New Rules of lifting for women: Yay ir Nay?

I haven't read the book so I can't really comment on that part of your question. However, I have and do lift weights to help me with reshaping and losing weight. I lift as heavy a weight on each exercise as I can and still maintain proper and safe form. I believe in weight lifting for women. It makes sense. Build more muscle and increase your metabolism.

With regard to not being able to afford a gym membership vs. home equipment, I have home equipment and it was not cheap to purchase, however, I also have a gym I go to. My home equipment is in my garage and I don't use it. I go to the gym. The gym was cheap to join and only costs a few dollars a month. MORE than worth it. I look at it as a small investment with a huge payoff.

I have ordered the book, so I can't tell you what I think yet. I started lifting at home a week ago. My plan is to do as much as I can at home from reading and watching the videos in the EM2WL group and when I need heavier weights and more instruction, I will go to the gym and get a personal trainer for a few sessions to get me rolling there. I have a lot of weight to lose, so I realize it's a long road ahead. But after one week, I'm absolutely ADDICTED to lifting! I love it and how I feel! Eating more is wonderful! I have so much more energy for my life and my workouts, whatever they are. I know this is just what I needed.

Good luck to you!

To do NROLFW or any other program that involves squatting with a barbell on your back, you're going to need a proper squat rack. You may be able to find one used via Craigslist or your local classified ads. You'd also need a bench for bench pressing, a barbell, a bunch of weights...and for NROLFW, dumbbells as well. Can't recall what other equipment is used--stability ball, for sure.

NROLFW is a great program, so is Starting Strength...also Stronglifts which is all online and free of charge.

Your best bet is to find a cheap gym that has a decent free weights selection and join up.

If you can't find an affordable gym, why not work on a bodyweight strength building program? No equipment purchase necessary, no gym membership needed. Look up You Are Your Own Gym, by Mark Lauren. There is a book and also an app for your phone if you're into that sort of thing. I hear the app is great, but I've not used it. I really like the book.

Another possibility would be to look into a dumbbell strength building program (sorry, I can't name any off the top of my head). I think you can buy a set of adjustable dumbbells and cast iron plates for a fair price.

I haven't read the book, but I will tell you I bought all my equipment second hand. My treadmill for $100 at a second hand shop, my weight bench and weights at a yard sale. Looking for a bowflex now.

I just started the NROL Supercharged and it's good so far, I'm sore as hell and the first section of the program is 45min to 1 hour. It's full body workouts 3 times a week and it's for men and women.

I bought NROWL, read the whole book twice, and did two of the workouts. I think it's an excellent program, but you do have to really be set with references to make sure you're doing what you're supposed to when you're supposed to for each workout. There's a great group on here that could be of help to you if you want to learn more:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/119-new-rules-of-lifting-for-women-nrol4w-

I researched Stronglifts 5x5 and it's a much simpler program - I need to go with that because my brain feels so weighted (pun intended) from work I need something I can follow in a smart phone app. If you go to the Stronglifts website there is some good information about getting what you need affordably for a home workout that can be safe (at least as a beginner).

Lifting really is the way to go to look and feel great. You won't lose as much weight right away, but you'll see clothes fit better and it really does make you feel mentally stronger. I just got back into lifting after a year long break and am so happy.

One last thing. No matter what you decide to do, look at the references on the NROWL and the Stronglifts for Women (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/4618-stronglifts-5x5-for-women) groups here on MFP. There are links to youtube videos to show you the correct technique. Start out with lighter weights so you can get the technique right and get some basic strength/balance - this way you won't mess up your joints and injure yourself

*Edited to add that the Stronglifts program takes less time per workout, which also sold me

Try Drop 2 Sizes by Rachel Cosgrove .She is Alwyn Cosgrove's wife (the designer of the New Rules series of workouts), they run a gym somewhere in California. It comes as a DVD which is great because you get to know the exercises. The exercises she does in the dvd you will also find in NROL. The only equipment you need are dumbells, a kettlebell, a step and a mat. That way if you do decide on any of the NROL programs you will be familiar with the exercises and it will be easier to follow the book.
I'm on my 9th week of Drop 2, I've lost 7 pounds and am comfortably wearing a size smaller than I was when I started the program.
The downside to the dvd's is that the eating program outlined in her book is not included, it's workouts only.
When I've completed this three month cycle I may do another month of her workouts before moving on to NROL4Abs.

New free weight lifter here, transitioning from the Cybex machines I've been using successfully at the gym for six months to a bench and rack setup at home. I bought and read NROL4W and I don't regret the very interesting read, but the program seemed complicated and required more gear than I wanted to buy or make space for. So I stuck with the machines at the gym for three more months after that.

OTOH, Starting Strength has actually gotten me into getting the gear and lifting a barbell. I can't say I'm doing the program -- I haven't finished the book, and I confess I've thrown in a handful of isolation exercises because, switching from machines, it's hard to wrap my head around just three lifts doing the whole job. The author hates it when people do that. :embarassed: But Starting Strength gives a good framework, some relevant physics, and great detailed instructions for the basic lifts. I think it's especially good for geeks, because it tells you why it recommends doing certain things in certain ways.

as you get heavier and heavier you'll probably find you don't need the isolation stuff as much as you think- I did high volume squats on Saturday and I was thinking "squats" that's it- we aren't doing anything else.

Trust me- by the time I was done with 15 sets of maxing out my lifts- (ranging from 1 to 6 range- mostly 3-5 actually of reps) I was pretty spent.

The other day I did 3 bear complexs 5 reps and then super setted with walking lunges- all with 75 lb BB.... I was more than happy and totally beat down after that.

You'll find as you get heavier- picking one thing is TOTALLY okay some days. It's okay.

And it's okay if you don't and you throw in some extra stuff- you aren't at a point where it's going to have a tremendous negative impact. If it makes you feel better- go for it.

Thanks for these words of wisdom, JoRocka. I'm loving it so far, really looking forward to going heavier!