Originally Posted by LisaM

Sorry I didn't answer earlier--between recent exhaustion and a torn meniscus, I've been taking some time off. Here's what I advise my clients--I'm a fitness director at a Nautilus Fitness Club:

Start slow! Most people's routine should be as follows if they go to the gym five days a week:

Cardio (treadmill, bike or elliptical) - 10 minutes to begin, work up to 20-30 minutes.
Resistance (weight machines or free weights) - upper body one day, lower body and core (back, abs, obliques) the next day.
Stretch - paying particular attention to the part of the body you worked.
Cardio - 10 minutes, work up to 20-30.

Much has to do with how much time you have to work with. If you work out every other day but have more time, then work through the whole resistance line, upper, lower and core.

Personal trainers will help if you want very specific exercises, but this is the basic program I start all our clients in, and then give them advice for specific areas they want to work on.