I've decided that my cardio work isnt going to do everything for me. (big surprise) and that I should wander over to the other half of my gym and see if I can learn to use some of the machines. I've had an orientation on most of the equip, and have a basic idea how it works, I just need to know where to start on routine wise.

So I did what I always do and went looking at the bookstore. I came home with The Body Sculpting Bible for Women , though I wonder if I should have come home with Body for life instead. Have any of you used this book specifically? And any suggestions on how to get over the weight equipment phobia, without having to pay a trainer.?
Thanks!

I started out weight training using the Body for Life book. If you don't know the first thing about splits, reps, etc., that would be a good book to start with.

I've only used a trainer once - for four sessions, but I had already been lifting for a year - I just used her to get a jump start on my program for that year. The rest of the time I've just lifted on my own, occasionally asking for advice/help from other Iron Junkies at my gym (and here at 3FC). Of course, if I had the bucks, I'd use a trainer regularly - it would probably be our Mel the only problem with that is that we live 3,000 miles apart!

Also - check our stickies at the top of this forum - there are some great links there, including Krista Scott Dixon's Stumptous website which I HIGHLY recommend!

I wanna know why the heck Mel doesn't start an online customized biz. I think she could do it easily with her knowledge, and heck, if she was competitive price-wise, I'd bet she'd do really well! I'd sign up!

Yea right, Mindi. So I can be another you-know-who. Sorry, I don't want to get fat again!

Seriously, SeattleJo, depending on the trainer, a few sessions can be well worth the bucks. Some gyms offer "newbie" packages of 3 sessions that are very reasonable. That's usually plenty to get you started on a real routine, and overcome "gym jitters".

If you don't go the trainer route, either BFL or devising your own lifting plan with the Bodysculpting Bible would be a good way to go. I did 1 BFL challenge, sort of. I got incredibly bored with the lifting after about 3 weeks, and hired a trainer to help me come up with a more interesting split. You can find info all over the net on different splits- I just wrote one on another thread for a 3 day lifting, 3 day cardio split. A lot of us do a 4 day split, and I think we have a few intrepid souls who do 5 day splits.

Whatever you do, just march on over there! You have as much right to that equipment as any knob-headed bodybuilder. No one's staring, and 99% of folks in the gym LOVE to tell a new lifter how to use a piece of equipment or what their favorite bicep exercise is

Good luck and join us on the main thread.

Mel