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.
Remember: basically nobody ever came back from the gym thinking "Dang, I regret working out today, I wish I'd just stayed home and rubbed one out instead." Getting there is the hardest part, and it gets easier if you focus on the fact that you'll basically never regret going and always enjoy how you feel after.
I agree! I feel much better going regularly than I did before. Just want to make the best use of the time I spend there.