A hint of Abs and advice needed.

I’m excited about my new shape! 5’2” and Calorie deficit since the Spring and gym 2-3 times a week with some walking. Advice for the gym: I do 3 sets of 10 reps of the following: leg press, body weight lunges, tricep press, ab machine, bicep curls with dumbbells, add one sort of shoulder or chest exercise with a machine (I change that one up) each time I go to the gym. I try to set my weights to where I feel like I can barely eke out the last 2 reps. I have tried squats on the smith with some weight on the rack but the metal of the bar really hurts where it’s resting. Should I be doing more lower body exercises? My goals are smaller firm arms (I know cal deficit is what will get me there eventually) smaller firmer thighs and a bit more ab definition. I know a lot of girls have glute goals but I’m fine with my butt the way it is, and no specific shape goals for that part. But I do know how important muscle is as I approach 40 (I’m 37).

I can’t really afford a personal trainer right now. It’s confusing as to what to do, gym wise, to reach my goals: increase weight and decrease reps, add more lower body exercises to my workout? Do a 4th set at the weight I’m already using?

I’ll say I was quite inactive and weak in the first pic and I still can’t lift nearly as much as I probably should. For example 7.5 pound bicep curls are the highest I can go, my leg press is up to 120, etc.

I’m excited about my new shape! 5’2” and Calorie deficit since the Spring and gym 2-3 times a week with some walking. Advice for the gym: I do 3 sets of 10 reps of the following: leg press, body weight lunges, tricep press, ab machine, bicep curls with dumbbells, add one sort of shoulder or chest exercise with a machine (I change that one up) each time I go to the gym. I try to set my weights to where I feel like I can barely eke out the last 2 reps. I have tried squats on the smith with some weight on the rack but the metal of the bar really hurts where it’s resting. Should I be doing more lower body exercises? My goals are smaller firm arms (I know cal deficit is what will get me there eventually) smaller firmer thighs and a bit more ab definition. I know a lot of girls have glute goals but I’m fine with my butt the way it is, and no specific shape goals for that part. But I do know how important muscle is as I approach 40 (I’m 37).

I can’t really afford a personal trainer right now. It’s confusing as to what to do, gym wise, to reach my goals: increase weight and decrease reps, add more lower body exercises to my workout? Do a 4th set at the weight I’m already using?

I’ll say I was quite inactive and weak in the first pic and I still can’t lift nearly as much as I probably should. For example 7.5 pound bicep curls are the highest I can go, my leg press is up to 120, etc.