Personal trainer/fitness advice needed please! I'm a total beginner. Talk to me like I know nothing!

[GreyCarpet]

I know it's not an aibu and, for that reason, IABVU.

However.

I'm 49. And I'm beginning to really feel it! Physically anyway.

I've spent a lot of time thinking this weekend about getting a personal trainer. What would this look like?

I'm a size 12/14 and could do with losing stone but I know how to do that. I have lower back pain and stiffness following epidurals from my children's births many years ago and use yoga stretches to help that. My family trait is weak/painful knees so i avoid things like squats and running and I have stupidly weak wrists/ankles which are prone to giving way when I'm eg holding a full kettle or walking up and down stairs 🙄. I've previously joined a gym and liked the machines but I wouldn't be able to 'weightlift' and I don't like classes. Or getting hot and sweaty particularly 😬 although I accept some degree of that will be necessary!

I want to build strength and tone up all over. Some muscle definition would be nice but I don't want to build bulk and I'm not really interested in a six pack.

If anyone could give me the benefit of their experience/professional wisdom/just somewhere for a complete novice to start so I know what I'm asking for, then I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks.

I looked up crossfit last night. Not sure it's right for me - I'm not keen on big groups of people. But I'm definitely going to try amd find a PT who specialises in training women over 40. So thanks for all the siggestions/advice.

Caroline Girvan on YouTube - you need some weights but try one with tins of beans to see if you like it first.

She’s who I thought of. Very good on form. I’ve used her kettlebell workouts (though with a much lighter bell! She’s a machine!).

Was listening to a podcast this morning and thought of this thread - MindPump podcast, the latest episode is called 'muscle mommy' and it talks about how bad the fitness advice to women in the 80s and 90s was for long term health/weight control.
Caveat that I think it's mainly to sell a new online programme, but the content is sound!

Thank you for the suggestions!