Daily Chat Thread
Replies
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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:
I like the step ups b/c I get super winded and feel like I"m making progress. Planking is a different story. I hate them and they make me feel physically AND mentally weak. Booooo!0 -
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.0 -
Mary - do you use dumbbells or the barbell on the step ups? I really don't care for them either, just because they really make me work hard. LOL!0
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jen, I use (2) ten pound dumbbells0
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Does your gym have weighted barbells you could use? I know I really prefer the barbell because I don't feel like I lean over as much as I was using dumbbells.0
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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.0
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I'm sorry to hear about your pulled muscle, Manic! D= That's never fun to live with something like that. >_< But on the bright side, at least you got it at the start of your week break, right? ^^ So you'll have a good amount of time to recover.
I've only had one workout and the step ups didn't bother me nearly as much as the squats did. Gawd! I had to think I was so impressive! Normal squats are not very challenging, and I can't do the "heavy goblet" because my wrist has been acting up again, so I decided to do the empty barbell. I didn't actually realize till my dad told me that the empty barbell was 45 lbs.. @__@ I was able to do them though! Every last rep! So I think I'm going to continue to use the barbell and see where that takes me. ^_^
Btw, did you guys have trouble with the "prone jackknife"? Its such a weird, different move, and I don't know if I'm doing it right. @_@0 -
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.0 -
Good morning all,
Yesterday I finished stage 1 and I am looking forward to starting Stage 2 after this week off.
During this wek I plan to kick start my running as I have a major road race in 4 weeks - it is only 7.1 miles but it is mostly hills.
I haven't really run since I completed my first half marathon on May 27th, but I should be ok - this heat is killer though.
I plan to take my measurements and pics after stage 2 as I don't feel/see any difference from stage 1.
I also plan to pay special sttention to my form in the coming stages and I may even ask a trainer at my gym to go over the form for these exercises - especially the front squat, push press as we do not have any olympic bars at the gym(I may have to use the smith machine or a curl bar)
Have a great lifting week!!!
Claudette0 -
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. ^^;0
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sue - if surgery seems like the best option, don't worry about being away from lifting for awhile....you'll get right back into it and you'll end up right-on-track in no time!
manic - I'm not a fan of step-ups, either....I just don't progress very far with them, and then I have to take 2 steps back. My glutes are SO f*cking lazy....and getting them to fire is nearly impossible. Having said that, I know the benefits of step-ups, so, yes, I do them and am *always* glad when they are DONE! (Yes, I use either the 18" platform or the 20" platform, whichever is available....so, they are TOUGH!)
welcome, mercury - you'll LOVE the NROL4W program.
Hey, the challenge that I entered (3-month challenge, ended March 31, 2012) *did* produce 1 result - they sent me a *free* copy of NROL4Life! Even though I think I'm going to do NROL4Abs when I'd done NROL4W, then I can proceed to do NROL4Life after that! (I *like* having a "plan".....just makes my life that much easier to follow pre-written programs - for me!)
I am going to lift, today....my 4th work-out in Stage 7. Am nervous, but excited, too. I've now done ALL of the work-outs (there's 3 variables in Stage 7) and today I get to do incline bench press - one of my FAVOURITEs!0 -
sue - if surgery seems like the best option, don't worry about being away from lifting for awhile....you'll get right back into it and you'll end up right-on-track in no time!
manic - I'm not a fan of step-ups, either....I just don't progress very far with them, and then I have to take 2 steps back. My glutes are SO f*cking lazy....and getting them to fire is nearly impossible. Having said that, I know the benefits of step-ups, so, yes, I do them and am *always* glad when they are DONE! (Yes, I use either the 18" platform or the 20" platform, whichever is available....so, they are TOUGH!)
welcome, mercury - you'll LOVE the NROL4W program.
Hey, the challenge that I entered (3-month challenge, ended March 31, 2012) *did* produce 1 result - they sent me a *free* copy of NROL4Life! Even though I think I'm going to do NROL4Abs when I'd done NROL4W, then I can proceed to do NROL4Life after that! (I *like* having a "plan".....just makes my life that much easier to follow pre-written programs - for me!)
I am going to lift, today....my 4th work-out in Stage 7. Am nervous, but excited, too. I've now done ALL of the work-outs (there's 3 variables in Stage 7) and today I get to do incline bench press - one of my FAVOURITEs!
Quick question, so I've (like a lot of other people) been trying to figure out what I'm going to do after this and I've thought about NROL4A *BUT* I really want something to focus on my legs. I know it says for abs but I wasn't sure if it was a lot of combo type moves that would work legs too. What do you think?0 -
Mary you are stepping up WAY higher than me. I'm using my basement stairs, I use dumbbells and increased weights today. I was able to do the first set with 40 pounds, the 2nd set with 35. I also increased on squats, but I am going to have to get to the gym or figure out a squat rack for home. I used dumbbells holding them at my shoulders, and did 40 and 35 there too. But I really need to use the barbell, I can tell it would make a world of difference. I have a very difficult time holding the dumbbells so I can keep good form. Hope that muscle pull is better!
Mercury, those prone jackknifes are killers aren't they? OMG! I swear he put those in just to give us all something to laugh about! I'm getting better with form though, I really feel them in my whole core!
Sam, I will be so happy to be able to zip up a size 10! It's been almost 20 years since I could wear that size. I was running 3 times a week then and lifting barbie weights! Oh if I only knew then what I know now. Yea, I looked good, but I would have had a killer bod if I was lifting even at the weight I'm lifting now!
Claudette congrats on finishign Stage 1.
I'm repeating level 4 - I realized the other day that I did them with too few reps. Don't know why I thought they were 10 reps - I blame it on old age!0 -
Sue I have one pair of size 14 dress slacks that I bought for work. They were my breaking point. I wore them twice and now they are in a box in my closet waiting for my cousin currently size 18/20 to get down to them. She's going back to work for the first time in 8 years, so they are now goal pants for her. My size 10's are really more like 12's anyway LOL. I never went shopping so I'm still wearing my 10 shorts. luckily they have drawstrings :laugh:0
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I'm cool if you want to post here....even if you aren't doing NROL4W, Jessica.
Having said that, I really think NROL4W is going to get you EXACTLY what you want. Go read denine's posts in Stage 5, 6 and 7. (and, go look at her pics!)
But what if I'm only doing it about halfway as written?
Hey Jessica-
I follow a NROLFW group on Facebook, and many of those women aren't even doing the book anymore, but are huge contributors to the group. They also seem have all moved towards NROLFAbs or NROLFLife.. maybe check those out?
I'm just about done with this book (yay!) but not sure where to head next..0 -
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.
Stage 7 is evil!! Step-ups are horrible!!
and lunges return, too.. DISLIKE!
Piece of advice for stage 7-- LOWER THE WEIGHTS that you've been doing.. with doing 4 sets of 15 reps, it is very discouraging to try and pull the weight you once did.0 -
jnh - I don't have my copy of NROL4Abs (yet!), but I'm told it is still all "compound moves", because, as you know, Lou Schuler doesn't like anything else! There are squats and deadlifts in it!
How come I'm not going DOWN any sizes????? Sheesh. Not fair!
jlhudy - I echo exactly what you said. My weights have decreased SO dramatically, in Stage 7, that some of it is *nearing* BARBIE-TERRITORY (read: my second time doing step-ups, I had to revert to 8 lb DB's....PRETTY DAMN GIRL-ISH IF YOU ASK ME!)
Stage 7 is just a really tough work-out:
a) Tough on my lungs - I get too winded to do the 30s rests (as work-out states!)
b) Tough on my IT band - I've been rolling like a mad-woman, but the squats, step-ups and lunges just finishe me!
c) Tough on my ego - after more than 6 months at NROL4W, I don't look like the woman who posted my all time favourite: "look at my ginormous man muscles" post!! BUMMER!0 -
I borrowed a copy of NROL4 Abs from the library. It looked pretty good. The intro was fantastic, as well.
Step ups are roooough. Roooough. I strongly suggest using a barbell, though. It makes all the difference in the horrors of it. Even if you have to use one of the "pre-weighted" barbells that is under 45. It just makes it so much easier than the dumbells of lesser weight.
I checked my BF today, and I guess I've lost almost 2% BF! Yay. Also, my gained *kitten* inch went down. Boo! I know I look smaller, but I've no idea where it's happening at because my inches aren't changing much. I also had the JOY of a post week break weight loss. I know tomorrow I'm going to step on the scale and be back at my start weight, but for today I was losing weight. Yay!
I forgot to bring my workout sheet and it was supposed to be my first stage 3.. and... yeah.. well. So I just did a few sets of "What I wanted", which included squats, romanian deadlifts, cable rows, bench press, and a ton of abs. I ignored the fact that I was probably supposed to do HIIT because my knee is being iffy and I didn't want to irritate it with elliptical or stepping. I'll probably hoola hoop later for an hour at varying intensities.0 -
Beeps, I feel almost EXACTLY the same about all those topics! I was not happy about dropping back to 6kg DBs for shoulder presses. My ego didn't like reverting to Barbie territory either, but there's no other way for stage 7 i think! And my heart is right up there with my HIIT numbers for almost the whole thing :noway:
I'm not seeing the goddess we were promised on the book cover, but I'll take some after pics next week to check.
FunBun, with step-ups I stuck with dumbells, which was hard, but i thought it was important as a method of improving grip strength. This really helps with heavier deadlifts. But if you want to step-up with higher weights, you could always do alternate sets with both methods? That week-off decrease is fab isn't it?
3 workouts and I'm totally done! :drinker:0 -
Ooops!0
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Anyone do deadlifts with dumbbells? I'm really tempted. I missed my workout again this morning and I can do all but the deadlifts at work because they don't have free weights here. They don't have boxes or steps either, but I can usually make do with the nautilus equipment they have - some have raised steps and such.0
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Thanks for the welcome Beeps, and yeah, I'm enjoying it so far. ^^ Sorry to hear about the lack of results, though. D=
FunBun, I just want to say, you are super cute. =x I love your smile. Sorry for being creepy. XD ^^;;
Jen, Congrats on almost being done, and I'm sorry you aren't seeing any results, either. >_o
Fulfilled S1 WO1B today, and I'm finding Deadlifts to be a very strange move. I was told that they're suppose to be working your back, but they're so similar to Squats that I felt like I was just working my legs again. I'll have to check to see if I'm doing something wrong. Also, when lunging the book says do a lunge with one leg then the other, is one rep one leg extension? or is one rep two leg extensions?0 -
Beeps, I feel almost EXACTLY the same about all those topics! I was not happy about dropping back to 6kg DBs for shoulder presses. My ego didn't like reverting to Barbie territory either, but there's no other way for stage 7 i think! And my heart is right up there with my HIIT numbers for almost the whole thing :noway:
I'm not seeing the goddess we were promised on the book cover, but I'll take some after pics next week to check.
FunBun, with step-ups I stuck with dumbells, which was hard, but i thought it was important as a method of improving grip strength. This really helps with heavier deadlifts. But if you want to step-up with higher weights, you could always do alternate sets with both methods? That week-off decrease is fab isn't it?
3 workouts and I'm totally done! :drinker:
Jen- did you do 6 workouts? Or going for 12? I'm on Workout 1 for the second time (well, third cause i did it twice in the beginning cause I SUCKED the first day..)0 -
Yeah, I'm curious, too, whether Jen did 6 x Stage 7 work-outs, or the 12. (I am doing 12. Completed work-out 5 yesterday.)
mercury - don't get me wrong...I *am* getting results. They just never come fast enough or often enough for impatient me!
jennie - it's totally okay to use DB's to do deadlifts!! Totally. The *stumbling block* a lot of women have with using DB's for deadlifts is with their "grip". But, if you can hold those big ol' DB's, I say GO FOR IT!
Jen - I think I *do* look like the girl on the NROL4W cover. Even better, actually. But, my *caution* here is they show her shoulder region, ONLY. And, that is my BEST region. If it was a "full-body" shot, I'd bet my butt isn't in as good of shape as hers, or my abs, or my thighs, or, or, or.....
I say this all the time: "I look very good dressed....I'm TRYING to look good naked - and I'm NOT there, yet!"0 -
Thanks for the welcome Beeps, and yeah, I'm enjoying it so far. ^^ Sorry to hear about the lack of results, though. D=
FunBun, I just want to say, you are super cute. =x I love your smile. Sorry for being creepy. XD ^^;;
Jen, Congrats on almost being done, and I'm sorry you aren't seeing any results, either. >_o
Fulfilled S1 WO1B today, and I'm finding Deadlifts to be a very strange move. I was told that they're suppose to be working your back, but they're so similar to Squats that I felt like I was just working my legs again. I'll have to check to see if I'm doing something wrong. Also, when lunging the book says do a lunge with one leg then the other, is one rep one leg extension? or is one rep two leg extensions?
Do all reps on one leg (don't alternate) and then all reps on the other leg for lunges.
As far as the deadlift goes, for me personally, it's totally different (yes, it stll works the full body but def different). Depending on the weight you're lifting, you may need to raise your bar off the floor some. Deadlift form is typically designed around lifting an olympic bar with 45lb plates putting the bar a certain height off the floor. If you use smaller plates, the bar gets closer to the floor and you'll use more of a squat type motion to lift it. Stack some plates underneath the plates on your oly bar for extra height and see if it makes a difference.0 -
Thanks, Beeps. I just did Single Leg Romanian deadlifts instead.0
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Jen- did you do 6 workouts? Or going for 12? I'm on Workout 1 for the second time (well, third cause i did it twice in the beginning cause I SUCKED the first day..)
I'm on my first round of stage 7, doing the WO4 tomorrow. Although I'm considering doing it twice, as I'm not quite ready to move on to stronglifts (my next project), I'm awaiting my homemade power cage
My shoulders are the most visibly improved area (although they're not that strong), probably because I don't carry any fat on my arms, so the added muscle shows. My stomach is not as improved as I'd hoped, but that IS where I keep my fat, so I'm expecting that to take longer!
I probably shouldn't start any new progs yet anyway as I go on hols 15 Aug. I just have 4 weeks (of Ramadan) to get through before I get out of here. Is is worth doing 2 rounds of stage 7? Bear in mind I might die doing it :noway:0 -
Jen- did you do 6 workouts? Or going for 12? I'm on Workout 1 for the second time (well, third cause i did it twice in the beginning cause I SUCKED the first day..)
I'm on my first round of stage 7, doing the WO4 tomorrow. Although I'm considering doing it twice, as I'm not quite ready to move on to stronglifts (my next project), I'm awaiting my homemade power cage
My shoulders are the most visibly improved area (although they're not that strong), probably because I don't carry any fat on my arms, so the added muscle shows. My stomach is not as improved as I'd hoped, but that IS where I keep my fat, so I'm expecting that to take longer!
I probably shouldn't start any new progs yet anyway as I go on hols 15 Aug. I just have 4 weeks (of Ramadan) to get through before I get out of here. Is is worth doing 2 rounds of stage 7? Bear in mind I might die doing it :noway:
Did you decide against Stage 6 Jen? I've lost track!0 -
Hey guys! I am NOT as regular on this thread as I would like to be but I love interacting with friends on my newsfeed. I am looking for more friends with similar goals. I am one workout away from Stage 4, I am a runner, I have about 5 more pounds to lose, I am mid-thirties, two kids, love to have fun and comment on other's posts and accomplishments. I read a lot of fitness books and websites and am into some kind of controversial stuff like intermittent fasting and some supplements...but I won't hit you over the head with it
If you are interested in being friends, please add me!0 -
I was in the gym this morning, and I got a good look at myself in the mirror wearing a workout tank, and all I could think was , "Holy *kitten* look at my arms!" I too had skinny arms to start. I carry all my fat in my lower belly and thighs. They too are smaller but still disproportionately bigger than the rest of me. Just my body type, oh welly!
Did 5A3 this morning. Solid workout! Still having trouble with my 1 arm snatch. The left shoulder just can't do more than 30. I know the right arm can do 40, but I'm trying to stay symmetrical lol I was thinking while planking that I used to think 60sec was an eternity on planks. now it's nothing! Doing good on cals this week so I just might see a loss. Who knows?0
