Hey everyone! I hope you had a great weekend.

I am on my rest week between Stage 2 and 3, and managed to get some fantastic cardio in this past weekend - a 30 mile ride on Saturday, and a 5 mile run and 2.5 mile walk on Sunday.

I also spent some quality time in my closet, trying on absolutely everything I own. Well, the verdict is in...NROL4W is AWESOME! All of my size 10s are in a pile for a girlfriend of mine, and most of my 8s fit or are just a bit big (but still look professional, provided I wear a belt). But I'm thinking that in another month or two I'll be out of those too. My body shape has really changed, and despite being smaller, I have more curves (lol...this from a girl with 34DD boobs!) and look so much better in clothes. Anyway, my NSV for the weekend was trying on clothes and sending pics of how big they are to my sweetie. Can't wait for next month's trip to NYC...I'm thinking there might be a bit of shopping to be done! Particularly since I've now given away all of my fall/winter clothes!

Beeps: I've never heard of Femsport, but it looks amazing! I hope it comes to Winnipeg one day too.

Hi Joanne, That sounds like an amazing nsv. You must've felt great that day. I just purged my closet this weekend, but I'm still the same size as always, so it wasn't that exciting. ^^;; I hope to purge again in the next couple of months to find a very different result/feeling. Shopping in NYC sounds exciting and that's a great way to reward yourself for all your hard work. =D

Hi, Mercury and welcome. Don't feel inferior. We were all new to the program.

Time to head to the gym for last WOA in stage 4. :bigsmile: sure do dread the step ups though :sad:

Hi everyone!! I just got home from vacation last night. I tried to read through most of the posts I'd missed, but I feel like I was gone forever! There were several pages!

I didn't do so great on vacation. I am up 4 lbs on the scale. Some is water, some is too many calories. :-/ Anyway,back to the real world. I start stage 4 this week. I am looking foreword to getting back to normal.

Dh and I have been looking into Paleo. Or at least mostly paleo. Does anyone eat this way? My husband really needs to lose weight, and he is really interested in this.

I eat paleo (mostly - I do have some wine and a small amount of cheese and diary). The Primal Blueprint is a great place to start, and the Primal cook books are excellent (available for kindle too). With a g/f I run a low carb /paleo recipe ( and forum) website here in New Zealand. I started off low carb 4 years ago but over the last 18 months have naturally progressed to paleo, you do need to be keen to cook real food though, paleo isn't about products.

LOL I love how you all are talking about size 10s! I'll be very happy to fit into a size 10!! Joanne awesome NSV. It's fun to do that! Go through the clothes and take out all those BIG clothes. I got rid of all my 16s this spring, and wow I was such a happy camper!! Didn't save a one "just in case" cuz there's not going to be one of those anymore!

I guess I did things really right yesterday, I'm stiff, and slightly sore, and my back muscles are feeling tight! Stretching is helping, and none of it is bad pain, just letting me know that I worked 'em!

Mercury, welcome! I know the feeling, but believe me when I tell you that the women here are incredibly supportive. I'm only on Stage 1 myself, and I've had so many questions, and I've asked them! You should do the same! There's an incredible amount of experience here!

So, my followup pap is also abnormal. My next appointment will be with a surgeon, and she and I will discuss all the possibilities, but honestly, this every 3 months and not knowing what's going on in between makes me more certain that the surgery will be my best option long-term, even if it means I can't lift for 6 weeks to 2 months. My sister has fully healed and is back at work with no repurcussions whatsoever. The doctor I'll be seeing comes highly recommended by both my GYN and my internist. I'll let you know what I find out after I see her - I'm guessing sometime next week or so.

M, why do you dread the step ups? I missed something? I just find them incredibly boring, though they are effective I believe!

Sue, I can't increase weights for one. I find myself bending over just to get up on the bench if I do. And I get super winded LOL


I am so glad WOA 4 is over!! woohoo! I pulled a muscle in my back -can barely walk. Planks were not my best either only did 63 secs and 38 secs on the floor. I increased my weight on the woodchop and think that's where I hurt it.

jen, I use (2) ten pound dumbbells

I have to do them again??? Stage 7? oh Lord, please no.... If so, I'll try the women's OLY bar (35 pound) and then progress to men's OLY bar if I can.

Mercury, here is the prone jackknife http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szyy3-K_Yz8
and the harder pike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIx4JGxwL8c. You can find all the exercises on youtube and bodybuidling.com

I am EXHAUSTED from our day at the theme park yesterday. We did some serious walking! and had the most fun yet besides the oppressive heat. Lifting postponed until tomorrow. Bummer since my plans for the pool were cancelled.

Joanne, great NSV, and Sue I'll send you my 10's though they may be stretched out a bit Lol.

Sam, Thank you! That helps a lot! I feel so silly, I'm a Youtube rat, and I never thought to look up the workouts on Youtube. ^^;