So you've finally bought that gym membership and are determined to get back into shape. So now what do you do?

Most gyms will give you an initial appointment with a trainer called a fit test. This test is only meant to introduce you to the gym and to the idea of hiring your own personal trainer. However, I bet that hiring a trainer seems highly unlikely after you've paid a small fortune for the membership to begin with.

Without the help of a trainer, people seem to focus all their energy on cardio machines or fitness classes because they lack a sound understanding of how to use weights. What they don't know is that cardio is not the best option if you are looking to get back into shape. These exercises actually burn muscle along with fat. On the other hand, weight training is a very effective way to burn fat while toning your body. The trick is to change up your gym routine every week to keep your muscles on their toes so that your body doesn't become accustomed to the workout. Weight training also allows you to burn more calories than just simply doing cardio. The reason is that muscle fibers need at least 24 to 48 hours to repair and upgrade themselves after a workout. This means that your muscles are still working double time long after your exercises are done.

I understand that it's hard to figure out what type of workouts will target specific muscle groups when you're at the gym. So instead of hiring a personal trainer why not visit your local Chapters and pick up an exercise book. Chapters has a large Fitness section that holds a variety of books specifically written with the purpose of providing different types of weight training exercises for women (and men)! This way instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a trainer, you can purchase a book and see results without putting too much strain on your wallet.

Yvonne Ivanescu
		About the author:
		A self-proclaimed travel fanatic, Yvonne has had the opportunity to travel to many amazing and exotic countries over the years. Her favorite spot overall was her unforgettable trip to Egypt. Her journey to Paris was particularly special, as it was the Journalism School at Sciences Po that reignited her passion for writing and journalism. Since returning from France, Yvonne has interned at Vervegirl Magazine and MTV Canada while freelancing for a number of other publications. She has an Honors B.Soc.Sc in International Studies with a minor in Spanish and French and is currently pursuing her Masters in International Development and Globalization with a Specialization in Women's Studies.
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