**brie**

Nebb

I was wondering if I could pick your brain a bit...I had a session with a personal trainer yesterday and she wants me to get off weight machines entirely. She had me do some free weights and a lot of body weight stuff (squats, lunges, etc).Im curious what your regular routine is when you work out and if you mind listing what you do when you work out. She is intending to show me more things in my next session, but I cant really afford more sessions so im curious what other things I could incorporate into my work out, weight wise. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Brie2010

Hey!Right now I'm doing a lot of classes at the gym just because I burned out on my usual routine and needed a change.   I'm planning on getting back to my "normal" workout stuff in December, which would put me back where I want to be fitness-wise by the wedding.  Honestly, your trainer is totally doing the right thing getting you off the machines.  They are just not nearly as effective as compound motions like squats and lunges are, and I'm all about getting the biggest bang for my buck at the gym.  Plus, weight machines really put your body in some unnatural positions that make you really susceptible to injury.  My recommendation to you would be to get "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" by Lou Schuler and follow that program.  Since you're still looking to cut fat, I'd modify the calories they recommend downward just a bit/go on the low end of things, and add interval cardio on non-lifting days.Here's a sample of what I'll do/did when I was doing it:Sunday: lift followed by high intensity interval training (HIIT, explained in detail in the book)Monday: long runTuesday: lift and HIITWednesday: restThursday: lift and HIITFriday: spin/swim/run, or some kind of endurance cardioSaturday: restWhen I do this, I eat 2100-2300 calories a day to maintain my weight and always have a protein shake post-workout. Honestly, the book I recommended is my #1 go-to resource for lifting.  It's got pictures and proper form tips for just about every basic exercise, plus modifications to make everything harder and harder as you progress.  I got mine for about $8 on half.com and it's a godsend.Good luck and HTH!

Nebb

Yeah Im really thinking i need to just buck up and buy this book. My progress has stalled with what ive been doing - the weight machines have helped me get stronger but in the past month my progress has diminished.  I go to spinning once a week and I do HIIT when I do cardio, but I think its really my weight program I need to address.If I cant find that at the store, i might see if my husband can find it online for cheap for me. I am hoping to meet my goal weight/size by spring and I know I need to switch  things up.Do you do full body every day you do weights? When you started what weight level did you start at? Can you give me any idea what areas you focus on? My trainer mentioned that she rarely does "core" exercises because all of the free weights she does work her core. Do you do any and if you do, do you have any to suggest?Or... should I just read the book?

Brie2010

Do you do full body every day you do weights? When you started what weight level did you start at? Can you give me any idea what areas you focus on? My trainer mentioned that she rarely does "core" exercises because all of the free weights she does work her core. Do you do any and if you do, do you have any to suggest? The book is really going to be your best resource for all this, but the book really focuses on compound motions that work lots of muscles all at once.  So, it's not like you do upper body one day and lower the next--you're working everything in pretty much every workout.  As for core exercises, she's absolutely right.  Free weight exercises will work your core really well.  The book contains some ab work, but it's stuff like planks that benefits other areas of the body as well.Or... should I just read the book?It's worth it!  I swear!

Nebb

Thanks Brie