Work Out Question

I started going back to the gym in the morning, because if I didn't I would've never gone back, since I find every excuse not to go after work.

That being said, I only have about 40 min. to get my workout in. How can I maximize my workout? What can I do to maximize my workout??

Any suggestions?

When I was going to the gym, the owner, who i had one personal training session with, told me that i should do this:

5 mins warm up on treadmill
30 mins weight training (various machines and free weights, also some crunches)
25 mins on the treadmill doing HIIT (high intensity interval training: after a warmup of 5-10 mins, do three minutes of walking at a brisk pace, and then one minute of running as fast as you can, and repeat as many times as you can before doing another 5-10 minute cool down)

I did this for about 4 months and I saw a difference. It is HARD at first and I didn't see results for a while, but soon enough, everyone was noticing it. You can also do like 1 min. of the brisk pace and then 30 seconds of the fast-as-you-can thing ... that's what the trainer said to do and what I did usually, but if I was really tired or not in the mood, i did it at a lesser pace.

If you have 40 mins, do less weight training in the middle. however, this guy said you have to do the weight training first (it's better training for your muscles I think) and if you DO NOT do the weight training, it won't work as well. the combination of cardio and weight training is what does it.

Good luck. I want to get started on this again and join a planet fitness that is kinda near me, but I am afraid I will not go since it's a 15 min drive .... and since I hate the gym to begin with ...

Carido is a big thing. Mix up the machines each day (treadmill, bike, eliptical, etc). Also if you have some time do some weights.

Maybe by some free weights to do at home if you dont have time at the gym.

Do you have time to take a class? If so maybe add that one or two days a week.

THATS GREAT! YAY FOR YOU! How many times a week are you going?

If I were you, I'd do cardio twice a week and weight lifting twice a week. Spend the entire 40 minutes doing cardio and I promise you will see results. Then spend the other two days doing strength training. I would do 3 muscle groups one day (like biceps, chest and triceps) and 3 mucscle groups the next day.

Also this is what I do if I am in a rush. Say I am doing shoulders and biceps, I will switch off hand weights and a machine. for example I will do 3 sets on the machine on shoulders and then in between sets, use the hand weights to do biceps. It gets your heart rate up that way too!

Than you girls. I'm trying to go 4 times a week.

Yesterday my work out consisted of:
15 min. Bicycle
20 mintues upper body weight training (chest press, shoulder press, biceps, triceps and lat pull)
5 min. stomach crunches.
Stretch at the end

Today my workout was:
10 min Treadmill (interval walking an running. I would run for 15 sec. and walk for 45 secs.)
10 min. Bicycle
10 min. Legs (quads and hamstring machines)
10 min. Abs (crunches, leg lift)
Stretch at the end

I'm going to incoporate your suggestions.

I also am not a fan of the bicycle either because it just kills my butt and I don't get my heart rate high enough, but it get's my bad knee going, like it loosens it up.