Glad to hear I am not the only one. I love the stationary lunges. I feel I can focus more on the muscles I am burning rather than taking the appropriate length of step, bringing knee down to floors, keeping upper torso straight, etc. Just too much for me. I also have bad knees and feel that I am putting too much stress on them with the walking lunge. So, stationary next time and see how it goes... Regarding deadlifts I have always thought that with the romanian deadlift I get a better workout on my hamstrings and glutes than with the "original" deadlift. It is too much like a squat for me working more my quads than anything else. Thank you all for the suggestions/ideas!! :flowerforyou:

I do walking lunges myself. Only because I feel like I get better balance. My legs are usually shaking and dead when I get done so i know they are getting worked! I was doing stationary and I almost fell over haha!

Hello everyone!!! How is it going??

I did my second A workout, first week done!!!! I increased all my weights today. I was able to do 10 push ups correctly, chest to floor, up from 9 last time in first set and 6 from second set. I decided to do the rest on my knees. Do you suggest I do them against something higher instead of going on my knees? Push ups have always been hard for me. I also need to increase the height of the step ups. I have an old step tha is not too high so I increased the weight of the dumbbells to 22.5lbs ea. I have a table that I have used as a step in the past but it is high and hard on my bad knees. I could try it but with lower weight. Will see...second week starts on Monday. :drinker:

I weighed myself this morning and took all my measurements. Everything has increased since the last time I took them:
Weight 131.8
Waist-relaxed 30.5
Hips-at hip bone 36
-at buttocks 38
Thighs 21
Calves 13.75
Chest - 35
Arms-mid upper arm 10.5

I am going to weigh myself every Friday other than just once a month to keep myself accountable. I will take my measurements once a month.

Diet: Eat as clean as possible everyday, drink lots of water, increase protein (follow program 40-30-30), more veggies and fruits, less simple carbs, less caffeine.

I joined a challenge group on JP Fitness Forum, it starts next week. Most participants are doing this program.

Take care! :flowerforyou:

Thanks Beeps! I am 5'5", have shrunk one inch already. :grumble: :noway: Most people that look at me might say that I am fine the way I am but I know I can look better and feel better. I am not comparing myself to where I was in my 20's or 30's but comparing myself to where I was just about a year or even a few months ago so it is doable. I just let myself go, which I usually do starting in Oct.

Beeps, I think there is something wrong with my JP registration. It might have to do with the antivirus I have who knows. I havent been able to post today at all. It worries me cause I dont want them to think I do not want to join the challenge. I can log in and read posts but I cannot post myself. I didnt see your post either. Did you post on the challenge one? Last post showing for me is someone else yesterday. I have to figure it out.

Push ups :mad: so hard for me!!! I will follow your advice and try not to go on my knees.

Where is everyone else???

Have a great evening!! :flowerforyou:

Did Workout A of Stage 1 today. Very excited about it all, and my feet are now officially wet. :happy:

Some questions for yee who are more experienced:

-How much does the bar weigh by itself?
-(This may vary by gym, but still...) I feel silly that I'm so inexperienced & need some advice about setting up the bar with weights. It seemed like people put the weights onto the end and did *not* use that squeezable ring (:ohwell: ) to secure it on there. Is it OK that I do not use them? I don't want to look super uncool. :flowerforyou:
-The seated row had weights marked 1, 2, 3, etc. I put it on "6" but surely that's not 6 pounds. What does it equal? Others here seem to be listing normal sounding weight.

Hi
I depends on the bar a full size olympic bar (7ft) is aroung 20kg but the smaller bar (6ft) is about 15kgs.

I always secure the plates on the bar - who cares if you look cool, i sure beats them dropping off the bar if you loose balance and them landing on you foot :laugh:

Can help with the seated row as i swapped it for a barbell row instead.

Good luck!

I just started Stage 1, Workout A1 today....and WOW! I can't believe I sweat as much as I did. I am super-excited to go through this entire program. Is anyone else starting today (or at some point this week)? I'd love a "training buddy" to help me stay motivated.

I'm starting tomorrow,send me a FR if you'd like!:flowerforyou:

I will be curious to hear what others say about cardio on off days, too, I'm planning on doing 20-30 minutes of HIIT 2-3 times a week.....but I'm going to wait and see how sore I am tomorrow before I decide.

I'm not using a trainer. In fact, I'm doing everything at home. I have adjustable dumbbell weights (2.5 lb. up to 55 lb.), a swiss ball and a workout bench. I also have resistance bands and can modify some of the pulley exercises using those.

As for my HIIT workouts, I alternate jogging/walking and doing the Turbo Fire DVDs from Beachbody.

I don't know if I'll get the maximum benefit from the program by working at home, but it's the best I can do with my schedule of being a stay at home mom to three kids (4, 2, and 5 months).

I'm so glad some more joined for Stage 1!! YAY!! And, I think working out at home is TOTALLY do-able. Good for you!

I'm doing Workout 4B, Stage 1 today. But, I'm still working on "form", so I expect I might repeat workouts 7A, 8A, 7B and 8B, once I get there. I like workout B better, but that is because I'm not a very good squatter (yet!). And, I think, because the lunges are at the end....so, I'm just a ball of goo afterward and I can wander over to an elliptical and try and bang out 10-minutes of HIIT.

For me, I'm trying to do 2 days of HIIT per week, in between my weight-training workouts. And, Saturdays I reserve for long steady-state cardio. Why? Because I've got tons of friends in that class. I miss it if I don't go. And, I'm actually GOOD at it. (versus weight-lifting, where I kind of suck right now).

Good luck all Stage 1'rs!! I'm happy to support you and be friends as we journey along in 2012.

Deninevi, thanks for that link on deadlifts! So much information to keep in my head.

Alf, as for nutrition, I set my MFP calories at 1500 (higher than their default), which makes me nervous. And I intend to eat all my exercise calories too. I'm trying to consume a lot more protein, and having a recovery protein shake after lifting (and exercise in general).

I upped my calories when I started this progam. Yep, it seems "counter-intuitive", given that I want to lose body fat, but I did it just the same. I can adjust in a month if it isn't working. I just used the mfp "maintenance" setting - I think I get 1,850 calories for "non-weight-training" days - but I do HIIT on those days, and I am (trying) to eat back my calories. And, I get about 1,975 calories for my weight-training days.

I have become VERY stringent about my sugar intake (i.e. none) and my grain intake (i.e. oat bran in the morn, and that's it!). I have always eaten a protein bar after my work-outs, so that part is easy. I've added in a protein shake in the afternoons, and I've been adding 100% whey protein powder to my oat bran (instead of Splenda) and to my afternoon yogurt (when I remember to eat THAT).

I'll know in a month if something is changing. Although, I'm not lifting heavy enough, I think, to really change shape like I should. I'll get the form down and then I'm gonna lift HEAVY AS HELL!!

I just wanted to say Hi to everyone new here!!! I'm currently in stage 5 and really love this program. I just wanted to pass along a few thoughts I had. If there is a cardio activity you love stick with it but make sure you eat more to cover the cardio calories. I still love to dance and do zumba so I stick with that 2x week. I also like to get outside for a run sometimes. You'll be adding HIIT after your workouts in later stages also. Weight...that's a big one..haha!! For me personally I have not lost scale weight...that sucker won't budge and I expected that so I'm fine. My mirror, my clothes and my family and friends tell a different story..:) My kids will ask to feel my muscles...lmao!! Nutrition wise try to eat healthy with a small deficit if weight loss is your goal. Maintenance if body recomposition is what your looking for. This has just been my experience with the program...nice to "meet" yall!

I just started Stage 1, Workout A1 today....and WOW! I can't believe I sweat as much as I did. I am super-excited to go through this entire program. Is anyone else starting today (or at some point this week)? I'd love a "training buddy" to help me stay motivated.

started today also..loved it but can tell I will be sore tomorrow...was a great sweat made me wonder why I did 30 min of cardio first..add me as a friend if you want , have a feeling I may need some motivation if really sore.

Jarrett, just looked at his vids now. Which were you doing, the pike?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNjIiETmCk4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

wow.