Want to start adding weights in addition to my cardio, but where to start? How much weight? Which machines?!? Lol.... I'm so confused!

Most gyms will have a 30 minute circut of machines, that's a good place to start if you've never lifted weights before. Spend some time on each machine and take the time to read the plaque so you know the correct form. Form is more important than how much weight you're lifting. After a while, you'll start to feel more comfortable and you'll have favorite machines you'll like to spend more time on.

Awesome! Great suggestion! Haha.... Read the directions. Guess ya have to be a newbie at one point or another!

If you have the resources available, I would really recommend getting a couple sessions with a personal trainer. They not only can show you how to properly use the machine but can also show you new exercise that target your problem areas. Good luck!

What worked for me before being banded and starting to work out was to meet with a trainer (first time ever) and I was only meeting with her every two weeks and she would give me a work out cards to use on days I was not working with her. Helped me work my way back into the gym and using the right machines and how to identify when to add more weight.

Depends what you want to achieve. Plenty of people think that anything other than pure muscle building super heavy is a waste of time. If that's you, pPick ones that focus on the major muscle groups. At a bare minimum, you need quadriceps (front of thighs), hamstrings and buttocks (some sort of weighted squat or leg press), chest (chest press), back (some sort of rowing) and shoulders (anything pushing upward). Pick a really heavy weight so you can only do 10 or 12 of them, do a couple of sets. But know that you'd be better off with free weights for a variety of reasons.

If you're more of a circuit type person (and I know I enjoy that more) then pick a gym with a circuit set up where you can go fast and light and high rep and get a more constant heart rate going.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Myself, I know several women that are really into weights and I just plain dont envy or admire their bodies. I like my own better and that comes from lots of running and spinning and a few push ups to balance up the upper body. So its up to you, what your body type is and what you enjoy.

Try resistance bands exercises. Google search resistance bands exercises and see what they can offer u. I think they are affordable and the exercises can be done anywhere. I purchase mine from academy sports. Here's there website:

http://www.lifelineusa.com/products/resistance-bands.html.

I do cardio everyday...running on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Then I alternate upper and lower body weight training every other day.

I finish my workouts with a additional 30 minutes on the elliptical.

I would get a fitness consultant even I'd you have to do a try it day at a fitness center. You can google info on weights for biceps, triceps, quads, etc. you can even use soup cans!!!! Good luck I just started the gym a month ago...love it!!!!