Starting a weight program for the first time. Advice needed.

Watch broscience on youtube from first episode to latest. You're welcome.

Just go up to the biggest guy at the gym holding a backpack and tell him you need some candy and he'll hook you up

You should just go straight to Crossfit and start doing olympic lifts with shitty form like all the rest of them. You'll have a 0% risk of injury for sure. It's the safest, best workout of all time.

"Crossfit, where we'll teach you the correct way to do an incorrect pull-up."

You can learn a lot on youtube about lifting form if you're smart about it. A trainer isn't a bad idea but most of them aren't in the business of training you until you can do it yourself, they want you to be dependent on them.

The 5x5 progam(google it) is a good place to start. 5 basic lifts with form instruction on each. They have an app to track your workouts that works pretty well.

Other than that, start light. Focus on form first and the weight will come. You'll get much stronger in a hurry if you're just starting out so don't kill yourself day 1.If you can't use proper technique, its too heavy.

Ss (starting strength) is good but if you are hoping to get really lean an expecting to lean out quickly then you need to change your expectations.

Honestly I would learn the squat, bench press, deadlifts, and overhead press and pull-ups, dips, push-ups. Learn these from someone

Learn the movements and place more emphasis on them than isolated movements such as leg curl, leg extension, etc.

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Ss (starting strength) is good but if you are hoping to get really lean an expecting to lean out quickly then you need to change your expectations.

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I'm not really focused on leanness. How long is the bulk phase of starting strength?

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Based off what I've read, Starting Strength seems like the best program for beginners. But I feel like if I go out and start following the book on my own, I'm going to get hurt because I don't know techniques, procedures, etc.

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Excellent program for beginners, take advantage of youtube too look for techniques.

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Should I meet with a personal trainer and learn the ropes of weight lifting?

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Unless you're rich I would advise against it, most personal trainers are glorified pep talkers...be your own motivator.

It can last a lifetime if you want it to, but typically periodization training programs range anywhere from 8-16weeks.

Honestly I would put you on a 12 week program then a week of active recovery after that I'd have you learn how to perform power cleans and muscle snatches and a few other movements.

But for your first year I would bother with a machine unless its for the inner and outer thighs and neck. Otherwise it's all barbell and dumbell and kettlebells

Don't let your ego get the best of you. Lift with weight that you can fully control, and keep good form. Guys in the gym repping with terrible form and grunting loudly to let everyone know how much weight they're lifting is silly.

I wouldn't spend money on a trainer. Do a bunch of research on the internet. Use light weight until your form is near perfect then gradually increase it.