Interesting thread. I just started NROLFW (in week 2) - is the consensus here that it's more complicated than it needs to be? I thought the book was excellent - lots of interesting information and well written but I can see where the workouts could be considered a lot. Would love to hear if you recommend sticking the NROLFW and just modifying when necessary or trying something else.

I am not totally familiar with the workout details, but from what I know about it, it is more complicated than it needs to be. It is a good resource, and anything that gets women picking up some weights, with good explanations, is always a good thing. I just think it is overly complicated and not the most effective routine. I think modifying it a bit to keep to the basics a bit more would be a good idea.

No, I finished it last summer. I persevered with it, but I don't think I really benefited much from it. I'm currently doing my own version of Starting Strength (I do rows instead of power cleans for health reasons), I've learned so much more about lifting.

Did you learn more from Starting Strength than NROLFW? I've been thinking about picking up that book.

I DO have to say though that I am grateful to NROLFW for giving me the confidence to enter that side of the gym and getting me off the machines.

Yes definitely! Even though I completed NROLFW, when reading Starting Strength I realized I really know nothing about lifting. I learned SO much on form. He details squat form so heavily it takes up about 60 pages. I feel so much safer and so much better about my form after reading that book. Even if you plan on continuing NROLFW, I recommend reading Starting Strength.

I really agree with this comment. I'm doing NRoL Supercharged and am using as many compound lifts as possible in my programming (you get to create your own programs). I read Starting Strength last year before I started lifting, and I would say that it has been a huge help as other books (NRoL Supercharged included) just don't have much, if anything, about form.

I have NROLFW, and I find it progresses you a bit too fast. It says to up your weights with every set. I kinda have to get good at the first weight before I can up it, don't I? I've also had to alter some of the moves due to lack of proper equipment. So I guess I'm not really following it, but I am lifting thanks to this book. I think all women on MFP should read the nutrition section. It was very enlightening as to how much you should eat in an easy to understand format.

I thought that the nutritional part was the strong side of NROLFW. I found the lifting part lacking. Lots of options as far as moves go, but lacking in basics or a thorough enough explanation on form. It's basically "here, pick this up, and lift it that way" with a (too) short description and a picture or two for each lift. It's spread a bit too wide and lacks depth, in my opinion.

For foundational free weight lifting instruction, you can't beat Starting Strength. On balance, the squat alone has what, 60-100 pages? With dozens of pictures to take you through an entire range of motion from start to finish? If you want to actually understand and apply solid lifting form, then SS is the book to read. He probably gets too much into details for the average novice lifter, along with schematics etc., but you can always skim through those parts if they whoosh over your head (many of them whooshed right over mine). However, on the other hand, SS will take you from novice to instructor level and you'll probably never outgrow it.