I joined Planet Fitness a few days ago and went Saturday morning for the first time. I did 10 minutes on both the treadmill and recumbent bike to warm up, then the 30 minute circuit. Wrapped it up with 10 more minutes on the treadmill and 3.5 (was shooting for 10 but OH, MY GOD, IT HURT!) on the elliptical machine.

I noticed the circuit training sign said not to do it two days in a row.

What's the best way to make use of this gym membership? Go every other day? Concentrate on some machines one day and others the next?

The first time I'll be able to do that Personalized build your schedule class is Friday. I don't want to lose motivation till then, but I don't want to do harm to myself either!

Thanks, MC

Not that I am an expert in the gym, but I've had a trainer before. He said that is best to do alternating muscle groups every other day. Do at least 30 minutes of cardio a day, then alternate between upper and lower parts of the body every other day for weight training. Now if I could just listen to my own advice.

Good luck w/ the workouts!

kity took the words out of my mouth.

i go 5-9 times a week (generally 6-7 though). one day i do 45 mins cardio and upper body, the next i do the cardio and lower body.

one thing i have been doing lately is the interval training. i will go REALLY hard on the elliptical (190-220 RPM) for 2 minutes, get off and then do weights (1 set of 15-20), get back on the elliptical, same thing 190-220 RMP, then back to that first machine. do the same machine 2-3 times and then do a cool down with cardio. this should take about 45 - 60 mins. it is a TOTAL butt kicker, but it got my weight loss going again.

i would not do this until you are in good cardio shape. (i am fat yet fit at the same time if that makes sense).

good luck with the elliptical. i could only do a few minutes at first. it's a machine i love to hate.