I am getting really REALLY discouraged. I weighed yesterday gained 5.5 pounds. Weighed today up another pound. That means 6.5 pounds since starting this program!!!!:mad: I officially finished Stage 1 Wednesday, and TOM began that day. I know a few pounds of that is water BUT I don't have to like it. I don't like it . I DON'T LIKE IT!

I went up quite a few pounds too, and on a resting week too! This week I'm lifting again and have gone back down. Where's the logic? I just think we have to keep the faith and not get freaked out by big changes on the scales. Did you see those recent pics of women who've been lifting and the difference in their bodies? I'm going to try to find links for you now; hold on ...

Maggie, I am thinking the anger is due to the increased testosterone. I have noticed my feelings are harder to mask.

I found this on livestrong.com " Testosterone can be very beneficial to anyone adopting a regular lifting routine, or for individuals looking to build large amounts of muscle mass. Testosterone can heighten aggression and bolster strength, making it easier to perform lifting routines."

Thanks for that - I think you are right about it being testosterone. I read another article too, which suggests that weight lifting does often increase testosterone levels in women, although usually not by much at all, compared with men. Amazing what a difference those tiny changes can make though - I definitely notice something going on.

Thanks Maggie. Seeing that helped me for the moment. I'm sure next week you will hear my rant again.

Jen, great job. No weight gain and yummy food!

Beeps, awesome. Yes, I would like to know which stage you have liked so far.

I am getting really REALLY discouraged. I weighed yesterday gained 5.5 pounds. Weighed today up another pound. That means 6.5 pounds since starting this program!!!!:mad: I officially finished Stage 1 Wednesday, and TOM began that day. I know a few pounds of that is water BUT I don't have to like it. I don't like it . I DON'T LIKE IT!

I have only done 3 days now started Monday. I am up 1.2 since Monday. I bet if you truely take a week off between stages you will start going down.
I weigh first thing in the morning here are my weights this week.
April 30 stage 1 A1 - 147.6
May 1 day off - 148
May 2 stage 1 B1 - 147.2
May 3 day off - 148.1
May 4 stage 1 A2 - 148.8

forlife - if you had asked me, yesterday, if I was going to take a week off between Stage 4 and Stage 5, I would have said "yes". Today, I'm kind of like - "a whole week off??? Nahhhh" I'll see what Monday brings.

forlife and manic, I've liked ALL the stages of NROL4W. I was kinda bored by the end of Stage 1, and ready to "dig into" the program. Stage 2 is good - and now that I've done Stage 4, I can see it is mostly a repeat of Stage 2. Stage 3 is AWESOME and I know that Stage 5 (upcoming!) is mostly a repeat of Stage 3, so I'm VERY EXCITED TO GET GOING.

Stage 6 - all by itself - is the "pull-up" stage. CANNOT. WAIT. Simply too excited for words.

Heck, Helga, you're doing push-ups from the floor?? WOW!! That is one of my goals....I'm not there, yet. I believe I will be there by the end of Stage 7. I had hoped to be there, now. Alas, I am not. I'm at about a the 3rd rung from the bottom using the smith machine for push-ups. Dammit.

Thanks for the info Beeps. Your excitement is contagious!
I'm struggling through push ups on a 45 degree angle and, truthfully, it might even be more than a 45! I keep trying one on a bench at home and cannot complete even one. i have a feeling that it will be the push ups that will be one of those things that I will celebrate when I finally do one on the floor!
I *thought* I could do push ups before this but not when I try the suggested form. Elbows out would be a lot easier!

Welcome, Lori!

Stage one didn't take me longer than 35 minutes and that was only a couple times.

Keep the elbows in ! It works on the triceps.

Not quite as I remembered, but never mind. the first was using P90X, but the point is that her weight was the same.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/580019-the-scale-is-a-lying-torture-device-i-m-proof

The second is more for general motivation!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/416059-more-strength-training-success-pics

Great pics, thanks for re-posting. I've seen so many of these stories on the boards. STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALES LADIES!

Beeps! THat back looks AMAZING!! I haven't had any trouble with push-ups. I've been flat on the floor since 1A3 and now looking to go harder. (SOrry, that wasn't meant to sound braggy) My trouble is with weight going over my head like the push presses and shoulder presses. Just can't seem to add weight in those areas. Also, I don't find the ab work especially difficult but I still have a much bigger belly than I'd like. I fully understand that it won't go away until I lose more fat, but it's frustrating.

I also had a "forehead smack" moment this morning. I've did the static lunge wrong all of stage 2. I had my foot in the same position as the Bulgarian Split Squat (top on foot resting on top of step instead pushing on my toe). DUH! I did notice that 4 repeats 2 an 5 repeats 3 but with variations in sets and reps. Makes sense if you think about it.
Oh oh, one more thing. The gym was dead last night so I went ahead and kicked off my shoes for my deadlifts. I really works, I felt super strong and my form WAS better. THen the guy next to me kicked off his :laugh:
Have a great weekend ladies

I also had a "forehead smack" moment this morning. I've did the static lunge wrong all of stage 2. I had my foot in the same position as the Bulgarian Split Squat (top on foot resting on top of step instead pushing on my toe). DUH! I did notice that 4 repeats 2 an 5 repeats 3 but with variations in sets and reps. Makes sense if you think about it.

I had the same "forehead smack" moment yesterday but I was using the foot position from the static lunge for the Bulgarian Split Squat. I saw someone doing a variation of the Bulgarian and was like DUH! Did the correct foot position for workout B3.

I've had many "forehead smack" moments this week, from doing static lunges vs regular lunges on B1, to forgetting to alternate pushups and rows in A2 and having elbows out yesterday. I'll probably get it all figured out and then it will be time to switch to Stage 2. :-)

I COMPLETED STAGE 4, TODAY.

BOOM.

Congratulations! And what a back! Looking really good

Heck, Helga, you're doing push-ups from the floor?? WOW!! That is one of my goals....I'm not there, yet. I believe I will be there by the end of Stage 7. I had hoped to be there, now. Alas, I am not. I'm at about a the 3rd rung from the bottom using the smith machine for push-ups. Dammit.

Thanks Beeps! Well... I'm not getting all the way down to the floor, and need to check my elbows (having read the other posts) but it's an improvement.

Feeling very tired today and after a gentle yoga class, am just planning to rest. I was going like a train, alternating weights days with aerobics days and sometimes doing interval training after workouts too... and now I'm seeing the wisdom of the book in saying REST between workouts. Because I'm wiped out! Tomorrow I just plan to walk for exercise and fresh air (gently) and then Monday, I'll hit it again.

Yeah, she's one of my inspirations. I stalk her quite regularly

Feeling frustrated. Again. I know I'm supposed to ignore the scale, and I would. Except my measurements haven't changed in weeks. I *officially* weigh on Sundays, after having 2-3 days off from lifting. I actually weigh almost daily, so I see the fluctuations from lifting. Those don't worry me, because I know what they are. But after 2 weeks, I'm now up .6. I know that isn't much, but why aren't my measurements changing any??? I wish my BF monitor was here that I ordered. If I could see some change, ANY change, I would feel better.

I am not tempted to stop lifting. I was doing only cardio and not losing weight, so I've actually had better results lifting. And eating. But I keep second guessing myself when it comes to calories. Am I eating too little? Too much? I cut my lifting back to 2 days because of the fatigue. <sigh>

Also, I feel very obsessive about it all. I have been absolutely obsessed with food and calories for months. I wonder what my dds are learning from me. I don't want them to be this way. :-(

I've been lifting since the first week of March. Yes, I have seen some changes in inches. I lost more than 2 off my waist and 2 off my hips in the first month. Just nothing since then. :-(

Yep, I'm in the same place too. Let's keep the faith though. We'll be goddesses in the end