How can I start going to the gym? I want to start.

I made an account and started posting on this sub about a week ago. I said that I couldn't lose any more weight and that everything was plateauing. After reading some of the comments, I discovered that I wasn't eating at a deficit but rather at a maintenance level, which explained why I wasn't losing weight for the past 4 months or so. I've even ordered a new and better food scale online in hopes of using it to help me lose weight even further.

Today, I’m posting about how to start hitting the gym. I haven't been to a public gym in over 8 years; the last time I went was with one of my girlfriends when I was at my heaviest. The thought of me being in a gym with that weight always caused me anxiety but not anymore. In my previous post, I mentioned that I incorporate strength training into my routine for at least 5 days a week, but only with the equipments (dumbbells and a bench) I have at home. I've always considered going to the gym, but I've been reluctant due to the lack of knowledge. I could tell I am stronger after lifting weights for the past 4 months. Stronger in the sense that I could lift 3 times as much weights as I could when I first started. To be honest, I'm surprised and pleased that I was able to begin lifting all of the extra weights sitting in the storeroom, lol. I feel like I should start going to the gym soon because I don't have a proper mirror at home and have been depending on my window's reflection for my "forms" and, most importantly, the extra weights have been maxed out.

There are a few things I'd like to know before I sign up for a gym membership:

1. Do I really need to go to the gym to gain muscle + lose weight effectively?

2. Can I keep doing the at-home exercises that I've been doing? (DB rows, incline DB press, etc.) If not, where can I find new workouts that are suitable for my needs? And how should I go about doing it? I'm still unsure how to use any of the gym's machines too. I know YouTube and the Internet will help, but is there an app I can use or anything else I can depend on?

3. Is it really necessary for me to hire a professional PT in the first few weeks or months?

4. Is it really necessary for me to invest in protein powder?

Thank you guys in advance!

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source https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/comments/mspsy7/how_can_i_start_going_to_the_gym_i_want_to_start/