I am asked this question all the time: what exactly do you do at the gym? My answer is always the same – it depends on what my goal is at the moment.  Often times I think many of my female friends are afraid that if they lift, and don’t do cardio, then they’ll just end up “bulky” or “thick” and if they just do cardio (of any sort: running, cycling, yoga, etc), then they’ll be thin, without realizing that they will also just be skinny without much muscle definition either.  And if I’ve learned anything over the years about myself, it’s that I want to have a curvy figure WITH well defined muscles – not just in my arms, but also in my legs, my back, my shoulders and my butt.  So, the simplest answer I can afford for this question is that you should try to incorporate BOTH cardio and weights into your gym routine.  Of course, how much of each and how often you actually end up at the gym, is completely up to you and based on your health, fitness, and overall well being.  For me, the gym is an outlet and so I strive to go every day, even if only for a short twenty or thirty minute session on the stairmaster, treadmill, or shooting hoops.  Just moving around helps clear the daily stress of my life and allows for me to enjoy some “alone time” which we all know is difficult to come by.  My main objective for today’s blog is to let everyone know that by simply lifting weights, you will not get “bulky”.  By doing simple all-over body exercises you are helping to shape your figure into a lean, toned body – one that is healthy and happy.  If you are unsure of what types of exercises to do, there is a myriad of articles online that highlight different movements and how they work the different body parts.  These are a great resource for those of you who are unfamiliar with the gym, or even for those of you looking to change up your routine.  And depending on your budget, hiring a personal trainer is always an option.  I have worked with my current trainer for the past two years and he has been an absolute wealth of knowledge and I am in the best shape of my life.  In the end, whatever your goal may be – whether to have a bikini body by Memorial Day weekend, to lose those stubborn last few pounds that are hanging on, to compete in a fitness competition – you should try to incorporate weights and cardio because the combination of the two only further enhances your results.  You could even do cardio 2-3 times a week, and weights 1-2 times a week.  Or you could do the opposite and do weights 2-3 times a week and do cardio 1-2 times a week.  Seeing as though I cannot create an ideal scenario for everyone who may be reading this, if anyone has any questions or would like further insight into this discussion, please feel free to leave a comment and I will try my best to answer your question!