A LADY WHO LIFTS - 1 year of progress! (pics)

babycakes1970

I want to start off by saying that the OP looks GREAT and should be very proud of her progress. I have to wonder where are all the ladies who started lifting when they were overweight and where are their progress pics? I am 42 and still have at least 30 pounds to go before I can just worry about maintaining. I will be doing the You are Your Own Gym program for strength and a Couch to 5k program. I actually started the YAOG program before but had to take an extended break from exercising because of Achilles Tendonitis. Now I am ready to get back in the game and work on losing the last 30 pounds.

twinsmom7602

I just downloaded NRFLFW.. I look forward to reading it. I am at my ideal weight now, after losing 11 pounds, and I am going to start with the lifting as well. I have a disabled son who is not getting any lighter. I am going to friend request you if you don't mind. You look freakin' awesome!

fittiephd

Uh-oh, new girl crush! :blushing:

I look very much like your first before picture and would LOVE to make even half the progress you have. I'm 5'6", 136lb, 28-30% BF. My goal is around 125lb or whatever gets me to around 19% BF.

I'm also doing Turbo Fire but keep getting sidetracked by the thought I really should be lifting and I'm not sure if the strength included in the programme is enough.

So my question to you is: when you were at the size in the first picture, did you find Turbo Fire was a good way of shedding a bit more weight before lifting or in hindsight, would you have done straight to lifting, or a combination of both?

lol! thanks

You will make the progress it just takes time! it's been almost 2 years since I started eating better, then I did some working out, then turbo fire, then started on MFP and progressed to lifting. It's a long process!

Turbo fire doesn't include very much strength. If you want to start slow you could consider getting ChaLEAN extreme and doing a turbofire/chalean hybrid program that they advertise. My friend on here (Kenzieb07) can tell you all about it, she's a beachbody coach and she's had great success with various programs. Strength doesn't need to be gained through heavy lifting, that's just what I prefer. You could try out p90x or insanity for other forms of at home strength building.

At the time turbofire was the right choice for me and it definitely showed me that I was capable of more than I thought and that exercise can be fun I don't think I'd be where I am today if I hadn't done it first. I'm just glad I started lifting at all, really anytime you can start is good.

Basically my answer is that your workout regimen doesn't need to be all or nothing. Turbofire doesn't need to be done every day, you could do it only on rest days just pick whichever dvds you like! And then on the other days do heavy lifting or other programs. You can mix it up however you like best for YOU I personally don't do anything else with stronglifts but that's because I just like lifting best good luck!

fittiephd

I want to start off by saying that the OP looks GREAT and should be very proud of her progress. I have to wonder where are all the ladies who started lifting when they were overweight and where are their progress pics? I am 42 and still have at least 30 pounds to go before I can just worry about maintaining. I will be doing the You are Your Own Gym program for strength and a Couch to 5k program. I actually started the YAOG program before but had to take an extended break from exercising because of Achilles Tendonitis. Now I am ready to get back in the game and work on losing the last 30 pounds.

From what I've seen, it seems like MOST people seem to believe that they need to lose all of their weight before they start strength training. Which is so not true, anyone can lift, as you know! I really had never even considered lifting when I first started losing weight, exercise in general was completely foreign to me! I didn't even really know that women lift, never even thought about it! You may be harder pressed to find people who started lifting before losing all of their weight, but if I remember right Sarauk2sf started lifting early on and has had great success! She has a recent success post too I'm sure if you ask nicely she'll direct you to it

Good luck with your programs!

alycat1990

Amazing job you look absolutely wonderful!!! great work!

chuckponygirl

Nice work....you look fantastic!

ktrn0312

You are awesome!

Byrdsong1920

Rockin it! Girls who lift are rockstars!

MrsK20141004

I'm sorry to sound dumb on her but what does NROLFW stand for? and how do you access it? Do you already have to be at your ideal weight to begin?

Not a dumb question! I should have written it out. It's a book called "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". It's a great beginners guide to lifting aimed at women (but it's just like a men's program because women can lift just like them!). It explains the benefits of lifting, how it effects your body, and nutrition. It has meal suggestions and a 6 month workout plan with instructions on how to do all the lifts. It can be found on amazon for ~12 dollars.

You do not need to be at your ideal weight to begin lifting! In fact the sooner the better!! Dieting tends to cause muscle loss which just makes one's body looser and jigglier. Strength training makes everything tighter and stronger!

Saw your post and this ^ and ordered the book. Thanks for the inspiration!

sunnyskyjb

Congrats!!

supplemama

Well done! You look amazing!!

Happyme2009

I love this post! Very inspirational!!!!

kiekie

Basically my answer is that your workout regimen doesn't need to be all or nothing. Turbofire doesn't need to be done every day, you could do it only on rest days just pick whichever dvds you like! And then on the other days do heavy lifting or other programs. You can mix it up however you like best for YOU I personally don't do anything else with stronglifts but that's because I just like lifting best good luck!

Thank you so much for responding. This really is what I needed to hear!

Tulipgirl1223

I didn't read all the responses, so if it was answered sorry.
First off....you look GREAT!!!!!!!
Second off.....Is this a program you can do at home with hand weights, or do you need a gym or weight bench at your home

Thank you!! Definitely a program you need a gym or a power rack with weights for. As you can see from my post a lot of my lifts are over 50 lbs, some over 100 lbs. Those aren't the types of lifts you do with hand weights Nrolfw definitely requires a gym unless you have a lot of equipment.

If you google dumbbell workouts you can find some but you'd need pretty heavy dumbbells eventually! When I say lift heavy, I mean HEAVY, like as heavy as possible!

Bummer LOL, thanks!!!

Howbouto

You look amazing!!! Which do you prefer NROL4W or stronglifts?

firelle

I LOVE your back. And bejeezus, you shredded even before NROLFW with that TF. Congratulations! I'm a past TFer. I'm just going to pick it up for fun when I'm taking a break from my gym schedule. I'm finally tackling those circuits and lifting all the things!

fittiephd

You look amazing!!! Which do you prefer NROL4W or stronglifts?

If you could go back and do it all over, would you still have started with NROL or would you have gone straight to SL?

If I went back, I would definitely either do NROLFW to begin with or I would do Jamie Eason's LiveFit. I haven't actually done Live FIt but I've looked a lot into it and it's a similar program to new rules, starts with no cardio, adds it in in phase 2, has more lifts in each workout and focuses on certain parts of the body in certain workouts.

I don't like how the live fit trainer pushes supplementation so much, even though I think that it can possibly be very helpful, it may not be necessary for everyone or at least not while they're starting out especially if they can't afford it.

I like that nrolfw begins with higher reps and fewer sets and then progresses to lower rep higher weight because it assumes that the average female who is beginning lifting for the first time will *underestimate* how much they can lift (I did!) and thus should start at higher rep and then progress as their confidence progresses.

Nrolfw workouts can be a little confusing at first if one doesn't take the time to actually read the book and read the instructions. It's a short, informational, and really well done book but a lot of people skip to the end for the workouts and then say they don't understand how it's set up. It's confusing but if you read it closely, it is all explained!

And I like that nrolfw has a whole section devoted to nutrition and why eating ABOVE BMR and even at maintenance during lifting is CRUCIAL. I think this is the best information in the book, how to calculate your calories. In fact, I have this old post outlining it if anyone is interested:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538943-how-to-calculate-calorie-goals-according-to-nrolfw

I would not start with stronglifts if I went back and started over because although stronglifts is an amazing workout program, I think I would have been very intimidated by it (even more than I was!) if I had started with it. It's very much aimed at men, and as much as I am a proponent of women and men being able to lift the same, I liked having a program that I felt was aimed at me as a female when I first started. Stronglifts is great for me now because it's quick, the workouts are always the same, and it's not anything I have to think about. Plus the app is handy!

Thanks for the great question!

^^^ I think this pretty much addresses your question To sum it up, I prefer stronglifts now because it's straightforward and a quicker workout.

fittiephd

I LOVE your back. And bejeezus, you shredded even before NROLFW with that TF. Congratulations! I'm a past TFer. I'm just going to pick it up for fun when I'm taking a break from my gym schedule. I'm finally tackling those circuits and lifting all the things!

AWESOME Lol I think my post TF pics are misleading I don't think I was shredded then but I definitely felt a lot stronger than when I started!! Any activity helps Plus TF was very fun! Lots of little changes here and there since then, mostly decreases in inches and increases in lifts!

And thank you!!!

geneal01

iv been doing kettle works for 3 weeks now, has anyone seen results doing this program?? I hate doing cardio, but enjoy weight training,

just want some input on kettle works please or any other suggestions!!!

babycakes1970

I have the NROLFW book and even started the program but I hated how it had me going all over the gym. I also decided that I wanted to spend LESS time at the gym not more.I think that we all have to do whatever program works best with our preferences/lifestyle whatever.

Howbouto

You look amazing!!! Which do you prefer NROL4W or stronglifts?

If you could go back and do it all over, would you still have started with NROL or would you have gone straight to SL?

If I went back, I would definitely either do NROLFW to begin with or I would do Jamie Eason's LiveFit. I haven't actually done Live FIt but I've looked a lot into it and it's a similar program to new rules, starts with no cardio, adds it in in phase 2, has more lifts in each workout and focuses on certain parts of the body in certain workouts.

I don't like how the live fit trainer pushes supplementation so much, even though I think that it can possibly be very helpful, it may not be necessary for everyone or at least not while they're starting out especially if they can't afford it.

I like that nrolfw begins with higher reps and fewer sets and then progresses to lower rep higher weight because it assumes that the average female who is beginning lifting for the first time will *underestimate* how much they can lift (I did!) and thus should start at higher rep and then progress as their confidence progresses.

Nrolfw workouts can be a little confusing at first if one doesn't take the time to actually read the book and read the instructions. It's a short, informational, and really well done book but a lot of people skip to the end for the workouts and then say they don't understand how it's set up. It's confusing but if you read it closely, it is all explained!

And I like that nrolfw has a whole section devoted to nutrition and why eating ABOVE BMR and even at maintenance during lifting is CRUCIAL. I think this is the best information in the book, how to calculate your calories. In fact, I have this old post outlining it if anyone is interested:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538943-how-to-calculate-calorie-goals-according-to-nrolfw

I would not start with stronglifts if I went back and started over because although stronglifts is an amazing workout program, I think I would have been very intimidated by it (even more than I was!) if I had started with it. It's very much aimed at men, and as much as I am a proponent of women and men being able to lift the same, I liked having a program that I felt was aimed at me as a female when I first started. Stronglifts is great for me now because it's quick, the workouts are always the same, and it's not anything I have to think about. Plus the app is handy!

Thanks for the great question!

^^^ I think this pretty much addresses your question To sum it up, I prefer stronglifts now because it's straightforward and a quicker workout.

Thank you, I glanced through a page or 2 but didn't read all 7. You really are inspiring. One of my New years resolution is to start a strength program.

fittiephd

I have the NROLFW book and even started the program but I hated how it had me going all over the gym. I also decided that I wanted to spend LESS time at the gym not more.I think that we all have to do whatever program works best with our preferences/lifestyle whatever.

Yeah definitely! That's how I felt with nrolfw after a while too. It was perfect for me while I started but now I love that SL is just 3 lifts quick in and out of the gym if I want Although I usually add upper body isolation work at the end too.

jbbrannon

You look great!!

GonnaBFit2510

Wow great results you look fab,
I've just started NROL4W and am really enjoying it, hope I get as good a result as you.
I am managing to do it at home too which is good as I'm one of these lady's who is scared of what people will think of a lady lifting lol
I will probably start going to the gym once I've got the hang of it all and can lift quite heavy (or run out of weights)
FR sent ;0)

zeprose

Congrats! Great results! I really want to be where you stands but I have a long way to go. I hope I can get the same results:)

Tlove1111

Great results! ! I've been lifting for a few months & starting to see some good results. You just gave me the extra boost of motivation I needed to keep at it! Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged if your not seeng the results quick enough. It's refreshing to hear you say that it took a year to get to where you're at now. Thank you. :flowerforyou:

weloveourboys

You look fantastic! But I maintain that doing cardio is good for people...it is important for cardiovascular fitness. For the recorded, I don't lift; only cardio! One can also look toned and strong by doing only cardio!

ScottishMrs

Awesome results! I really want to start a lifting program now! I don't want to go to the gym though because it's super crowded and I can never get to the equipment. If I saved up and got a barbell set, would I be able to do this at home?

I'm definitely going to try finding a dumbbell lifting program to start immediately though because we already have a set of Bowflex dumbbells and an up/down inclinable utility bench.

ETA: Mind if I send a FR?

Imigen04

Can I ask why no cardio? I am completely lost going into weightloss and getting myself healthy. I would like to find out more foods that are ok to eat. I do Zumba at my house before I head to school an hour away and I am there by 8:00 and don't get home til 6:00 so on the go foods are needed too. Does it matter when to eat ( like before exercise or after). I really have no idea about anything. Plus I don't eat mayo, fish, or turkey cause I'm allergic. . Helpppppp plz

kopmom

I have the NROLFW book and even started the program but I hated how it had me going all over the gym. I also decided that I wanted to spend LESS time at the gym not more.I think that we all have to do whatever program works best with our preferences/lifestyle whatever.

Yeah definitely! That's how I felt with nrolfw after a while too. It was perfect for me while I started but now I love that SL is just 3 lifts quick in and out of the gym if I want Although I usually add upper body isolation work at the end too.

I agree, that is what I love about SL too !!