The way the gym is set up, it is difficult to do the program as written. Things are spread out all over the place. And as soon as you finish one set, some blockhead will jump on the machine, and there goes the rest of your sets.

I have no qualms about moving stuff around. I dragged a step board into the weight area last night, I roll the big ball to wear I need it and I drag my dumbbells next to the cable machines I'm using and I tell the guys, "we'll switch off because I'm super setting." Last night i did my Romanian squats using the seat of the lat machine so I wouldn't have to walk away from it. Some guy tried to jack my incline bench that I was using for my Cuban snatches while I was doing reverse lunges, but because I had my step board right behind it I was able to tell him to get lost. ( I DO put everything back when I'm done :happy: )

I guess I need to decide if following this program to the letter is that important to me. Or if I'm okay with modifying it to suit my needs and situation. Lifting is important to me, I know that for sure.

I guess I need to decide if following this program to the letter is that important to me. Or if I'm okay with modifying it to suit my needs and situation. Lifting is important to me, I know that for sure.

I modified the program, I think that's ok. I loved the book, loved the philosophy, but there were a couple of things that didn't work for me: my gym was missing a couple of things in the book (so I googled until I found similar moves that I could do), and I need to work out every day or I will just stop going (so I broke up the exercises and created a daily workout instead of 3 days a week).

I think that even if you don't do EXACTLY what the book says, you are still working and you're going to see change! We all have different places we are starting from, some to lose weight, some to gain muscle, some to feel strong, some to look good in a bikini, or whatever. The point is that we're all trying our best to follow the philosophy in the book. Everyone in this group has been great and we're all here to support each other :-)

Hi everyone, not in a good place mentally and could really do with some support. I've been told to stop all exercise (apart from walking) until I've finished my intense chiropractor treatment which is another 3 weeks away. I jumped on the scales at the week end and have gained 4lbs. Last night went on mammoth binge after getting results back from chiro that I have wear and tear in my neck and that heavy weights is a complete no no until all the treatment is finished (approx 3 months).

The neck issue is why my arm isn't healing (pain and numbness) and because my arm is not functioning properly its causing strain in the lower back/pelvis also.

I really feel down, especially when I'm reading of all the progress on here (beeps you rock with your NSV!!) and how I was really enjoying the changes it was making to my body.

I have to listen to the chiro and take their advice, my job is physical as you all know, and I can't afford to not take their advice. I've learnt a huge lesson about not nipping injuries in the bud and seeking advice straight-away (why oh why didn't I take my own advice when I'm telling clients this).

Any how just writing this all down helped. Bingeing is old habits of coping with emotions, so its back to finding that good place again (in my head) and starving to compensate won't help.

Thanks all for listening. Just didn't want you thinking I'd given up.

How old are you Jessica?? I'm curious....

In my 20's, I used to weight-train with my younger brother and he'd do all the hunting/gathering of machines and spare parts, for me. Don't know if I was "intimidated" or not - but I also was using Barbie weights (now that I think about it).

I'm in my 40's. The guys in the gym don't intimidate me AT ALL. We are all there for a good purpose - to get a work-out in - and I think "collaboration" beats "competition" in the weight room (for me).

I am lucky that I go at a time when the weight room is probably least busy (over the lunch hour), and the men in there tend to leave me alone, for the most part. I move stuff from ALL over the place to my work-out area - and I move it ALL back, when I'm done. Sometimes I whistle (when the song on my ipod commands me to - and I'm standing there for a longer rest period). And, sometimes I probably tap my toes, too. I'm tall - and that likely intimidates most of them. And, I'm moving around heavy stuff - so any of the girls leave me alone, too.

I really like the weight room - I feel like I'm in my element. Like my purpose of "getting stronger" actually MEANS SOMETHING.