Hello. Okay so I have been working out since Feb 2nd and think I am seeing results but am not sure. I go to the gym about 4-5 times a week. I start out either on the treadmill (30-45 mins) or on the elliptical (10-20 min). I also take one class a week whether it's a dance, aerobic, or weight/aerobic class. I did yoga once but found that not to be for me. I had a trainer show me a few basic things like with the crunches w/ the ball and squats with the ball and a couple arm exercises. Not enough for me since I like variation. I would like to tone up my arms and stomach area, but am not sure what and how to do the exercises and hiring a trainer for a few workouts is just way expensive. I am being told to do some weight training, but again am not sure how to do some of the exercises. I love working out like I never have before and am really excited to finally be motivated to loose this weight. I really enjoy the LCing. Another thing is I've always been a strong girl throughout my life. I am scared I will end up looking like Hulk Hogan as a woman!! So if anyone out there has a good exercise plan to share or a site to look at I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

I bet you can now walk up a flight of stairs without breathing heavy....that's a difference.

for toning the abdomen, nothing beats crunches. i do regular crunches, side crunches, and leg lifts for my lower abdomen a couple times a week, and in about 2 or 3 weeks, i totally have a changed abdomen. I still have rolls, but theres unmistakable hard abs under there. My (much skinnier, buffer) bf teases me that they rival his. There's little variety there, but there isn't much that is as simple AND effective. since they only take 5 minutes to do, i'd just take care of your variety needs with aerobics. maybe you could have different music mixes instead? that always helps me beat the workout blahs.

thanks for the encouragment. i found i don't mind the crunches, but about a week and a half ago, i realized that during two different classes i strained my neck and it hurt, so now i stick to the ball or the ab machine at the gym..and i love to vary up the music on my ipod...congrats on ur abs..i can't wait for the hump on my stomach above my belly button that sticks out more than my boobs to be gone.. that will be the day..

Yeah, belly hump...wish I could lose that!
I joined a gym this February, too! I go 5 times/week and I do a mix of treadmill and elliptical for 45-55 min each time. It is hard, but I'm totally loving it! It's selfish, me-time that I don't get anywhere else.

Stick with it...you'll see those results you want SOON!

You might want to check out the book I just finish reading it will help you alot about working out the right way. It's by Jillian Michaels from the biggest loser show.

Most women can't look like Hulk Hogan without steriod supplementation. I think that you have a huge misconception about weight training. Have you read the stickies in this section? You might try looking for a book called Smart girls do dumbells by Judith Sherman-Wolin. The copyright is 2004 so it should still be available.
Also, you may want to check out this other thread:
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=278514

Thanks for the info..I will greatly use it while I continue this journey

Maybe it's different in the States but in UK if you go to a gym they give you an induction session to show you how everything works and give you a personal exercise routine specific to your needs. Thereafter the gym staff are available to make suggestions and keep your programme expanding. Couldn't you ask for that just the once to get you on your way?

When I joined the gym, the staff showed me a few machines and I even got a free training session, but she only showed me some of her own personal exercises. I will tomorrow have someone show me I hope.

They should certainly guide you on that. Come to think of it actually it's illegal for them NOT to in the UK. It comes under health and safety regulations. I'm sure it's the same in US.
Maybe it's a crap gym. Is there another you could try?

What machines did she show you? If you post it perhaps we could give you some pointers to a routine using those at least.

I don't know about Rae but here in FL it costs at -least- 100$ for a membership fee for any gym and most of them have year contracts. It's not as easy to just find another one without being out a lot of money.

.muse.

If you've paid up the best bet would be to ask nicely if one of the staff could give you a programme to help you tone up and lose weight with a mix of weights and cardio.

You really need to be shown properly to make sure you don't injure yourself. even the crummiest gym here takes you through the safe usage talk and gives you a basic starter programme to follow with demonstarations on each part.
Let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the advice. My gym is also here in Florida and I really like it. I talked to someone yesterday and I will be shown how and what to do sometime today I believe. So thanks for the advice. (Oh and it's not a crummy gym, I just hate asking for help..a weakness of mine.)