First time in a gym, a little overwhelmed.

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pendraggon87

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So this is essentially my first time in a gym. Ive been a few times with a friend, but over the summer they are not available, and this gym is cheap, but alas no trainers. Any reccommendations? I mainly want to build stamina (I get winded really easily now, and no, I don't smoke), and lose weight from my stomach and build abs.

Any tips?

Thanks!
 
Well are you overwhelmed because you are self-concious or you are not sure what to do?

Your first time there if your only looking to tone down, go and check out the cardio machines and pick one and do it. Bring an iPod or mp3 player and set up a playlist that you really enjoy. Focus on nothing big. Work on building up your stamina and not getting winded. Don't overwork yourself to the point where you faint.

You should do some reading on fat loss. You cannot target fat loss "just from your stomach", the loss will come from all over.

Just go on a bike or a treadmill and do it for 20-40 mins to get a feel of it and then go from there. Set realistic goals, diet right, know what you want to accomplish, and enjoy yourself.

I know a lot of what I said sounds very cliche but it's true. You need to find what you want, what works best for you, and what you enjoy and then combine them all. Good luck.
 
I am overwhelmed not because I am self conscious, but because there are just so many machines. I am 5'11" and weigh about 175lb, so that doesn't bother me too much, but I have very little muscle, and my stomach just looks fat and I have no ab muscles, and I don't know which machines would help with that.
 
pendraggon87 said:
I am overwhelmed not because I am self conscious, but because there are just so many machines. I am 5'11" and weigh about 175lb, so that doesn't bother me too much, but I have very little muscle, and my stomach just looks fat and I have no ab muscles, and I don't know which machines would help with that.
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Read the weight training and nutrition stickies. And read the threads already around and you'll get your answers.
 
since it seems like you just started going to the gym you have to be careful. you have to crawl before you can walk. i would recommend running, biking, swimming, and doing light weight work.

check out . this site has lots of workouts. they are really intense but you can build up to be able to do them.

here are few that are more for beginners:
-- the Home Strength Program
-- put the work in and you will get the results. it is literally that simple. the work you put in matters far more than what the work actually is in many cases, especially at the beginners level.
-- don't even try most of these until you are in great shape.
 
Do you have any reccommendations on streches? I see people spending about 10 minutes there just stretching before they do anything. I know some basic stretches that I used when I used to fence, but thats about it.
 
the website doesn't have any stretches for you, but you can easily look up stretching routines on Google and you will find something.

i like to stretch by moving from either my toes to my head or vice versa. for example, i will stretch out my calf, then my hamstring, thigh, hip flexor, ass, lower back, abs, chest, shoulders, triceps, neck. that way you don't forget to stretch something and remember when you tore it.
 
I'm no pro by any means - but I'm a n00b too so I can relate and share what I learned in two short months. I actually have only one piece of advice - take it or leave it, as I said I'm not pro but - *DO NOT OVERDO IT* would be my rule number 1.

Now here's my experience: I started being 30, ex-smoker, drinker, 5'7 and 83kg with no prior 'real' training experience.

In the past trying to start an exercise I had injured myself 'trying to do too much' - so this time I only *walked* 10 minutes on a treadmill every other day, on top of a full body workout.

And here's the kicker: one day I thought it would be a good idea to do 30 minutes of walking FAST instead of my usual 10 minutes 'easy'.

Net results: busted kneed. On NSAID for 3 weeks with daily icing and rest. Limping to work.

I was really surprised that one could injure himself so easily. "What's 30m of FAST walking" I kept repeating myself, nursing my bad knee. I felt really bad for being such a 'loser'. But you know what? It was my fault all along.

You can't run until you've learned how to walk. You can't even walk if you haven't learned how to crawl. BABY STEPS - Tell your ego to shut up and start very very slow - you'll be so happy you did later on.
 
For anybody on here that knows what they're talking about we would have to assess you. And since we can't I can't give you an precise routine. I can however give you practical advice.

1. Jog/walk at 65% HR if your comfortable. If not lower intensity or walk.
2. Start out lifting for nueromuscular effeciancy (coordination) such as ball squats and ball dumbell chest press
3. Do moderate weight training along with cardio
4. abdominal excersises WILL NOT make you lose your belly. they will only be putting muscles under the fat.
5. There is no such thing as targeting fat. fat metabolises from every part of your body
6. Restriced carb diets CAN work if you do them correctly. By NO MEANS cut ALL carbs out. have the Majority of carbs at breakfast so your body can burn them throught the day.

If you decide on the restricted carb diet. working out will be more challenging but it will require more fat storage to fuel your body for energy. Fat metabolizes at a much slower rate than carbs but if you can get past the "wall" then it will be worth it.
 
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