chocolatecroissant Member

Oh dear - I've been doing the step ups all wrong from the look of it! Just finished workout 4 of A. I don't know that I have a high enough bench to do the version illustrated - I was using my step on the high version. Will just have to experiment I guess. Does anyone else use a similar weight for deadlifts/squats and rows?…

Sounds like a very sensible plan. I might copy you!

Just saw this thread and wanted to jump in - I know all the theory (yes - I've read Chapter 12!) - but am finding it hard to get my head around dropping the cardio! I have a real fat head on at the moment and in my head (and again - yes I know this might be totally off track but try telling my head that!) only cardio will…

Thanks for the helpful responses and apologies if this has been posted recently (I did a search but couldn't find anything). I haven't heard of Supercharged but will look into this as I have a love/hate (mainly hate!) relationship with my foam roller - I know I should use it but it hurts so much!

Thanks for the supportive replies - I don't have anyone to spot me at the gym but do at home - my husband is training to be a personal trainer and routinely nags me about form - but it''s sometimes more difficult to accept from a partner rather than a stranger! :-) I've worked out a home and the gym now. The gym barbells…

Finally did day 1 (played with the programme over the past few weeks but this time was a strict start!) - I think I need to play around with my weights some more but it was tougher than I expected! Is anyone else nervous about increasing weights? I think I need to squat heavier (started with the Olympic bar, no weight) but…

Very inspirational and you look as though you've lost more weight than you have with the great muscle definition. Thank you for posting.

Hi. I'm new to this programme but have been working out for a while, although I've tended to stay away from the heavy weights as they scare me - although I know they are so good for me! I started Stronglifts but felt a bit intimidated as that takes you so heavy so fast and thought this looked more progressive. I need an…

Thanks so much for this advice - and for the werkit.com link - really helpful. I've been reading and trying out a few of the exercises over the past few weeks while my life was a bit chaotic and am starting this in earnest tomorrow ... gulp! Look forward to sharing my progress with this friendly group.

No rest would be hardcore! I intend to start breaking mine down into sets of 5-10 very soon!

I think that I lost everyone else! I'm up to 13 today but a day behind! Getting tough!

Maybe not this one! It's tough! But the site has loads of free workouts ... http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/exercise-detail/Epic-1000-Calorie-Workout-at-Home-Total-Body-HIIT-plus-Cardio-Strength-Training-Stretching/e2/

Good luck with your lifting and braving the free weights area. I still get intimidated there and sometimes wimp out! There are many folk who will be able to answer your questions much better than me as I'm not very consistent with the Stronglifts programme, but I'll answer a couple to the best of my ability. - I don't see…

8 burpees today. Who's still with me??

Did 3 burpees yesterday. No idea about calories - not many until you near the 100 but great for all round fitness.

I stand correctly. Duely edited.

I love step. I do Body Step at the gym and my new gym has a good Step class too which I'll stick with. At home I like Mindy Mylrea and the classic - Gin Miller.

MFP sets calories on the low side to enable you to eat back exercise calories. Exercise will get you fitter, looking better and stimulate your metabolism. Enjoy and think of exercise as an opportunity to eat more good stuff. :-)

Day 2 - 2 burpees - feeling hard already!

I only have a protein shake/bar after a particularly long or taxing workout, or if I've lifted heavy weights. Otherwise I wouldn't recommend it. (Or, I confess, occasionally as a meal replacement!)

Hating burpees is healthy! 100 a day is brutal! I started yesterday but you can start whenever is good for you - good luck everyone!

Great advice here - thanks. I only weigh once a week and fight the temptation to do so more often! But maybe even that is too frequent? I particularly like the idea of gradually increasing calories. I think I'm particularly sensitive to variations as I didn't have much to lose at the start so a small increase…

I weigh myself the same time every week. The trouble with tape measures for a klutz like is that I get very inconsistent measurements as it depends where I measure and trying to get the same place every time proves difficult. Good point though. Interestingly when I go up in weight my body fat goes down and muscle goes up,…

We originally set up the gym in one of the rooms in the house but had to move the weights to the garage - mainly as there is more space to lift there, particularly higher ceilings so it might be worth factoring this in too.

In case anyone else has had this difficulty, I wanted to post that I lost the weight I gained last week plus a bit this week so my fears were unfounded. For others that are near goal/are starting new routines this may be reassuring.

Well I did this - and I am now totally knackered!! Great routine but not one to do every day. (Trouble is - other half has just popped to the Chinese so likely to eat back those calories now!)

Many thanks - that is really helpful - and yes, my head knows that I mustn't obsess about the scales but I keep getting drawn back! I think that I may give New Rules a go and see how I get on. Then I can go back to 5x5 later if I choose to.

Thanks for the reply. My worry is I gain quickly and lose slowly so don't want to continue this pattern! I guess women tend to follow scales and men are more likely to focus on muscle mass! (big generalization!) :-)

Most gyms won't allow people to come in after 5 mins as they miss out on the warm up and gradual build up built into most classes. I just think it's rude and ignorant and, as an ex instructor myself, puts the instructor in a difficult position. I have heard instructors on more than one occasion tell a late comer to take it…

I keep meaning to try this one - http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/exercise-detail/Epic-1000-Calorie-Workout-at-Home-Total-Body-HIIT-plus-Cardio-Strength-Training-Stretching/e2/ and I'm snowed in too so maybe today is the day!