Stage 2
Replies
-
Is everyone still sticking with the three days a week? Anybody doing 2 days a week?0
-
I've ended up doing 2 days a week. It wasn't the plan, but life got in the way the last few weeks. Finishing Stage 2 tonight, then on to Stage 3 next week and hoping to get back to 3 days.0
-
Thanks Karen.0
-
Just finished Stage 2, so I'll be moving on to Stage 3 now! Didn't see much of an increase in weights this stage (except my deadlifts, which are still improving), but have definitely noticed definition improvements (particularly in my arms), so something is working.
I usually do 3 but I drop it to 2 if my running starts to suffer. (Trying to balance the two is a real pain in the butt...often literally!)Is everyone still sticking with the three days a week? Anybody doing 2 days a week?0 -
Best of luck in Stage 3 kunibob!0
-
Is everyone still sticking with the three days a week? Anybody doing 2 days a week?
It depends on my activities for the week. I aim for Monday and Wednesday and then try to do Fri or Sat for the 3rd workout. Sometimes I can do it, sometimes I have other commitments. I play kickball on Thursday now that it's spring, and do cardio at the gym on Tuesdays. It's a nice 5 days per week of some form of exercise. I don't do Fri night/Saturday morning workouts back to back, it's one or the other.0 -
Well I finished stage 1 today and am on to stage 2 as of next Tuesday! It's like starting all over again with the new exercises. Plus they look scary
I'm sure I'll be fine though once I start doing them. (and oh God I'm never getting away from lunges am I?)
I'm going to aim for three times a week but two is good for me.0 -
I did my first Workout B last night and it was kind of a disaster
My gym was SUPER crowded so I couldn't even start with the deadlifts like it says to. Both squat racks and the deadlift area were taken, my plan was to go back to it at the end or something. Then some idiot meathead was hogging a machine, even after I asked if I could work in. He said " give me a minute" and then proceeded to sit there for another 3-4 knowing I was waiting! UGH!!! So that killed my HR right there. Plus I was having issues with the crunches portion. All the benches were taken to do reverse crunches.
So in short, I'm really hoping the next time I do this workout it doesn't go as terribly. And I never did get to do the deadlifts! I was going to do a set of squats to make up for it, but the squat racks were still taken by time I was done.
I did manage to do the intervals at the end tho. Walked 3.5 and ran 6.0 or 6.5 for the 15 minutes. I haven't run in a while so that was a nice change.0 -
I did my first Workout B last night and it was kind of a disaster My gym was SUPER crowded so I couldn't even start with the deadlifts like it says to. Both squat racks and the deadlift area were taken, my plan was to go back to it at the end or something. Then some idiot meathead was hogging a machine, even after I asked if I could work in. He said " give me a minute" and then proceeded to sit there for another 3-4 knowing I was waiting! UGH!!! So that killed my HR right there. Plus I was having issues with the crunches portion. All the benches were taken to do reverse crunches.
So in short, I'm really hoping the next time I do this workout it doesn't go as terribly. And I never did get to do the deadlifts! I was going to do a set of squats to make up for it, but the squat racks were still taken by time I was done.
I did manage to do the intervals at the end tho. Walked 3.5 and ran 6.0 or 6.5 for the 15 minutes. I haven't run in a while so that was a nice change.
Oh bad luck! Is there any way you can get there at a less crowded time?
Oh and BTW, I am doing 3 times per week.
Anyone know when I will start looking like a goddess?0 -
I did my first Workout B last night and it was kind of a disaster My gym was SUPER crowded so I couldn't even start with the deadlifts like it says to. Both squat racks and the deadlift area were taken, my plan was to go back to it at the end or something. Then some idiot meathead was hogging a machine, even after I asked if I could work in. He said " give me a minute" and then proceeded to sit there for another 3-4 knowing I was waiting! UGH!!! So that killed my HR right there. Plus I was having issues with the crunches portion. All the benches were taken to do reverse crunches.
So in short, I'm really hoping the next time I do this workout it doesn't go as terribly. And I never did get to do the deadlifts! I was going to do a set of squats to make up for it, but the squat racks were still taken by time I was done.
I did manage to do the intervals at the end tho. Walked 3.5 and ran 6.0 or 6.5 for the 15 minutes. I haven't run in a while so that was a nice change.
Oh bad luck! Is there any way you can get there at a less crowded time?
Oh and BTW, I am doing 3 times per week.
Anyone know when I will start looking like a goddess?
Mornings don't really work for me, so either I go after work or not at all. I've been going late Saturday morning and that seems to be a good time to get a 3rd workout in for the week. But I'm stuck with Monday and Wednesday evenings. I'm hoping now that spring is coming, people will want to spend less time cooped up inside a gym.... I hope!0 -
Anyone know when I will start looking like a goddess?
Haha love this- me too I would like to know at exactly which stage of the programme this happens
0 -
I just finished stage 2 this week.0
-
I started stage 2 this week and will complete my second workout A. I find the squat p/p the most awkward and the Bulgarian split squat to be the most challenging. Im going to buy some weight lifting straps this weekend because I know I can dead lift more (completed last set at 95lbs) but the grip is a major issue (not to mention the blisters/callouses) so I’m hoping that will help.
I don’t have the time to complete one full workout session b/c I go on my lunch break. I can finish A in one session (but do feel rushed) and B I def have to split into 3 sessions so Im going to do A on Mon, interval training on Tues, B on Wed and then finish abs at home. Good thing I have a Swiss ball and some hand weights at home. Then I will continue to do Body Combat Thurs evenings (or a run depending on how I feel) and then A again on Fri. I realize the next week the workouts will shift but I will always have to finish workout B at home.0 -
Sounds like a plan Steph. You may want to try gloves before the straps if you haven't already and reversing one hand on the deadlift grip. It helped me enormously. I think I finished stage 1 at 115. Doing the Stage 2 WO B for the first time tonight. wait! OH CRAP!! Hubby not home. How am I going to pull this off?0
-
Sounds like a plan Steph. You may want to try gloves before the straps if you haven't already and reversing one hand on the deadlift grip. It helped me enormously. I think I finished stage 1 at 115. Doing the Stage 2 WO B for the first time tonight. wait! OH CRAP!! Hubby not home. How am I going to pull this off?
Yes Ive been using gloves and tried the mixed grip last time. It was ok, but I found that my hands still tired quickly, way before my legs did. But didnt get a blister that time at least. yuck!0 -
The only other thing is actually setting the bar down between reps to reset your grip. I've had issues here too. Best of luck to you. ( I stole my husband's grip master, he plays guitar.:blushing: )0
-
ahoy ladies!
i started stage 2 today after a solid 3 weeks of rest. i'd intended to get back in two weeks ago, but after putting on some unintended pounds on vacation, i decided to try to cardio them away (dumb move), and then i got a nasty infection which i'm finishing up a 10 day course of antibiotics for. anyway...
i went easy with the front squats and used a 30lb barbell. i don't have the divets in my deltoids b/c my collarbone sticks out too far on the right due to a shoulder injury i sustained many years ago. so holding the bar feels weird. if i can work up to the oly, i will, but i'm not going to force it.
the stepups were hell. i'd been cheating all through stage 1 and using my non-working foot to help. i was at 27.5lbs in each hand, and i had to go back to 10, and still can't really do it without wobbling. i felt really lame.
the one point rows were awesome standing on my left leg, but standing on my right i had to downgrade 10lbs AND kept falling over. i had no idea i was so asymmetrical. i wonder if there's anything else i could do to bolster that.
everything else went fine, though i'm not sure i go down low enough for pushups. i'm happy there's a lot of core work in this stage b/c i used to take a weekly core class and was starting to really miss it.
glad to be back, can't wait to see how everyone else is progressing!0 -
Wendy I'm in your boat with push ups. Not sure if I'm getting low enough either.
Finally did 2B1 tonight though I have to push my intervals until tomorrow. Had I known that everybody in my house would be fast asleep when I got home, I would have stayed and finished.
The ab work felt good and I started with the hardest flexion. Now How do I make the reverse crunch harder?
My quads feel interesting. Not sore yet but like I definitely did something.
Some of the guys were looking at me a little weird with some of the new moves and I set up more in the weight are when I usually move out after squats or deads. This should be an interesting cycle.0 -
hear, hear to you, wendy, for reducing your weight (on the step-ups) and getting the form right. This is KEY! Your body will thank you - and you will move up in weights as time goes on, in any event.
Kill it, samntha0 -
Just started Stage 2 today. I've read thru most of this thread, so thankfully had a heads up about the FSPP. Boy were my wrists sore after that one! And I did the HIIT today since I read that B takes longer and I only have about an hour in the morning to get thru everything (unless I can drag my butt out of bed earlier). It wasn't bad, just a bit awkward on some things.0
-
I haven't been able to workout since my last Phase 2 workout on Saturday and it's been making me fidgety, haha. I've done 3 workouts so far, so I have my 2nd Workout B to do tomorrow I think. I rest on Sundays, but yesterday my boyfriend picked me up after work and I didn't get a workout in. Tonight he's bringing me home from work (since I don't have my car) and I'm SO tired that I really just want to relax and go to bed early tonight. I'm thinking lugging heavy weights around and doing the HIIT workout after is better on full rest.
My take so far on Phase 2 is that its definitely working my abs! And it seems to isolate my legs better (with all those one-legged exercises!) I do miss the regular squats from Phase 1 tho, I'm thinking of adding 2 sets of 8 or 10 in just to keep improving on them. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get a few minutes to use the deadlift area. It's been occupied too much lately!
I find for the deadlifts, a mixed grip REALLY helped me. I also set the weight down after each rep. This lets me focus on my form and I don't worry about dropping the weight from my grip slipping.0 -
Just finished stage 1! I'm taking a week break so I'll be joining your workouts next week...0
-
Welcome Nelski and sounds like a plan 00trayn. I lowered my weight just a bit for the deadlifts for stage 2 also since it's a higher number of reps and a greater range of motion. I'm at 95 lbs and it seems anything over 90 I HAVE to use a switch, which I forgot the first set LOL. I am definitely feeling it in my legs today. I haven't been this sore in a LONG time. It actually feels like my glutes did something yeah for WO B!0
-
Well I just came back from doing the intervals. It was so short I don't think it was worth the drive to the gym. I'm just going to make sure I squeeze them in on B nights. It will also mean that the day after B will be a full rest day and I think I am really going to need it LOL0
-
Just started Stage 2 this week...Wowsers! My body is very off balance, due to a broken leg from a car wreck years ago....my other side compensated and my leg is actually a bit shorter, so I'm REALLY feeling awkward! Keep tipping over in the lunges and squats - did just bodyweight for the Bulgarian Split Squat. I hope to start adding weights on each workout, but I'm a little doubtful right now.0
-
Starting stage 2 next week so just going through this thread for some tips and stuff. The only exercise that is really intimadatingme is the front squat push press. I don't think I will be able to start with the olympic bar because I was struggling with 15lb dumbbells on stage 1. I actually did the 1st 2 stages of NROL4W a few years ago and don't remember what I did in place of those because I KNOW I didn't do the recommended exercise. I also don't have a box to stand on for deadlifts so I will just be doing them from the floor.
Question...I see a lot of you posting about doing HIIT after workout B, do you really mean HIIT or just intervals? I didn't think the book suggested HIIT, but maybe I need to read again. Doing intervals is not necessarily HIIT. HIIT is supposed to be REALLY intense, like pushing yourself to the max. I couldn't imagine doing that after lifting but maybe that's just me. I'm not sure I will be doing intervals with B, I'm going to alternate my days with cardio so probably won't end up doing cardio on lifting days but we'll see how I'm feeling.0 -
Question...I see a lot of you posting about doing HIIT after workout B, do you really mean HIIT or just intervals? I didn't think the book suggested HIIT, but maybe I need to read again. Doing intervals is not necessarily HIIT. HIIT is supposed to be REALLY intense, like pushing yourself to the max. I couldn't imagine doing that after lifting but maybe that's just me. I'm not sure I will be doing intervals with B, I'm going to alternate my days with cardio so probably won't end up doing cardio on lifting days but we'll see how I'm feeling.
I, for one, do push myself to the limit with the HIIT after workout B, to the point where my lungs are screaming to stop at the end of the minute and I couldn't possibly keep going. However, I would be embarrassed if you ever saw me as you'd probably think I was doing a nursery version compared to most people's!0 -
I'm halfway through Stage 2 and realized that I've been doing an extra set - I've been doing 3 sets of each instead of 2. Which would explain why I am A. so freekin sore and B. so overly tired and C. so amazingly hungry!!!
Think this will be an issue?0 -
I'm only doing plain old intervals, I DO NOT run. I had shin splints today just from the weak 14 minutes I did do. ANd yet I can swim, bike, zumba or step for an hour like it's nobody's business go figure.
Did A2 tonight. I pushed most of my weights up and finally was able to hold a 60 sec plank. I did have trouble with my step up though and that's a first. My grip was for crap after doing WO B and my forearms were pumping like crazy. Good workout in all though!
Welcome to those new to stage 2!!0 -
Did A2 tonight. I pushed most of my weights up and finally was able to hold a 60 sec plank. I did have trouble with my step up though and that's a first. My grip was for crap after doing WO B and my forearms were pumping like crazy. Good workout in all though!
Welcome to those new to stage 2!!
Congrats on the 60 sec plank! I haven't done a plank in a while but I do remember having a hard time getting past 30 sec last time I did NROL.0
This discussion has been closed.