chayleah Member

Having a trainer has been worth it to me. Although I no longer need help with my form I have continued to work with a trainer because: 1. Accountability - I will go to the gym because I know that someone is waiting for me. I will also go on on the other days because I know she will ask about my progress. 2. Variety - I am…

Depending on how much weight you are doing, you can use dumbells for deadlifts.

Try doing them on an incline (table, stairs, etc) and then work your way to lower inclines as you get stronger. I did push-up on my knees for years and still couldn't do one on my toes. After doing incline pushups I can now do them on my toes.

I have decided not to have a goal weight...I have a goal look, which I think is similar to what you are going for. I want to see muscle definition, a flat tummy, and little to no jiggle. If I achieve that then I don't really care what the scale says. I put my scale in the trunk and use my clothes to measure progress. Who…

I have worked with a couple of trainers over the past 6 months and what I have found is that they each have a type of workout that they like/are comfortable with. What this typically means for the client is you need to find the trainer who is into the style of workout you want. When I first started training my focus was on…

1st look at bodybuilding dot com. They have several beginner workouts to choose from. If you can afford it, hire a trainer for a couple of session. They should show you how to work the equipment, proper form etc. If you can't hire a trainer look up the exercises on YouTube (Ripptoe has really good videos on form). Practice…

I know WW is easier for some people because the points are easier to count/keep track. But I couldn't deal with the calorie variation. My points target could equal 1200-1500 calories depending on what I was eating, which meant some days I was ridiculouslyhungry. I like calories because I also like to keep track of protein,…

My stats are similar to yours (5'7", 188 lbs). I am currently on stage 3 and I have lost about 5 lbs. When doing this program I have to be very careful which days I take measurement/weigh in. I once weighed in the day after a workout to see a 4 lb gain...water weight as the muscles replenish glycogen. I do NROLW on MWF and…

I also put both of my scales in the trunk of my car last week. I freaked out after showing a 4 lb. gain that I knew was water weight from weightlifting, even though I could fit into the jeans I haven't been able to wear since Christmas. It has been amazing to not let the scale dictate how I feel.

Cheapest easiest thing to try....room temperature water 1st thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Been doing it for the past 2 weeks and it works within 5-10u minutes.

I have recently started mixing black coffee with my protein powder. The protein powder adds enough sweetness and creaminess that I don't need anything else & it helps me reach my protein goals for the day.

Why is 120 the magic number? Do you think your body is going to look dramatically different at 120 than at 122? Is there still an area of your body you aren't happy with? Even if you get to 120 you will still fluctuate daily based on what you eat or drink. Let go of the magic number & just start maintenance. If it takes…

If you have a gym with daycare nearby or a YMCA then look into joining. Even of it takes a while to meet people & make "gym friends" getting out of the house can make you feel better. Check to see if there are any stroller fit classes near you, they allow you to workout with your kiddo and meet other moms

Totally depends on your personality. If I recall correctly, the 5x5 repeats the same 2 workouts for 12 weeks. That can work if you are really motivated by increasing weight/performance. I am easily bored and would be done after 5-6 weeks of doing the same moves. I am doing NROLW & I really like it. I cut the 1st stage by 2…

If you are an active person formal exercise isn't always necessary. I use a bodybugg to estimate my calorie burn and a good 1.5 hours of cleaning can get me the same calorie burn as steady state cardio. Most of us need formal exercise because we work jobs where we sit all day and even then that 1 hour of activity doesn't…

I just did Stage 2 workout A today and it took less than an hour including the warmup and stretching. The squat push press is only 2 sets so you shouldn't be in the squat rack too long. For the static lunge I used a step which is the only extra piece I had to bring into the weight area. For switching up the order, I think…