I signed up for gym membership a week ago.

[Neoma]

Basically, I walk/run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, take a small break and go for another 30 minutes. I've also started discriminating against junk food. Which is hard, since I grew up on a southern diet.

I have no idea how to work on my upper body, and I can't afford yoga classes. Tips and YouTube videos to help would be great.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Did you ask at the desk? Most gyms (I know Anytime Fitness-my gym will) will give you a little 20-30

introductions to the machines and what they are there for. I do 50-ish minutes of treadmill and then upper body strength training on the machines. I would ask the management if they can set you up for an intro. Have fun!

[flakey_foont]

2. For upper body

have you ever trained with weights before?
I am assuming that your gym has some machines...
you should be able to work your arms, shoulders, chest and back with machines..
also, you might one to try some light dumb bells for bicep curls, shoulder presses
and flat bench dumb bell presses and flies (lie on your back on the bench).
Start with a weight that you can do 10 good repetitions fairly easily and concentrate on
form. Once you have your form correct, go up on weights a little. If you stick to a regular workout schedule for
a few weeks, you should start to notice some changes. If your goal is to get better muscle tone, then
try and get 3 sets per exercise with high number of repetitions (12 - 15 reps range)

[nobodyspecial]

3. Visit your local library

You can find tons of books and videos for free. You can do yoga at home with just a mat. Gaiiam and Yoga Journal videos are good for beginners.

[ZenLefty]

4. You tube can be a little dubious

Since anyone can upload just about anything, the chances they're showing you the wrong way to do it is about 50/50. There is a website I visit that's pretty good on correct form, though the instructions are brief. It'll give you a basic idea, and it has a handy .gif animation of each exercise.

http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

I generally don't use this site to learn something I've never done, but rather augment my knowledge about an exercise I've learned of and have tried a few times.

It's really tough to learn this stuff by yourself, videos or not. If you can find a personal trainer and buy just a few sessions to show you some basics and get you going in the right direction, it will be well worth the cost. Maybe your gym knows of some.

[AllyCat]

6. Some of the YouTube vids I really like are yogatic, yogayak, and sadienardini

With ALL of them, you need to follow what your body says is okay and not what the demonstrator looks like! All of these folks offer alternatives to allow you to build slowly.

One thing I have found helpful with the diet is to cut out what I call the "Unholy Trinity" of food additives (read: non-food items in food): high fructose corn syrup/"corn sugar", trans fats, and artificial color/flavor. By cutting out those ingredients, I find myself making more things from scratch, buying healthier (and usually more expensive) alternatives ---eat less of it--- and scrapping the whole thing and buying an apple instead.

Have fun! I'm a gym rat

[Neoma]

7. Ah...

I'm underweight, not overweight. But I am trying to eat healthy. *eats goldfish*

[nobodyspecial]

9. If you already are underweight, why are you focusing on more cardio

which just burns more calories?

You really should add more strength training exercises to build strength and mass. Authoritative info available here: http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/default.aspx

[Neoma]

10. I made that post in January.

I'm not underweight anymore.

[we can do it]

17. I agree about the yoga videos.

I'm a gym rat too!

[rosalgustren]

8. Peak 8 exercise suggestion

Hi all, I;m just new here but I can't help not suggesting on what you need Neoma. Have you ever heard of Peak 8 exercise of Dr. Mercola? You will only do this for 8 times within 10 minutes only. Working out on your upper body doesn't really require too much equipment or even money. You can do some push-ups and even pull-ups on your own door.

[best2002]

11. Run

Run babe, run!

[mochabutt]

12. Nice site

Visit this blog to know more about the best exercises and diseases as well
http://diseases-blog.blogspot.com

[jony12]

13. :)

First try to warm-up your body properly for the gym exercise.And read books,articles,watch videos regarding exercise which helps you a'lot to put you in correct way.

[Xyzse]

14. I suggest warm up first of course

Then do 15-20 minutes of weights first before doing your running.
You'll probably see drastic improvements, especially if you do Intervals in your running.

Good luck!

[alexander9]

15. Push ups.

Glad to know that,you have joined it well that's no big deal.You should do push ups and pulls ups they are the most effective exercises for gaining upper body.Bench press is also a very good option.Do these exercises on daily basis they will surely help you.

[Neoma]

16. That was a long time ago.

I quit the gym and joined in on a boot-camp type yoga class...