I forgot to tell you guys--these do exist: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BA8147Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATU99V9UX6MC1

btw, im finish both workouts a7 and b7, so im literally 2 workouts away from finishing stage 1. i miss it already, i totally love it. i already printed the spreadsheets for stage 2, it seems harder and complicated, but i will take it one workout at a time. im not going to to the amrp workouts because i know ive gained strength, and i will use the rest week to try out each workout, learn the moves, try to see what weights to start and do more insanity to try and lose that belly fat again

Happy Monday (what an oxymoron!)

Megan, I'm actually headed your way on Thursday! Well, Vancouver to be precise but that's close enough. Last I looked at the weather it was supposed to be nice there all weekend. UGH, now I see it's supposed to rain Saturday. :sad: As with weather everywhere - stick around, it'll change soon enough Have a wonderful trip to CA - I leave in 18 more sleeps!

Welcome back Maya (I love Maya too ) What I like about NROL is that all the stages are so different! Stage 2 was a lot of lunges if I remember correctly. Stage 3 was more squats. Repeat in 4&5 and then 6 is upper body while it appears 7 is lower body - I'll let you know when I get there.

When I first started lifting my weight was fluctuating between 156 & 158. These days it's 151-153 so I guess I can say I lost a few pounds, My entire journey has been this way tho so I can never say for sure how much I lost. My clothes are a little looser now but I never measured before starting so again, I can't say for sure how much I lost. I'll just keep plugging away and take what comes!

Big question is - what do I do after NROL4W? I bought both Supercharged and 4Life but haven't had a chance to read them yet. I'm almost thinking of repeating 4W but skipping 4&5. Or to really mix it up I could do all the A exercises (1-7) and then all the Bs. I might only be able to lift 2x week in the summer. I wonder what would be most effective?

Hey everybody!

Have a great trip, Blue. I love Vancouver. We went several years ago during a heat wave--sunny, 80s, perfect. I think it only rained one or two of our 7 days. It's a great town.

I'm curious about this as a post-NROLW option (or since I'm so behind at this point, a swap to it): http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/the-modern-womans-guide-to-strength-training-is-here/

I've read some of their blog from time to time (Ram, you might find it interesting--there are a bunch of posts about lifting and pregnancy). A friend of mine's really into the site.

Yesterday was a nightmare but I won't bore you with the details. Got a lift in today (figured I was so behind on other stuff, not dedicating an hour to it and instead to me this morning was the way to go). Hoping today's a much, much better day!

J.

YOU GUYS! I went to the gym today for the first time in almost a month! YAY! It felt so freaking good to get back in. I lowered my weights a bit, and will probably be nice and sore tomorrow but, Stage 4, A3 done! I don't think I'll have time to get back in this week, but my goal is to go twice next week and see if I can ramp up to 3. I really want to finish NROL4W before my second trimester is over, which is totally do-able especially if I skip stage 6 :laugh:

Terrie- I had to get my dress let out in the hips too. Even though I didn't want to, but I'm glad I did. Made sitting and dancing a lot easier!

Jen- I've had the site open all day and haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I definitely want to! Sorry your day was crappy.

Blue- Any kind of negative chin up is a win in my book, good work!

$59 seems reasonable compared to things like the P90x etc - aren't those well over $100? I've never tried them so I don't know. Is the program you're looking at similar? I picked up my Jillian Michales DVDs for less than $10 each and I get good variety out of those. If it was something I knew I was going to do $59 doesn't seem unreasonable. That and I can never resist a sale

First run of the season this morning YAY!! Felt really good - I think the intervals thru the winter really helped. I ran about the same pace as I finished off last year so I'm pretty happy about that. It was a little chilly - only 5c (40ish maybe?) but I didn't mind it once I got moving. My hands do get cold tho. Sweaty and cold - not a good combination LOL

I discovered some muscles I didn't know I had! Must have been from the chin ups yesterday and trying to lower myself down. Just under my armpits and around the back - kind of under the shoulder blades but at the sides. Who knew there was muscle there? :laugh: I discovered them last night getting ready for bed - I almost couldn't get my shirt off.

Oh and awesome numbers on the weights Jen!

100! Nope. If I could have it 65-80 and sunny year round, I would. I suppose I could if I moved to the Bay Area of CA. Not happening

I was browsing through the Girls Gone Strong blog going way back and read something interesting about integrating cardio when your main form of exercise is lifting. It recommended interval work, and not more than half an hour. I loved to run intervals, but since that ain't happening any time soon, I did walking intervals on the treadmill today (raining outside) and capped it at half an hour. I was in and out, felt like I got a good workout in, and am back in time for my noon meeting and maybe to even grade a paper (I need to do 14 by tomorrow and have meetings and/or running around until about 6. Probably I should have gotten up and graded but I cleaned the kitchen, made some eggs, moved the laundry, etc., instead. Oops!).

The reason for the half hour time frame is, they said, because your body starts to produce stress hormones after that point and there's no sense in killing yourself. Typically I'd pound out at least 45 minutes at top volume on the elliptical in order to reach some calorie point (i.e., burn 250 or 300). Today I didn't even hit 200 but am not dragging as a result, either. Food for thought!

My last meeting today's at 4 in a burger place, with drinks. Mmmmmm. Going to have to keep it together. Have a great day, everyone!

ETA the link: http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/do-strong-girls-do-cardio-the-dos-and-donts-of-cardio/

Good luck with B, Maya!

I need to go clear out the front garden and dig out the dead branches around the plants in the backyard--it'll be my exercise today.

Our neighbor on Monday cut down the entire stand of pine trees between our house and his. As it turns out he had good reason, but it was devastating to see--that which made our yard most woodsy is gone. But I suppose now I can clear out all the twigs and branches the trees dropped over the years (they were crazy shedders).

It's been a week of lots of eating; I put on a little dinner party for my dept colleagues and our seniors last night, and didn't bother to log all the details. tonight we'll be having pizza at my mom's. I'm just going to stay on top of my exercise and show myself a little "who cares?" forgiveness. It's been a bit of a rough week.

Have a good weekend!

that's beautiful, terrie! I love it!

I rode my bike today for the first time in years. It was brutal! I didn't inflate the tires enough, I think, which made for slow going. I suspect my gearshifts need a tune-up as well. But hey, I went!

Hi ladies, just checking in, i finished stage 1, skipped the amrp workouts and rest week and jumped right into stage 2. i never thought i'd say this, but i kinda loved it. doms today and in so many different places, i did something right i guess lol.

im planning on riding a bycicle soon also, and omg, im already scared lol. lets see how it goes for me...

hope you are all having a wonderful weekend