[sotypical]

I started working on my new lifestyle about two months ago. I am starting to lose weight and don't want to be too flabby when I get to my goal weight so I want to add some weights (right?) to my exercise to help keep me tonned and get smaller. But I have a few questions.

I have a gym membership but was going to cancel it since I rented a treadmill. Should I keep the gym membership to go to do weights? Or can I get just as good as a work out at home? I don't have anything except my treadmill and a skipping rope but I am willing to buy some things (don't want to spend a ton of money) - like a little set a weights, one of those ball thingys, etc. Is that a good idea? Or am I better off to go to the gym?

If I am going to do it at home what sort of things do I need to get? What sort of exercises should I do? Is there a website with at home exercise or a book or something?

My boyfriend's aunt keeps trying to push this BFL on me and I looked it up and it just doesn't sounds right to me. I don't want to be a "body builder" I just dont want flab hanging out all over the place.

Any help is very appreciated! Thanks!

[srmb60]

Ooooo I'm so glad to see you here!
While we wait for the experts, why don't you have a look at www.stumptuous.com Krista is great! from the home page click on 'iron'.
BFL is great too. I didn't like their weights programme much but the food lists are awesome. The site is worth reading if only for tips.
There you go ... some homework. The others will be along presently, I'd guess.

[shananigans]

I'm far from "expert", but I think if you get yourself a few sets of dumbbells and a ball you can get a good strength training workout at home. I was only doing the machine weights at the gym for a long time but now I'm switching it up with some pilates, yoga, and dumbbells and I feel like I have a much more well rounded strength training program now. I like this site too for looking up exercises: http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html

So glad to see you here! I’m sure you’ll be very happy you decided to take up strength training, I know I am.

[sotypical]

So I have looked around both those sites... really like the second one with the videos of how to do the exercise! From what I can tell I can get a pretty good work out from home. I think it is safe to say I can cancel my gym membership. If anyone thinks differently please let me know!

My problem areas (or areas I am worrid about) are my thighs, tummy, and upper arms. The rest of me is pretty tonned already. So a nice stability ball and some dumbells (perhaps 10 pounds? I can always hold to at once when they start to get too light) - and that should be a good start? And would LOVE any other suggestions. I want to get started on this ASAP

Thanks so much!

[srmb60]

I was thinking that if you already belong to a gym, you might be able to find a trainer to help you get started. Some tips on form and so on ...

[Mel]

I'm a big fan of gyms unless you are gym-phobic, or just won't go for some reason. My dh is like that, so I work at a gym, and we have a LOT of equipment at home. I really don't think you can get as good a workout at home without a huge investment. That being said, you can get a good workout at home. The gym affords you a greater variety of possibilities for doing a similar workout, so the "boredom factor" doesn't set in as easily. Tired of doing dummbell squats (and you are fairly limited in weight at home)? At the gym you can do box squats, free bar squats, cable squats, machine squats, smith machine squats, leg press, vertical leg press, and if you belong to my gym and work with a trainer: the weight sled! There are sooooo many more bossibilities. It's the same with every body part. There are just so many more ways to work them at a gym. There are some things that you just plain cannot do at home. I switched to a gym membership when my workouts became unsafe at home. Most people will quickly outgrow 3-5-8-10 pound dumbbells. It's very hard to hold 2 and keep proper form, or not drop one on your head. Ouch.

Another reason to keep your gym membership is to vary your cardio- but the weather is nice now unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere, so outdoor cardio may be an option.

BFL is NOT going to turn you into a steroidally huge body builder. It's a good, basic weight training, cardio and nutrition program. The transformation pictures featured in the book were of the people who had the MOST eye-popping transformations, and most of the "grand champions" did far more cardio, used far more supplementation, and tweaked the program quite a bit. Most of the after pictures were taken after a period of low carbing, dehydration, then a quick carb-up to fill the muscles. I don't think anyone ever achieved a contest body using BFL. BUT, it's a great way to build some muscle (that's what toning really is), learn how to eat nutritiously, and shed some pounds. All good The other book you might want to take a look at is Body for Life for Women by Dr. Pamela Peeke. It was written last year or the year before, to address some of the issues faced specific by women during different phases of our lives (sounds like a soap opera ) and how to change our eating/exercise programs accordingly.

Keep us posted whatever you decide to do

Mel

[Sugar Cube]

COURTNIE - I think your efforts are great and starting out slowly and doing your research is definately the best way to go. BFL is a good program and the books are full of good information. I like them though I have never finished a 12 week challange, I do find lots of useful information in them. Like anything else, I take what I can use and ignore the rest. I also find that the library is a huge resource for checking out books before buying. BFL works for people who want to lose weight and get into better shape. I don't want to be a body builder either, but want to be stronger and toned. I did follow the weights program for a couple of years and enjoyed it, now I am changing it up for variety.

I like my gym membership, since I live in a small house the only equipment I have at home is a training stand for my bicycle, DVDs, and some dumbbells, only 5s and 8s so far. I like going to the gym, no one is asking me any questions, like "Where is my ####, I'll get it myself, just tell me.". I also enjoy the sauna and whirlpool.

WWW.stumptuous.com is great, I agree.

[sotypical]

Thanks for the tips - I am not scared to go to the gym but here is where my problem lies... I don't drive - as I do not yet have a proper liscence.

So my only option for the gym is to go with my boyfriends aunt - who goes 3 days a week and only stays for 20 min. I don't feel like I get enough in 20 min and that is why I rented a treadmill.

I would rather do what I can at home - but perhaps I have to go to the gym for this. I know they will give me advice but it will cost me over 100$ or something crazy - I guess in the long run it is worth it tho. Also the gym I go to - has a lot of equiment but it isnt a very big gym so I think it is probably missing a lot of stuff (like a sauna and whirlpool). haha

Thanks for all the tips - I guess I really need to think about what I am going to do.

I don't think I will get bored... I just want to do the best I can at making sure I dont get flabby when I get skinny. I am younge - haven't had any babies; I dont need that flab! And I know that if I just tone it I will be fine but I am not like super duper big or anything... I really don't know.

Life would be so much easier if I could just drive! haha

[flipafart]

Lifting weights changed my entire life. Of course I am over 40 and my metabolism was basically shot. I thought I would never lose the pounds, but my I got a good trainer and wow. I too fear being flabby but I lost slow and
steady, and ended up with a redesigned body.

[fikustrees]

I think you can get a great workout at home. The gym is good for lifting heavy, but there are other ways to go about it. This month's issue of Women's Health had a lot of info on setting up a home gym. I learned all sorts of stuff from using workout videos and poking around videofitness.com. There are a lot of really great video programs that can teach all you need to know about getting in shape. For a beginner I recomend Kathy Smith's Project You I lost 30 lbs doing this program in 12 weeks and I had the same equipment as you, I just needed a stability ball!