I have weights at home, only up to 10#. BUT, I am a gym rat. I like the people in my classes and the instructors. I have my “spot” and my neighbors. I have my friends that I work next to on steps, elliptical, and bike, and weights. My work so solitary, I enjoy the comraraderie of the gym. I have never been so disciplined at home.
Ulumay, the weight should be tailored to the body! I started out with 2 8-pounders and moved to 12, them to 15 pounders. Pick the weight that will let you do 8-10 reps max. without killing yourself.
This is actually very similar to what was in the printout given to me. Ignore the fact that this is for men. 
http://harvardprostateknowledge.org/strength-training-exercises
As much as I like the idea of working out at home I don’t have the self discipline to work as hard as I do with a trainer. I started with the Tufts StrongWomen program but would say it is really geared more towards women in their late sixties or seventies. I decided to start with a personal trainer when my parents, who had been fairly active, began to age in a way I hope to avoid.
I joined the Y and started working out with a woman my age who eventually became a very dear friend. We had two and a half years together; she lost her battle with ovarian cancer in August. We had actually not been in the gym together since April. I tried to soldier on without her but my heart just was’t in it. I went to the gym, but didn’t really push.
On Monday I started with a new trainer. I felt like she was really going easy on me but later in the week I went through one of the workouts I’d done in January with my old trainer and it really kicked my butt. My new plan is to work out once a week with the new trainer and once a week at the gym with one of my old workouts, which I recorded. Maybe a third workout at home if I’m feeling energetic. (I run three times a week and take a yoga class on two of the running days.)
Sorry, this turned into a personal unloading; this has been really hard for me. I guess all I really want to say is, you can workout at home but a lot depends on you. I really need someone to push me. I don’t want a “cheerleader”; more a whip cracker. When my trainer upped the number of pushups there was no way I wasn’t going to fight through it. On my own, it’s harder. YMMV.
I just like have a “place” where I work out. Too many interruptions and distractions when I’m at home. i have a routine I can do at home if I’m caught and can’t get to the gym, but I far prefer the “neutral” and purposeful location of the gym. It keeps me honest to use a gym. Plus we scan in and out so if I miss, the manager will likely say “oh have you been sick?” knowing full well my sickness has been laziness.
There are some good websites and apps for weight lifting. Heavy lifting, which is supposed to be the best, is hard without buying a lot of stuff. The people at myfitnesspal like a book/site/app called “New Rules of Lifting for Women”, the app “Stronglifts 5X5”. There are also some good blogs out there-- about putting down the girly pink weights and getting over our reluctance to get into the free weights area of the gym because we’re intimidated by the men there. I’m not quite ready-- but I know I should get over there!
I work with a personal trainer at a gym. We use kettle bells, TRX, pilates equipment and do a lot of bodyweight stuff.
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/weight-exercises-women
No way I’m driving 15 min to a nearest gym to do my 20-min weights circuit! 
People in the gyms spend too much time resting between the sets, IMO, because they need to justify the “setup costs.” One can only lift weights for so much, but one can rest until the gym closes for the day.
Yes, that’s why I don’t do weights alone at a gym. My gym workout is a full hour of circuit training/HIIT.
Signed up for the “challenge” at my yoga studio - 25 classes in 30 days. Not sure if I will be able to make it , but I’m going to try.
That’s a big challenge - best of luck! Hope it’s not too far from work or home - that’s what stops me sometimes - if I have to go to far.
The studio is literally about a 2 minute drive from my house. But there are no Friday classes that I can take due to my work schedule and I will miss this weekend due to D’s wedding. I will have to “double up” some days with both an AM and PM class to be successful.
Bunsen, "No way I’m driving 15 min to a nearest gym to do my 20-min weights circuit! " - Well, you will be mad at my “wasted” money, but I belong to 2 gyms, yep, paying for both and NO regrets, I am glad that I can help economy “buying” more than I need (under your assessments). Both gyms in less than 2 miles from my home, but I am driving to them, to support economy further, wasting gas!
Shaking my head. Whatever…
@1moremom so sorry for the loss of your friend and best wishes finding your footing moving forward.
I’m back home after tagging along with DH on a two week business trip to Asia. Way more wining and dining than my normal day-to-day. At home I avoid starchy carbs and desserts – but between breakfast buffets and dinners with business colleagues, that was quickly tossed out the window. My Fitbit did log an average of 20,000 steps a day (did a lot our touring on my own when DH was in the office). Back home, I’m happy to report the scale is the same as before I left.