Well there are certainly no bad questions to ask...well maybe but those aren't
First off it might not be a bad idea for 1 or 2 sessions to hire a Personal Trainer just to have show you how to properly use equipment and free weights. I find that once most people try them out and understand how they work, they have less of a problem getting into the gym and using them as it can be intimidating. So its idea, however you can get the info you need for free online, just takes a little studying.
You need a few things in place to workout and to lose weight.
Diet
Cardio
Strength Training
Flexibility
and most important motivation and desire
You hit all those things and in the right manner you will achieve your results, be less prone to injury or fatigue and feel and look better overall.
Here are some useful webtools to use to figure out what you need to do each.
For caloric intake/output try this
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-ca...dict-equation/
For help with understanding different exercises and which part of the body they use go here
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html
For a good base into proper eating for losing fat
http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/...aneating_1.htm
http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/...aneating_2.htm
Also there is a good article about women and strength training that helps dispell myths.
http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/women/lean.htm
As for your specific questions....
So my question is how do you get started?
Your doing it right now! Getting the need knowledge is the most important part. NExt i would make a plan of attack. Make a workout routine plan for the week. May a meal plean for the week. Don't have the needed foods, then make a grocery lists. Little things add up to that big picture.
How do you push yourself without getting burnt out? Or hurting yourself..
Listen to your body. When you are starting out go a little easier on yourself. You will probably get pretty sore in the beginning, rest that soreness don't push through it as you could hurt yourself. Set up a smart training program.
You might say "well thats the point I don't know how to do that!" Don't worry getting to it.
What machines do you benefit from the most?
To use machines to not, this is a debated issue. I think its best to start off with a combo of free weights, body weight, and machines.
If you are creating your own routine then keep the following i mind when doing so.
-Start off with a 2-3 day a week full body workout.
-Give at least a rest day inbetween the days you lift. It may be more in the beginning but thats okay, listen to your body.
-Make sure you have mostly compound movements (using more than one joint/muscle) like squats, dips, and rows. Avoid doing a high number of isolated movements.
-General start off rule and safe way to go is 3 set of 10 reps. Lets say you have picked out 7 exercises. Your first is a squat, you are going to do 3 rounds of that squat. Each round you are going to do a squat 10 times. Make sense?
-Make sure after working out that you stretch really well. At least 5-10 mins. DONT IGNORE THIS!
how much cardio should you do and should you do it on a treadmill or elip. machine?
Starting off do cardio 3-4 days a week. Basically you can alternate your days of lifting and cardio. Try different intensity levels and different lengths. Go all out some days for 20 mins (or build up to such) Do some steady state cardio (light jogging ) for 40 mins. Read about HIIT training and see if you can build up to that (there is a whole section in the forums about it)
In the end in order to lose fat you have to take in less energy(calories) then you burn. DON'T go overboard and start cutting down to 1200 calories a day, never go below your BMR. This will make you store your fat not lose it. So lose that link above to figure out your needs and really read through it.
If you read all this info and still have questions feel free to post more.
