What to expect when starting to workout at the gym

I switched from Curves to a fitness club. The gym I am going to now has pretty much everything I could ever want, and some stuff that I dont even know what it is. I signed up a little over a week ago and am loving it! I put myself on a 2 days on 1 day off schedule so I am averaging about 5 days a week. I am spending about an hour there with 30 minutes cardio and 30 minutes weight training. This seems good to me but after meeting with a personal trainer I think that maybe I need to switch things up a bit.

The trainer I met with was my worst nightmare. Even though he is really nice, he is really intimidating. But that is kind of what I need to open my eyes ya know? I know there are a bunch of you here that know way more about this stuff than I do so can you tell me if this sounds right?

He says that circuit training will not give me the results that I am looking for because that is really used to maintain what you already have or to tone up muscle that is already there. What I am looking to do is turn my soft, flabby body into something that resembles an average person. To do that I need to burn off all this fat and to do that I need to pack on muscle below the fat. He suggests I add on about 20lb of muscle throughout my body.

To do this he says that I should only really be weight training about 3 times a week and each time focus on a different body group and only work that body group once a week. The week inbetween should give my muscles enough time to repair before I break them down again.

He also mentioned that I will actually gain weight over the next 4-6 months instead of losing weight, and that right around the 4-6 month mark it will turn itself around and I will start dropping weight.I normally average between 2-4lb a week with out exercise. But now Ive noticed that since I started going to the gym I havent lost any weight. I guess this is better than gaining weight, but I wonder how long it will be before I start losing again? I had my surgery last October so right now I really only average about 700-900 calories a day and I burn more than that just sitting at my desk all day, so I can't understand why I am not losing especially since I am working out?

There are a LOT of different viewpoints on weight loss and training and most think their way is best.  

I agree mostly with your trainer's viewpoint on strength training, and 3 days a week sounds reasonable.  The only thing I would caution you on is not forgetting about the cardio exercise.  The National Institute of Health suggest good moderate intensity cardio exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week.  Add your strength training to that and you're well on your way to a healthy new you!

A lot of people gain some weight before they start losing again once they start a new exercise regime.  Very normal so don't sweat it.  If you're developing good new habits for long term success, things don't have to go fast.  It's the consistency that's important in the long run.

Linn

Does your gym have classes?  I go to a group power class once a week.  It's all lifting and great.  I find I do better when I mix it up a bit.  I agree.  Three days a week of lifting is good.  bodyforlife.com has great info on weight lifting.  You should really push hard with it.  You will not get bulky and it will make your body a calorie burning machine.   

In order to GAIN 20 POUNDS OF MUSCLE, plan on eating 3000-4000 calories a day! Something it sounds like, your trainer failed to mention... YOU need to define your goals, and not let your TRAINER define them for you. I mean, do you really WANT to gain 20 pounds? Think about your goals, then TELL the trainer what you want to accomplish. Best of luck, and tip of the hat to you for gaining your fitness...

20 pounds of muscle? I think your trainer is insane. You'd end up bulked up like a female body builder!

You most certainly do NOT want to gain weight for 4-6 months and the idea that you can do that and that suddenly weight will just drop off you is completely ridiculous.

You want to mix up cardio with strength training -- cardio to burn the fat and strength training to avoid losing too much muscle mass.

And get a new trainer who is not such a doofus.

Thanks guys! You all had a lot of great info. I knew you would

I had no idea I would have to eat so much to gain that much muscle and I really don't want to gain weight during this process. I am fine with losing weight slower or even having my weight loss stop while my body gains some muscle.

I think this trainer has no idea what to really expect from a WLS patient. I explained to him that I am only eating about 400-700 calories a day and he looked at me like I am nuts.

I am going to stick with the weight training/cardio 3 days a week, and pu**** hard when I do work it out. The other days I will just do Cardio, gotta work that heart and lungs too!

I did sign up for personal training sessions, 3 a month but I will not always get the same trainer. I am hoping that the other trainers are a little more understanding. lol.

When I went to the gym yesterday I saw the trainer from saturday there and told him that I was so sore on Sunday that I couldnt even move let alone go back into the gym like I had wanted to and asked him to go easier next time so that he doesnt keep me out of the gym again. He said I was only sore cause I hadnt had enough water but that didnt sound right to me.

Anyhow, thanks again! :)