Which machines do you use at the gym?

I like the standing abductor machine

You have to be fit to train with Caroline Girvan. She does have an Epic Beginners programme, but even this is pretty tough. What weight dumbbells have you been using up until now, @superplumb ? I started out with 3 kg and worked my way up - 5, 8, 10, 12 kg. I still use all but the 3 kg, depending on the moves, but always try to challenge myself.

If Caroline's Epic Beginners looks too tough for you, check out her shorter workouts that address abs, shoulders, glutes etc. She has loads of those too. In my view she is the best online trainer out there and her workouts are very professional.

Also look at Growingannanas HIIT, with and without weights. She too has a huge back catalogue of excellent workouts, so you never need to do the same workouts twice - though they mostly follow a similar format.

To get into shape generally I'd recommend the following, which I still do regularly:

Lucy Wyndham Read's Thighs & Glutes and some of her other leg and floor based workouts, such as those aimed at pear shaped women and her muffin top workouts.

Rebecca Louise's Best Abs, as well as Bingo Wings, Ageless Arms and Best Arms.

The Bowflex 3-minute plank, which I do virtually every day.

Which ones would you suggest if you were starting out?

What are you looking to achieve in going to the gym?

This is an excellent question.

Another vote here to get a PT. As a total exercise-phobe who was easily intimidated by gyms, the progress I've made in the last 10 months is nothing short of miraculous. As well as learning what's right for you, and what you'll actually enjoy, you learn so much about the body, correct posture when exercising and how far to push yourself.
There is some training I do now which could be construed as 'train to fail' but as the PP pointed out, no trained instructor will ever recommend that until you're well underway in your journey.

You've got the face spot on for hamstring curls.

Bastarding thing. But it has made my arse rather wonderful and, together with the other legs machines (press, extension, adductor and abductor), has made it possible for me to actually get into a full squat for the first time in my life - and as importantly, be able to get back up again.

They've done wonders for my core muscles as well.

I’m a PT.

A beginner to weight training absolutely should not be training to failure, either in weights or cardio. It’s a sure fire way to pick up and injury.

The most important thing is to learn good form before loading anything, and there should be at least 2 reps in reserve, ideally a little more.

Squats and deadlifts etc are great and should be the backbone of a decent program, however they are compound lifts (multi joint) which use lots of muscles, including core, and can be tiring which results in fatigue. The whole point of leg curl/ extensions is to exclusively work the hamstrings or quads, without the accessory muscles. Working these muscles exclusively will actually help improve your squats and deadlifts, so aren’t redundant.

A mixture of free weights and machines works well, OP I would definitely invest in some PT sessions if you can, you’ll get so much more out of your gym use.

I can’t type but I like the facial expressions on your pictures! Feel free to draw more machines and ask questions! What are you looking to achieve in going to the gym? A PT is great for building confidence, I’m not a huge fan of online PTs if you are just starting out it helps to have someone there in real time to check your form.

I like the

Love the pictures but I especially love the name "flailing about machine", just fabulous OP! 😍

I use free weights rather than machines, plus some TRX/bands/cables.

Have you thought about getting an online PT? (cheaper than a face-to-face PT). Or ask for help from one of the gym staff? Most gyms will write a programme for you for free if you say you need their help with a refresh.

What @WindyHedges said. Especially re. using weights and booking a few sessions with a PT. Resistance training is only real way to get fit.

I don't go to the gym but if I did it would be for the rowing machine and anything that uses weights/resistance.

However, I train at home with Caroline Girvan. Currently near the end of her EPIC Heat programme. She uses serious weights and her workouts are incredibly well structured. Life changing and free on YouTube.

The machines usually have a picture on them showing you which muscle group they are targeting. That could help:

This book has been recommended her before, and I liked it www.amazon.co.uk/New-Rules-Lifting-Women-Goddess/dp/1583333398/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=a26e81a1-51f2-4386-a56c-7cfd533c0186

Also love the pictures!

Machines I use are leg press and chest press. Rest of the time I use free weights. I have used others but I prefer free weights

Meant I hate not i have!

Loving your pictures!
I have gym inductions, is there a book you can get that shows you what's a good gym plan?

Machine not matching.

My favourite matching at the gym is the vending machine.

OP these diagrams have made my day. Please draw some more!

sorry - no help re gym. I’m similar and go on the machines that I was shown and not any of the benches that you can alter about to kneel on/ lie on etc with weights because I’m not brave enough yet! We also have a machine with kind of wires coming down each side and across the top and bottom and you can apparently do anything on it- squatting, arms thing or whatever but I have no idea where to even start with that one.

Just here for the pictures 😄

Fab illustrations!

I prefer free weights for as many things as possible but my PT prescribes some machines and as I have had to rehab after an operation I have been using more machines than normal.

The machines that very often feature somewhere, even if I am mostly doing free weights, are the leg press, leg extension (for quads) and hamstring machine. The hamstring machine in our gym is seated rather than prone, though I did try a prone machine in another gym and quite liked it. My exercise of choice for hamstrings is nordic curls but they are tough to do on your own, especially if you need band assistance.

Other than that, I sometimes use the assisted pull up machine and the chest press, and may use cables for something or other. Usually face pulls.

My hamstrings are under-developed, especially compared to my quads and this is not great for my knees, which can be dodgy. Hence my hamstring training, using various exercises.

Love the illustrations!

That's the hamstring machine, if you do use it, press your hips into the pad as you perform the movement. If they raise, the weight is too heavy and you wouldn't be using your hamstrings effectively.
I use free weights, hamstring curl, leg extension, smith, cable, seated row, tricep dip mostly. I also use the sled and battle ropes. I'd invest in a PT for a few sessions if you can, it can help build confidence.

I tend to use free weights rather than machines. I’ve split my workouts into a push day, a pull day and a leg day. I did have sessions with a PT to get me started and I also get a lot of gym videos come up on my tiktok which I save.

And as to the machines I use:

I work with a PT on deadlifts & weighted squats (back & front squats). Sometimes he'll have me on the lat pull down machine. On my own, I supplement with the assisted pull up machine, and the leg press.

I set the assisted pull up machine at either deficit 25 kg or 30 kg, and do 3 sets of 5, with correct form. I take a minute's rest between each set.

The leg press I go heavy on, so generally start at 60 for a warm up set of 5 fairly fast, then build up to around 120 (I've done 160) - I do sets of 5, (or 3 if I'm feeling lazy).

I second the suggestion of a session with a trainer. Weight training is great and does wonders for your back in particular. I started doing weights in a gym with mandatory training on the machines before you were allowed to use them. Now at a different gym with no induction I see people using them very badly (pumping them very fast as if doing cardio), so I would caution against learning by copying others as you won’t know who to copy.