I just try to add something new to my “workout repertoire” every so often to make sure I’m not getting bored and I challenge my body in new ways.

So my advice: get yourself started, get comfortable, and then be sure to shake it up and try new things! You might be very surprised at some of the activities you could do and enjoy. Have fun!