Joining a gym can be very intimidating but for me it was my key to success. If it is in the budget a trainer for a few sessions after you’ve been going for a few weeks can make you feel much more comfortable when using the equipment. You don’t need them for cardio but resistance training is a must and they can teach you proper technique. Another idea could be if you have a friend that already works out maybe then can “show you the ropes”. Either way exercise is a must.

Take baby steps-It’s great to be gung ho and want to go everyday but most people burn out if they push too hard in the beginning. Just do what you can do even if it’s just 15 minutes on the treadmill. You will build up stamina and be able to do more at a faster pace as you progress.

Try to build up to at least 30 minutes of cardio. This is where your body will keep burning calories throughout the day. You want to get your heart rate up and break a sweat-it feels good to have your body doing things it probably hasn’t in a long time.

Break up the cardio routine and switch from the treadmill, elliptical and crosstrainer on different days but try for the 30 minute minimum. Get an MP3 player to keep it interesting. As you progress you also want to increase your inclines, speeds and resistance. Tip-not holding on burns 10% more calories.

Cardio is great for burning calories but to be truly successful weight training must be part of the routine. Creating muscle makes your body more efficient at burning calories even when the body is at rest. Muscle is lean and sexy and women cannot bulk up the way men do so don’t be afraid to pump some iron. Again, if you do too much in the beginning you may not want to go back if you get sore. So baby steps and start very light. I do all muscle groups not just the trouble areas as the more muscle in your body the more calories you will burn on a daily basis.

Even in the beginning of my weight loss I generally went to the gym 3 times a week. Once in a while I can get in an extra day but I find too much and then its work and not something I enjoy and look forward to. I will do cardio on all days I go and weight training twice a week. I weigh myself whenever I go which may or may not be a good thing depending on who you listen to. Once a week should suffice but do what will keep you mentally motivated.

I am not going into specifics on how much weight to put on each machine and exactly how much time you should do each cardio. I found what mix was right for me which may not be right for everyone. It does change depending on my time schedule and stamina. I will put more specifics in my blog as I workout. The point is I workout usually without fail. I will schedule appointments on non gym days and leave dishes in the sink if I have to. The point is get moving and the eating comes more naturally. You will want to workout and if you miss a day you will feel like something is missing. Just take the first step.