Hi I really could use some guidance,I am in need of muscle building and strenthening even toyed with the idea about going to where bodybuilders work out for help ..but feel a little intimidated by that prospect.
So if any of you could help guide me in transforming all this flab ..I would greatly
be appreciative of any and all suggestions!
I feel now I am ready to take the next step in my journey to improving my health.
I just need to be mindful of my limitations .

Thanks everyone, Roo2

I personally think that NROL for women is a good book for a novice to learn about lifting.

I don't know if they have anything like this where you are... but I found a woman's gym here (I'm in Canada) and there were a lot of free classes (if you paid a monthly membership fee, which wasn't bad at all). The classes covered everything from aerobic to strength to circuit training, and how they can all work together to transform your body.

If you are just starting out, I highly suggest you consult a professional, so you don't hurt yourself. I'm 2 years into torn ligament recovery...and I KNEW what I was doing.

Be safe.

I would agree on hiring a professional. The problem is that many professionals aren't worth hiring.

If you're going to hire a pro I would look for the NASM or CSCS certification.

Our gym only hires specially certified personal trainers and they are EXPENSIVE. $80 an hour!!! I'm doing "my biggest winner" which is an 8 week beginning of the year program that cost $300, but it came with 16 sessions with a personal trainer (in a group of 4). It's helped me a lot in learning different areas of the gym I was uncomfortable with from machines (which I think are mostly useless), free weights, TRX, balance ball and more.

If you don't have that and can find a class of weight training, that might be another bet. I've been doing that for 18 months (with several hiatuses here and there). It's part of my membership, so no extra fee. I was able to learn good form and such there, but some people need more guidance as they just can't seem to copy someone else's movements very well.

For once I agree with JP.

Machines get a bad rap. Unless one is training for functional reasons - such as a sport - machines are great when used correctly and in some ways superior to free weights. To be specific - it's more difficult to injure yourself with a machine.

If you disagree with me you should always let me know. I would love to be wrong. Whenever I am wrong it means I learned something new. Unfortunately this doesn't happen very often.

I'm being sincere. If you don't agree with me it usually means you've been misinformed or I was not communicating my point well. However, please prove me wrong.

There is a weight lifting method I have used called, slow motion. I find this to be a way to train and limit I injury. If you do your reps slow motion and your weight is to low, no harm no foul..next time increase the weight. If you wear out below 8 sol motion reps. Rest and back off of the weight. Stop if it hurts. You will quickly find the proper weight and track it...cause you will gradually increase.

Well thank goodness that someone admitted that they are flabby. All the others on this site claim that they eat jello, and they dont get loose skin and flab on ths diet. Clealy impossible unless you only had 10 lbs to lose....We all know that jello will not help your flab.....I have loose skin in my belly due to 3 pregnancies, and I have been working out and lifting weights since I started in Phase 1. Its toned up allot, and now I am in Phase 2 and I am lifting weights even harder. NOTHING!!!!!! will prevent loose skin when you are losing allot of weight, I would have to see it to believe it, and even if I saw it I wouldnt believe it

LExichanel1 you can come and see my flab any day! I have lots as do many,many others! Something about the jiggle in jello that make me think of my abs!!!!

I was cmmenting because allot of the people on these boards claim to have lost tons of weight and they dont have flab and loose skin beacuse they eat jello. Thats really a crock!!!!! thats all I am saying.

LOL I think I'm wearing jello some days Plenty of jiggle in my wiggle! But I also know that it takes 6 months or so for your body to reabsorb whatever loose skin it is able to, so I have no delusions of having a hardbody anytime before then. No amount of jello is going to help that, but I'm happy to wear my Spanx while my body is figuring out how to redistribute!

I love spanx. I but the bullet and bought a pair that goes from my bust to my but and it's awesome!

And it could take longer than 6 months.

Yup! I have a friend who had gastric bypass a couple of years ago, the plastic surgeon wouldn't even see her to make plans for addressing the loose skin until she had been maintaining for a while and THEN had about a year for her body to absorb what it would. She just had her procedure this summer.