Joining a gym? Options

[cnelson]

So now that I'm back down at school I think i'm going to join a Gold's Gym thats not very far from me.. I'd really like to start to get in shape for the summer time and such. Except I've never belonged to a gym and have no idea what to expect and everything. I mainly want to start running and doing free weights. I'm already on a diet, and I'm not over weight but I'm not exactly where I want to be either.. Anyways, my main concern for not joining is that I'm going to look stupid since I've never been to a real gym before. I know this may seem like a silly reason to not join but it is a reason I'm struggling with. Anyone that belongs to gym got some insight on what goes on? Thanks, -Chris.

[cnelson]

Ha, well I joined. I got the 7 day v.i.p membership for now, however when that is up, I will be joining for good. As for what I'm trying to achieve;

Some years ago, in 8th grade I weighed over 240 pounds. I went on weight watchers, and lost nearly 50 pounds. I was around 195ish. I was happy, and of course high school came and it was all good. I swore I would never gain the weight back.. WRONG. Senior year I got on a scale in November. (Just a little over a year ago) It read 225.8 . A number I will never forget. I felt that everything I worked so hard for was gone, and it was. I sat and cried, like a little baby. My girlfriend who I had been with for over a year, kept telling me I looked fine, etc, etc. I knew inside that crying about wasn't going to get anything done.

On my 18th birthday I made a decision to change my life. Relying on what weight watchers taught me, I was able to lose 65 pounds. I was down to 165. Although this weight was near impossible for me to maintain. I decided it would be easier to stay around 170ish. Now for the past couple months that's what I've been. However, with the holiday season, and college, and drinking every other night. I gained about 10 of it back, not the end of the world. Except this time I really won't ever go back, I would kill myself before gaining all that weight back. So i rejoined weight watchers last week, joined a gym this week. I'm ready to become fully committed to my goals. What are my goals?

By April;
weigh 165 or less.
have 10% or less bodyfat. (right now I have about 15%)
get 'v' shape hips. (ladies dig em) (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/brenda29.htm)

So combined with tons of cardio, ab workouts, and general strength training I hope I will be able to accomplish the following. I'll be going to thy gym nearly 6 days a week, to do cardio alone, lifting 3 of those days, and doing abs 5 of those days.

I will keep everyone updated on my progress. Thanks for listening. -Chris.