There are a lot of men out there who are still not gym-goers... Actually, there are a lot of men who don't get any physical activity at all. With our nation's obesity rate still on the rise, we must take matters into our own hands and educate ourselves as best we can - while getting in a bit more exercise than a trip through the drive-through.

If you're new the gym scene and want to get started, a mandatory training session is usually the price you'll pay for complete run of the gym (besides the fee, of course). However, more and more men are skipping this step or not using it to their maximum benefit.

If you're a couch potato, you probably don't know how the gym machines work - you might not know which muscles to target, how long you should target them, how much cardio you should get, when you should get it, etc? Research suggests (and men agree) that it is intimidating to ask for advice and help at the gym.

Men rely heavily on reputation, and peer pressure runs rampant within the gym itself. It is supposed (among men's circles), that you should be buff and you should understand the workings of the machines and exercises you are working on. Anything less is weakness.

Not so! It is divided in half, usually - half of the men who come to the gym do it for vain reasons (wanting to show off), and half of the men go to the gym for the genuine desire to lose a few pounds or shape up those muscles. Studies found, unfortunately, that the men who go to the gym for vain reasons would potentially "shame" those who are overweight or those who ask for advice or help, thus causing the men who could benefit the most from the machines and exercises to remain silent and struggle.

There are a few things you must remember, however. Nothing will change unless you are using the machines and exercises properly. In fact, you could injure yourself if you use them improperly. Trainers make their living in gyms for a reason - people need training. You weren't born knowing how to use weight machines, so it's not demeaning to ask for a bit of advice now and then. Also, the trainers can give tips on how to maximize your work out time, what foods you should probably start eating (and what foods you should eat much, much less), and more!

Get as much value out of your membership as possible - pick your trainer's brains and help streamline your workouts and time at the gym! In no time at all, the extra pounds will be lost, and the muscles will be sculpted!