Starting out, what shall I do?

So, I'm going to start going to the gym, FINALLY!

The only trouble is I have no idea what to do! I know they have elipticals/cycling machines/treadmills/rowing machines and some weight training ones too, but I just don't know where to start! I'd like to have an acheivable but streching target of some description, so I keep going and don't get discouraged!

So my question is, what did you guys do when you first started? How should I warm up, how long shall I go on each machine for? I am a total beginner, pritty unfit and totally terrified of going at all, so any help will be much much appriciated!

xxxx

i could have wrote this post myself!! i just joined a gym two days ago, and feel the same exact way. You should see if your gym offers a free class for beginners not knowing where to start or a free session with a trainer,I've heard alot of them do , and they can outline a routine for you.  You should definetly look into it.

Walk.

Never underestimate the power of walking.  When I first started exercising at the end of July 2006, all I did was walk 2 miles 5-6x/week.  It was way more challenging than I expected.

I didn't have to change my diet too much for a couple months while walking.  It was enough activity to drop some weight. 

The best thing I ever did was hire a personal trainer for one session to show me every thing in the gym and give me a tailored workout routine.

Failing that, just try everything and see what you like best, I enjoy my workouts and thats why I keep going back.

I go five times  a week at lunch times and do the following:

Day 1, 3, & 5 - Cardio (i used to do 10 minutes each on a bike / elliptical / treadmill, but i am now doing the couch - 5k running program so its just treadmill) I finish up my cardio by doing between 60 - 80 crunches (I hate my belly)

Days 2 and 4 - I do circuit weight training, where I work my upper body first, then my legs, then I do between 60 - 80 crunches and then finish up by working out my back (the trainer gave me this routine)

The best piece of advice is try everything in the gym, dont feel silly because you dont know how to do it, everyone was new to the gym once.

Good Luck

I think its important to start out slow until you get used to going often. The most important thing about starting a program is to make the commitment to got at least 5 times a week, otherwise you won't start noticing the effect for a long time. I promise by the end of the week you will already feel so much healthier! Walking/jogging intervals on the treadmill are really great, you will improve very quickly and its a little more challenging than walking. Alternate walking a minute and then jogging a minute.  Later you can move on to jogging 2 then walking one etc. do that for 15-20 the bike is good at the beginning but it doesn't really help much unless you are really focusing on breaking a sweat. no magazines! i love the elliptical but don't trust the resistance that it comes set on, u will probably need to raise it a bit. I agree about finding someone to help you set up a training program. the most important thing of all though is to try and go often!! if you "take a few days off" the chances of starting again are low...

I second everything the others said- the only addition I would add is to try some group fitness classes (Step, Cycling, Cardio Dance, Group Weight Training, etc..).  The biggest thing is that you can't get discouraged if you feel like you don't know the moves or can't keep up! We all have to start somewhere!  I started taking a step class over 2 years ago and I had never done it in my life! I felt silly not knowing the moves, but I figured if I was sweating then I must be doing something good!  I kept w/it and it paid off! Between that and a group weight training class I lost 35 lbs over a year and a half!  Now I have branched out to other classes such as Cycling and Combat (sort of an aerobic martial arts style class- loads of fun!!).  For me it's important to get comfortable doing a class but if I do it for too long I get bored- I like to challenge myself!  Mix it up and work at a pace you can handle and you'll start to see results! Something is better then nothing!!  

Ah thanks guys! I have decided to go every other day, for my wallet as much as anything, and so i get a break in between! I'm getting lots more confident and have tryed the cross trainer, bikes, weights and rowing machine!

I'm going tomorrow and my mission is to start on the treadmill. Once I have an idea of my level on things then I can mix and match what I want to do each session. Also, it is waaay hard toconcentrate at the gym! I look so serious because if I don't pay attention, then I go really slow without realising! The music they play there isn't that good though, so I might take sme drum and bass so I'm making sure I move at a speed!

I think I'm going to try out for a class to, I think yoga or pilates though, because I'm well unflexible, but also because I had a very very bad experiance at an aeorbics class which has terrified me from going to any of the scary ones! Though they do do a BLT class, which might be fun!

Thank you so much guys, I you have any other suggestions on what I should do then that woul be great! And you were all totally right, doing something is better than nothing, its already giving me more body confidence, hey my bod might not be perfect, but I can do stuff with it at least! (plus I think those mirrors actually help! Ha ha ha! I dont have a mirror apart from a teeny one for doing makeup in at home, so I think my self pereption is a bit out of whack atm!)

xxxx