Happy Sunday everyone! Such a beautiful day here in NJ. I'm getting ready to go have a late lunch with a friend from MD who is coming up to visit her family near here. Yup, taking the bike and taking the long way!

Did my last Stage 7 #5 workout. I'm quite please - pressed #65 and made #90 on upright rows, increased static lunges by #5, did at least some of my push-ups closer to the floor and with good form, stayed the same with RDLs and increased bent over rows by #5 and did 4 full sets - recently, I've only been able to get 3 sets due to time and energy. I'm happy with those results.

I am pretty much decided to move to 5/3/1 at least for a little while. 1 compound lift per workout, with as little or as much accessory work

Have any of you ever looked at Strength Standards? http://www.strstd.com/ It also gives some potential 5/3/1 and accessory work which I am going to use as a guide.

Cowgirl is right, the scale is evil! So is BMI - I weigh 3 pounds more than I did when I started NROL4W but I'm in 2 sizes smaller and see the change in nearly all parts of my bod! I will take measurements again when I finish #6 on Wednesday. Step away from the scale Runz!

...and nice Stage 2A stats!!!

Yesterday, despite eating pizza, I was well within my cals and it felt real good to know that I can do that occasionally and not go off the deep end. My usual would be to eat not just 1 or 2 slices but 1/2 pie plus breadsticks etc! I'm trying to focus on knowing when enough is enough. I've tried really hard to slow the speed with which I eat (I'm a shoveler from way back!) and give my stomach time to catch up with my head. I can't do lots of small meals, my day doesn't allow it so I tend to have larger meals 2-3x per day. It's very easy to overeat in those circumstances so I'm trying to be more consistent with everything.

Mary, I see a waist and smaller hips! You have to find some workout pants that aren't so close fitting so you'll feel comfy in them so you can see your improvements! And look at those inches lost! Fantastic!!!

MAry, I can see a little difference. It would be more noticeable in a smaller T-shirt maybe and I don't mean a skin showing type t-shirt either. Also, does it have to be a full pleated skirt? A long straight skirt may show more curves while still being modest. Sorry I'm the last person to be giving fashion advice lol.

SUe have fun. I need to get out of this house on this beautiful day too. It's a breezy 76.I may need to take a sweatshirt to the park.

Runz, where are you at in the program now?

Cowgirl, some days are like that. Life is for the living, glad you had fun.

Beeps that sounds like a plan.

I made it to the gym this morning. Very busy for 9am on a Sunday, especially on a beautiful day. I wrecked myself. I walked in tired since I didn't sleep so well last night. I still managed 2x15@105 DLs. My DB BB was with the 20s. I don't feel comfortable going over 25s on those without a spot so I may switch to BB when I'm ready to go over 50lbs. Little more stability with the BB. My wide pull downs were a disappointment. 2x12@75 was my second set. Couldn't quite finish my reps I've been bad and skipping metabolic.

Oh, question, though I my need to ask a power lifter I know. There was a lady in the gym today that I haven't really seen before. SHe "looked" like a power lifter, totally ripped rocking her weight belt. Anyway, she was doing squats on the smith machine, lifting about 160, heavy but no insane. I did notice that she was barely going halfway down. seemed odd to me. I also noticed that her feet were pretty close together. Looks like a Hack squat I guess except at 90 degrees instead of 45 degrees. Is this a squat variation, or does she "look" like she knows what she doing, but really doesn't?

Manic - CONGRATS on the inches lost - WOW!! I hope you are holding your head high and proud!! Good work! I would much rather have inches lost than scale weight loss (though I am happy with both).

Runz - good job finishing stage 2 :-) I can't wait to see progress pics.

Samantha - your zumba comments make me want to go. How do you rate it on a scale of 1-10 of fun and calorie burn?

Cowgirl - your food comments made my mouth water. UGH! Fasting now for wedding 2 weeks away and anything makes me hungry.

Sue - hope you had a nice ride :-) Congrats on almost being done with nrol4w!

I just finished stage 1 and excited to start stage 2. I took my measurements home from when I started and tried measuring myself to see the difference. Strangely all of my measurements are larger on both me and my hubby (he is doing NROL for men). We know we are not larger, since we have both shed a few pounds and our cloths are looser. We did not measure ourselves on a workout day. She (the trainer at the gym) just must measure us differently, or maybe shaves off some to make people happy?? Anyway, I am measuring myself prior to stage 2 and noting exactly where I am measuring and hope to have something to share at the end of stage 2 or 3. I can tell that my upper outer thigh/ saddlebag area - one of my biggest problem areas - have lessened. They are definitely smaller, so I know things are moving in the right direction. Plus my hubby says my behind is getting lifted, so GOOD things are happening :-))))

THat sounds wonderful Jewel. You may not notice a huge difference from stage to stage, but there should be a pretty decent difference form beginning to end. As to your Zumba question, it all depends on the instructor. I have one instructor where I average 128 BPM. I started with her, now I pretty much avoid her because at that rate I barely burn 300-400 in an hour. She's a 5. My Friday Instructor Christine, is in the middle. She's fun and it's a decent workout, she's 7-8. I burn about 500 with her. Now Anniely, my Wednesday instructor, is hard-fing-core. Her class in at 9pm on a wednesday and she'll have 70-100 people. She's a 10!! I will burn between 600-700 with her. She is fast-paced and fun. I smile the entire time she is trying to kill me. I hit my max HR almost every time around 165. Moral of the story, you may have to try a few different instructors before you find one you really like

I almost hit my protein goal. Almost. I had a protein shake planned but tossed it. I hate protein shakes.

good morning everyone. i've been creeping around the daily chat forums for a while, but never posted. i figured i could introduce myself and join in. i enjoy reading all the posts and have been impressed with the gains that y'all have been making!

i'm tracy, 28, from austin, tx. i've been doing nrol4w for several months now and i'm currently just starting stage 3. i've also recently started doing a spin class with a friend from my church just to mix things up and keep it interesting.

happy monday to everyone! :flowerforyou:

Just checking in after my weekend off. What a great weekend..I think I danced enough on Saturday night to make up for my lack of exercise the past week. I hurt all over, legs, hips, shoulders and even my toes...danced for hours in high heels..people remarked several times how much energy I have! Great to hear as I'm edging up on fifty

Today is an errand day with lawn mowing as the exercise.

Two weeks before the last long weekend of the summer.

Can't wait to hit the gym again!

Off to read all of your posts now..cheers.

Breeze

Dancing at 50?!!! You go, Girl!

Welcome, tarts!

Mary, you LOOK small. That's what counts! Very pretty picture.

Breeze, sounds like a great weekend!

Jewel, I was frustrated last week as I was taking my end of month measurements and nothing had changed. Then I took photos and was surprised to find my cellulite looked better and my arms looked better. Who cares about numbers when the mirror tells us things are changing!

Runz, I used to love protein shakes, but they just taste so yucky lately.

I'm in a TOM funk. I just want to lay in bed and eat all 46 of the M&M cookies I just made. MUST. LIFT. TODAY.

Hello everyone!

I've been creeping on here for a little bit now and love to see everyones accomplishments. I can't wait to be there some day:)
I'm Amber, 31 yrs old, currently live in Harrison Arkansas. I've been doing NR for about 2 months now; however, I'm still on stage 1.
I was very hesitant to start lifting because I have about 60 lbs to lose so for about 4 months I focused on cardio and it did help. I've lost about 30 lbs so far. But after doing some serious digging on MFP I decided to give lifting a go...and I must admit, I absolutely love it.
I look forward to chatting with y'all:happy:

Runz, I have my underwear pics for my and hubs eyes only! LOL I can definitely see the difference in those pics. I can't wait until those inches come off the saddlebags and thighs!!!

Worked out today---Shoulders and back along with 16 minutes of elliptical.

Welcome tarts and amber! These ladies are great and have become greAt friends. Very good with the put ups and zero put downs.

Breeze and Beeps, it sounds like you both had great weekends. Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the day. Breeze, I wish I could go dancing, that's why I Zumba. I get to go dancing and get my sexy back without strange looks or a pissed off hubby who always gets left home. Hey, it's not my fault he hates dancing, or being social. :laugh:

Mary you are way to hard on yourself. You've been working so hard and it most definitely shows.

Runs, happy anniversary! Hope you get to have a great celebration next weekend. Lindt is my FAVORITE! I skipped the extra workouts and I took the weeks off when. I needed them, TOM week usually, or weeks when there was some kind of vacation of schedule conflict.

Cowgirl, boo ya! Hurray for getting noticed

Today was spent hiking and bouldering with my men. Great workout, lots of fun, and exhausting. However, my stamina has increased tenfold since last summer. I wasn't winded at all, even on the uphills. Sadly the rest of my day was spent napping. TOM means I just want to sleep. Took my son to school, went back to sleep, picked him and went hiking, came home, went back to sleep. Well, at least I'm not eating everything not nailed down.

runz! happy anniversary to you! and i love hibachi! and now i want to eat some. i wish i had a hibachi grill at my place! and honestly, right now, food is what i'm focusing on. i've been really, really lazy and unmotivated with my workouts. i went to the gym yesterday morning for a spin class and the girl signing in just in front of me got the last card to get into the class. at 5:30 AM? :noway: this has never happened before. and i of course hadn't brought my gloves, headphones, or armband. so i went home and told myself i'd go in the afternoon after work. no, i ran errands instead, went home, made dinner, and crashed, telling myself i'd get up and go in the morning (today). this morning, i got up, went to the bathroom, couldn't clear the cobwebs, and went back to bed. but i couldn't fall back asleep because i was chastising myself for not working out and trying to figure out how i can fit it into my plan for the rest of the day.

it's hard to find a balance for me. i can be really hard on myself for not doing what i want to do. i have been doing well with my calories and macros this week, and i've actually seen a loss on the scale. but i don't really care that much. i want to be lifting, not necessarily losing. i'm just in this weird funk and being lazy. OH and i didn't mention that i'm also trying to get pregnant. so i've been a little bit mentally preoccupied with that. *sigh* all that to say, good morning to everyone, and i hope you are all doing well. i could definitely use some encouragement and some gentle butt kicking.

and thank you to all for the wonderful welcome! i am happy to be here! i too am sick of the drama of the regular forums!

Tarts, I've been working on my fitness for 10 years and I get into those funks as well. When it's bad, I commit myself to 10 minutes. 10 minutes with the weights. Running. Walking. Whatever. Three times a week. I've even let myself do two times a week. Sometimes, I put in those 10 minutes and quit. Most of the time, I exceed 10 minutes. If walking around the block a couple times is all you can stand, then just do it. It's more about maintaining a habit than anything else.

Hey everyone! I'm new to the NROLFW work out (just finished work out 6). I love it so far. I've been one of those types who will jump on the fitness bandwagon and fall off, 2 years ago I got in the best shape of my life with cardio and weight machines, tried again last year only doing cardio for the most part and got no results. Ideally, I'd love to lose about 15 pounds but I would be pleased with any weight as long as it had me down a pant size or two. (preferably two ) I agree with the PP about being happy to be here in a group thread, sometimes the general chat areas get so mean!!

Hi ladies! Also new to NROLFW, stage 1, tomorrow is day 4! Man that 1B workout is KILLER. Right now I'm trying to tone up and lose the last of the baby weight. I have 10-15 lbs to go, but probably more like 5-10 if I gain a lot of muscle mass. Mostly I just want my somewhat flat stomach back!