Hey guys, checking in to say that my new gym is fabulous. But...I wanted to set a session with a trainer to get one on one instruction on some of the moves. It's been years since I did anything with free weights and I have some knee issues. My first session isn't until March 7th! They are doing some sort of fitness assessment with new members (this gym is part of a medical center) and everybody is booked up. So I think I'm going to do machine weights in February and start NROL4W in March after my session with the trainer. I'm a little bummed but knowing my history of injuries I think it's wise to wait until I can get some one on one time before I tackle free weights again.

I did lift yesterday on the machine weights and am pleasantly sore today. My plan is to do 3 days a week with machine weights and another day or two of cardio.

Can I still join the challenge even if my NROL4W start is going to be delayed? If so I would like to aim for a minimum of 4 days per week at the gym (3 days of lifting).

emgel - what is slow carbing????

Haha slow carb is by Tim Ferris who wrote The 4 Hour Body (really interesting! I recommend it) and is sort of his own way of eating. My husband has been doing it for more than a year with great success! It is sort of a mix of south beach and paleo. Basically, you eat, in as much quantity as you want, vegetables, proteins, and legumes (the beans and lentils are a super important part of it - they are the "slow carb" portion) and then once a week you have a full cheat day. It definitely works well for people who do well with restrictive eating rather than portion control (I think I have said before I can NOT eat just one cookie, I admire those who can).

There are TONS of blogs devoted to slow carbing and the four hour body and the recipes are really delicious! (last night I made this http://www.marksdailyapple.com/moroccan-chicken-casserole/#axzz1kxpZyC3Q) but what I really love is the cheat day because it is MANDATORY I never feel like I am depriving myself because I KNOW I can eat ALL my cravings on Saturday.

We eat a lot of: eggs, bacon, chicken, steak, hamburgers, turkey burgers, fish, guacamole/avocado, hummus, legumes (lentil stew, black beans - lots of mexican food - chili, etc..), carrots, cauliflower, and stuff like that. And it is a lot of quantity and not a lot of calories! Hence my problem.

I hit 1800 calories today by adding some nuts and the rest of my avocado from breakfast =D

Vicki I found the weight area intimidating at first too. I did/do a couple of things to help myself get through it.
First off I had a trainer walk me through the area and show me what was what. It helped me to feel more comfortable and it opened the door for me to ask questions when/if they come up.
second I walk in there like I own the place. I feel stupid sometimes honestly but I still continually tell myself that I belong there as much as anyone else does.
finally I put my headphones in and just put a general *taking care of business* look on my face. I smile and am polite but I just get in, get it done and then get the heck out.

you can do it! truthfully you gotta get comfortable with the area because just as soon as you get used to one set of exercises they fricking change on you and then you gotta learn some new stuff all over again. I often feel like I may look stupid or awkward as hell but I no longer feel like I don't belong in the free weights.

Vicki - the good thing about "slow carb" is that you don't count anything. you just eat the allowed foods, if you did count carbs you would be shocked at how many carbs you were eating because of all the beans and lentils! Restrictive eating just works for me, but since I am tracking what I am eating while I'm doing this I am noticing a big calorie deficit. Just mapped out today and only hit 1400...I guess I'll add some nuts and avocado to my dinner! YUM!

*disclaimer: i do not think "slow carb" is better than any other eating plan out there. Moderation, IF, low carb, low fat, all work in their own ways as long as they work for YOU personally! I just never expected to have the problem of not getting enough calories. The foods I am eating are just high quantity low calorie lol.

Ok, lifting session this am. Not my best. But Stage 3 is almost done!

please add me. my goal is daily workouts...just SOMETHING every day. I like to crosstrain, including NROLFW, spin, running, soccer and yoga.

I am on Stage 1, going to workout 5 on Friday.

Missed working out on Tuesday, not feeling well. I am hoping I will be ok tomorrow morning, I need to get back to this. I find if I miss too many days it is so hard fro me to get back to a routine. That being said, I will not go back to the gym until I feel ok, there really is no point.
I am shocked that I have missed lifting the past few days as much as I have, it must be a good thing.

Beeps - I am trying to lose fat!! I've built up so much muscle (I know because I can SEE it!) but it's all under the fat I keep failing to lose!

Rachietuk - feel better! And I agree, no point in working out when you feel like crap!

lcuconley and gadenni - i take my book with me in the gym at the beginning of every stage! I don't care WHAT people think! I have seen people trying to sneak peeks at my New Rules log (just the printed sheet of paper I write my weights on) because I think they are interested in what I am doing! But more than anything, people comment on my vibram five fingers lol

And, on my last "slow carb" note: I really recommend the book the 4 Hour Body to anyone interested in it! The author, Tim Ferris, has some great insight and research on muscle gains, weight loss, and other things you never knew you cared about!

I am such a carb eater! i don't like a lot of meat. I have a friend who is following the Dukan diet. She has lost 39 pounds in 10 weeks. It is a high protein diet similar to Atkins diet. It's not for me.

Another day down of lifting. NO back pain . Focused on form and muscles working