In need of much help! (beginner)

I am 5'7 and weigh 125lbs and I'm 18 years old.

For the past 2 months I've been doing cardio (running, biking) and really haven't been seeing much of a differance.  I haven't lost a single pound, but my legs look a little better.  I start to try to lift weights but I don't know what I should be doing, or what will work best for me, so I haven't been able to commit to anything.  I need a steady workout routine and some advice on what I should and should not be doing.

My goal is to lose weight, be more tone, and to be in good shape.

If anyone can give me a basic routine that I can commit to and make a habbit for myself, any nutritional or dieting advice, or any other kind of advice I could use I'd greatly appreciate it.  Thank you.

Hi Aimee,
Do you workout at a gym? If you do look around for someone there who looks experianced and ask for help. Alot of people are willing to help, if u just ask. If youve have never lifted weights before your in for a real treat. Once you get started it is so awesome. Im sure u will love how u look and feel. Tam

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/womanwonder/

I recomend you find someone you know who does work out and get them to help. If you dont know anyone, then pay for an evaluation session with a personal trainer and they usually give you a program. When the do, pay a lot of attention to how the exercise is done. Every beginner (including myself) has very poor form (which can be dangerous) until they are shown correctly.
 
Also, you said that your legs look better. You probably have lost fat, but retained water. Dont use the scale so much because it can discourage you by not showing a good number even though your muscle mass may have increased, fat decreased or even if you do get a good number it can make you think that you can slack off.
 
Cardio is great, but if your goal is to be tonned, you also need some muscle to efficiently burn the fat.
 
Goodluck!

ORIGINAL: AimeeJo88

I am 5'7 and weigh 125lbs and I'm 18 years old.

For the past 2 months I've been doing cardio (running, biking) and really haven't been seeing much of a differance.  I haven't lost a single pound, but my legs look a little better.  I start to try to lift weights but I don't know what I should be doing, or what will work best for me, so I haven't been able to commit to anything.  I need a steady workout routine and some advice on what I should and should not be doing.

My goal is to lose weight, be more tone, and to be in good shape.

If anyone can give me a basic routine that I can commit to and make a habbit for myself, any nutritional or dieting advice, or any other kind of advice I could use I'd greatly appreciate it.  Thank you.

Tell me what you eat, log a day or 2 here and I can help with that portion, as for weights, a nice easy beginner basic workout for gym would be this.
Week 1 - 2x10, Week 2 - 2x12, Week 3 2x15, Week 4 active rest, circuit, gym classes for a 2-3 day period only.  Week 4 - 2x20, Week 5 - 2x25, Week 6 - 2x30, Week 7 - 2x40, Week 8 active rest again, Week 9 2x50, Week 10 start again at 10 reps but now 3 sets and follow the pattern with 3 sets.
This will help with tone and fat loss, some muscle gains on the lower rep weeks.
Do these machine with comfortable weight, enough to get your reps but not much more:
Leg Press, Chest Press, Hamstring Curl, Lat Pull to back or Mid Back Row Machine, Calve Press, Shoulder Press, Tricep Dips with no weight, DB Bicep Curls, Crunches and Lower Back Extensions done on belly on a mat.
Good luck, let me know how it goes and about your diet.
Linda

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