Weights or Resistance Bands?

*I feel the need to say, not my photo.*

New to this whole exercise thing I need some advice. I know I need to do some type of toning/muscle building because they say muscle burns more resting than does fat right? Not to mention doesn't jiggle nearly as much and I could really use some help with jiggle control.

Question(s) is(are) can I build muscle using resistance bands? Do I have to invest in a bunch of weights? What is the difference between the two unless I'm trying to bulk up like Schwarzenegger? Is weights something I should work up to? When do I introduce this when I'm so obese? Will I end up gaining instead of losing right away? Should I wait to this until I am more settled in a work out routine?

What is it you guys do for weight/resistance training? What did you do when you started?

Blood, Sweat and Tears....

Ok first with the blood, ewwww... my feet were hurting really bad when I put on my lil shoes to go for my walk today, but I did it any way. About a 1/2 mile into my walk I began to bleed but youd be proud I didnt miss a beat and I kept right on truckin', all of my steps aerobic :) Yeah!!!!

I know what your thinking "How dumb is she to wear such impractical shoes to work out?" Im not dumb, no really I swear Im not... I just dont have anything else other than heels. And by heels I dont even mean normal heels, mine are all 3 and a 1/4 or higher. This brings me to this pair, and my conundrum. I have no idea what kind of shoes to buy. Dear God did that sentence actually leave my lips? I have never been at a loss for shoes, but folks, I am now!

So I am begging for help from you seasoned work out people. I am seeking your shoe guidance so my poor feet aren't bleeding every time I go walking. I want something supportive, something cute? and something that isn't a car payment. Any ideas?

 Here are my aerobic steps for today on my walk ... yes, I work up a stinking sweat out there being this fat! *You may have noticed in my foot picture, I am prolly the only woman in America that wears fabulous dresses while working out... :))))))) Another oddity about me, I dont own pants, I will never own pants... didn't when I was thin and certainly not when Im fat. This should get interesting when I start my running program... :)

And here were the tears... I went further than I did yesterday! I walked right on past my turn point, foot bleeding and all, and did a smidgen more. When I came back to my driveway and looked up at the huge hill my house sits atop I felt like Rocky pushing hard to get up the last little bit. When I was at the top I felt great... like I had achieved, I dunno, but I achieved.

Sunday... My day of Rest

So I made 60 of these lovely sugar cookies this morning in my PMS haze. I ate 3. I know, I know but cant I have one blessed day of diet rest ? :) I know I will regret it. I have been fighting these cravings really hard the last few days and well this morning I thought 'just one' wouldnt hurt; three later I thought the first one tasted really good :)))))

So its back to the grind tomorrow. I got a couple of new work out DVDs as I hate to say it I am getting sooooo bored with the stepping on my Wii. I have been having really bad back pain when I work out. Not an 'injury' type back pain but more of an 'OMGosh -I-haven't-used-any-muscles-in -sooo-long' sort of back pain. My sedentary lifestyle combined with all of those months on bed rest has left me with a very weak stomach and back. So to combat this I decided to work on my core, build it up, make it stronger so that I don't dread working out as much. Sucks to even begin the steps on the Wii when I know within a few minutes I am going to be almost crying :(

Don't laugh, but I picked Belly Dancing and Bollywood Dance for my core strengthening work out. Yes, I know I'm huge. Yes I know my belly just isn't quite there and NO I don't wear finger symbols or the hip scarves... :))))) Can I just say even though it looks like they aren't really doing anything WOW! OUCH! YIKES! I worked muscles I never knew I had and it was actually fun! I didn't think I would ever say that about a "workout". It was FUN! I laughed and sweated who'd a thunk it? I also had a great time doing this with my daughters, another bonus :) And, when I finally lose this blubber I cant wait to do this for the hubby...double bonus ;)

I'm gonna work really hard over these next couple of days until Tuesdays weigh in. I hope my debauchery doesn't show up in a  gain for this week :( For the rest of the day I will behave, I'm not going to let my cookie monster get to me and ruin my whole day :)