Think it's better if your'e in a class, you have the discipline there from the trainer, and he's likely to keep you going when you don't want to. You have to dig deep when you are training on your...
Hey man it's just grass, and you don't let the dogs on it. Better get that artificial stuff then you wouldn't have to worry about the dogs going on it,they'll give it a wide berth!!
Is there not a trainer at the gym to advise you? The best info will come from the, but failing that can't you ask someone you see regularly at the gym. Personally, I'd go with cardio first then...
Doing squats and working with the weights should help, have been doing kettle bell training for over a year no, after having damaged my knee, and I don't experience the pain I used to, I do squats...
Toning muscle involves increasing muscle tissue while simultaneously decreasing fat stores around the muscle, giving it more shape and definition. Why don't you give kettlebells a try,they're great...