Where do I start?

So here's a shortened version of my story. I started losing weight last March (08) at 240 lbs. I stopped losing after New Years at 138 lbs. I have stayed that weight ever since with almost no effort...which is awesome! I fluctuate anywhere between 138 and 141. Unfortunately while I was losing, I wasn't able to exercise. I can coun't on one hand the number of times I did some real exercise. I lost most of the weight through cutting calories and changing up my diet. I also started a waitressing job in September 08 and I think that helped...my legs sure were sore the first week! 

So heres where I need help. Now that I know I can maintain my weight I want to get fit! I hate the way my body is shaped now. I still have a really high body fat percentage. Probably still in the obese range to be honest. So where do I start? Do I need to do both cardio and weight training? And how much? Should I be doing more weight training than cardio? And how many days a week? Should I still make it to the gym on days I don't do weight training?  I did buy the book "New Rules of Lifting for Women" a couple months back..but it was a bit overwhelming. Even with the pictures of the different exercises I don't feel like I have the correct form. And Im a little shy and feel like everyone is watching my bad form at the gym. Especially because all the women seem to be on the machines...and I feel extremely out of place doing free weights where all the men are training and doing it right. If I could afford a trainer it would really help me out..but I just cant. 

I think focusing on weight lifting would be good, but if you have extra time and want to, you can do cardio on your non-lifting days - it's up to you. I think if you aim to lift 3x/week, you'd be doing a good amount.

You've got New Rules, which was going to be my next rec. As for form... have you looked at exrx.net ? You can see some videos and explanations of different exercises.  Have you asked at your gym to see if a trainer will do one session with you - come in with the list of exercises you are going to need for the first stage (once you can do those, you should be able to figure out subsequent stages, and people on here can help, too), and ask him/her to show you how to do those.

You can also ask someone at the gym... I know it's intimidating, but my bet - they'll be impressed that you have the guts to be in there at all, not to mention requesting info. Someone else who actually goes to the gym might be able to recommend how to spot a good person to ask, but in my opinion.... look for a guy who seems to be using full range of motion, doesn't seem to be rushing through reps because they are too heavy, doing the fundamental movements like squats and deadlifts.

The other thing you can do (but this might be even more overwhelming) - get a copy of Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. On one hand, he explains in depth how to do exercises, but on the other... it's a lot of information to absorb.

Does that make you feel any better about starting lifting, or did I make it worse?

Thanks for your quick response! I honeslty dont have that much time to get to the gym...so if I can get away with lifting just 3 times a week that would be great for me! :o)

I will definitely take a look at the website you recommended...that may help me feel more comfortable. The gyms here are all about money. The trainers wont show you anything without paying for a session. And there is no way Im going up to some random guy and asking him for help! Im sure they would be impressed that I had the guts to ask...but thats the thing...I don't have the guts. It gives me a bit of anxiety just thinking about doing that. Last time I went into the gym I walked around aimlessly for 20 mins and left. I just feel so lost. The gym is always so divided. The free weights are all on one side...and the machines on the other. The free weight section is always full of men and the occasional woman who knows what she's doing. I just feel ridiculous when I can do maybe 10 lbs while a huge guy is doing weights right next to me lifting more than I even weigh. Or even worse...while one of those guys is waiting to use the machine Im using and therefore watching me. 

I have a really good friend that would be great to help me with this. He lifts and has a great body and is so sweet. He moved to Brazil in February though :o(. So now I have to go it alone and I think that's what gives me so much anxiety about it. I wish I could just pull one of you out of the computer to come to thegym with me! lol

I get that - I posted just today on another thread about the first time I walked into the free weight section at the Y - walked in, and walked right out. And my fiance was there to help me, had I bothered to stick around.

We can't come out of the computer to help you, but maybe we can help through it... and there is the New Rules group, and people are very helpful over there. Maybe, while you are home, take a broom stick or shampoo bottles (just to resemble barbell and dumbbells) and act out the different exercises in Stage 1. Then let us know which ones seem weird to you (or if you don't even know how to start). Some I think you'll be able to figure out from the drawings, but stuff like deadlifts can be more intimidating.

If you're going to do any amount of lifting though - please please make sure you do a 10 minute warm-up (jog on the treadmil, medium resistance on an elliptical) before so that you don't pull anything.  And when you're done lifting, I cannot stress enough to stretch.  And as a general note when lifting, as a female, you want to shoot for long repetitions in sets of 3 or 4 at a medium weight instead of high weight for shorter repetitions.  

Good luck!

Original Post by goingtobetreschic:

And as a general note when lifting, as a female, you want to shoot for long repetitions in sets of 3 or 4 at a medium weight instead of high weight for shorter repetitions.  

Why would a female train differently than a man?

Original Post by goingtobetreschic:

If you're going to do any amount of lifting though - please please make sure you do a 10 minute warm-up (jog on the treadmil, medium resistance on an elliptical) before so that you don't pull anything.  And when you're done lifting, I cannot stress enough to stretch.  And as a general note when lifting, as a female, you want to shoot for long repetitions in sets of 3 or 4 at a medium weight instead of high weight for shorter repetitions.

Great advice, except for the bolded.  That bit is outdated.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Why would a female train differently than a man?

Because women can accidentally get humungous muscles just by looking at heavy weights and men have to spend years training and eating perfectly to get muscles that big. 

Don't laugh - it can happen.

I started using the Celebrity Fit Club DVD.  Wow do my glutes hurt.  Anyway, if you don't want to buy a bunch of DVD's, see if your local DVD rental place has some.  Even NetFlix has some.  Many are good for cardio as well as strength training.  Then you don't have to go to the gym when you don't want to and you get a variety of ways to work out.

I recommend Minna Lesieg's Fat Eliminator Optimizer video. It is circut training cardio and strength with an extra 15 min portion with hand weights. It's great, and you have someone right in front of you so you can check your form.