I know this probably sounds crazy, but I am almost 25 and I have never had a gym membership before. I'm much more of an outside (and free) kind of exerciser. I like to jog, hike stuff like that. I put on a good deal of weight over the past year and a half because my FI and I had moved to live near his family in a really rural southern area. I was totally battling depression, and homesickness and indulged in a little too much southern cooking. Well, now we moved back to my hometown and with the wedding being this year and all, I reeeaaaally want to lose that extra weight! I want to join a gym for the convenience of it, but I'm actually kind of nervous about it. There is an LA Fitness close to where we live, and I plan on signing up there, because it is so close and I can use other locations so I can go work out at the gym near my sister's house with her on some days too.
I know how to use pretty much all of the cardio machines, so I'm fine with that, but I'm really not sure about the weight machines or weight training in general. Should I ask a PT for help? I'm also just worried about being the awkward out of shape girl huffing and puffing and having everyone stare at me. Is that crazy? They offer a toooonnnn of classes that I would like to get into, but I'm not sure where to start on that either. I took yoga like 3 semesters through my university and I really enjoyed it, so I figure I will take yoga. I'm curious about cycling, but I worry that it isn't for lower fitness levels and I will look silly.
I feel like I was always fine with staying active and exercising in the past, but now I am just getting nervous because I feel like I'm doing it for real and not just for fun, if that makes sense. Any advice?