I've been able to get my schedule so that I go to the gym three times a week for the past two months. I've gotten some experience working out mostly with dumbells. I feel like I've gotten a but stronger, but I don't know if I'm really making progress fast as I should be. How should I be programming and planning my workouts for long term improvement? What resources are there for learning new exercises and building a plan that evenly works various muscle groups? I have access to a personal trainer at a reasonable price and I want to take advantage of that, but I don't think it's financially sustainable long term.
I actually had to go to 6 days a week because I need to excercise or i get worse and worse back pain due to a spinal injury. If I miss 2 days then I start getting this dull pain in my back, and the only thing I've found actually helps is lifting weights