[sharkattack]

I strayed from NROL (and Alwyn’s training principles in general) and now I’m paying the price. I’ve been using the programs in NROL for a while now, and have been enjoying my workouts. However, the last few weeks, I’ve been working out with my brother in law and he’s currently doing the Body for Life program. I tried to get him to join me with the NROL program, but he was excited about the BFL program and I figured anything that got him excited about lifting for the first time is better than nothing.


We’ve been doing the program pretty much as described, which consists of an upper and lower split. However, during the last few upper body days, my elbow has been a little tender while doing curls. At first I brushed it off, but last night, it really bothered me after the workout. It feels like the ‘tennis elbow’ I used to get when I’d work my biceps heavily with curls. While driving back home from my brother in law’s gym, I was immediately reminded of the section in NROL where Lou says “One of the classic questions I get is ‘My elbows hurt when I do curls. How can I make them stop hurting?’ The answer is pretty easy: Stop doing curls!”


I’m also reminded of the line I read once that said something on the order of “If you can squat 1 ½ to 2 times your body weight, deadlift over 2 times your body weight, perform chins and pull-ups with additional weight, and bench press your body weight for reps, your arms will be as big as they need to be, even if you never do a single curl or pushdown. I guess it’s true, but it’s so hard for guys, especially guys, to stop doing curls.


I’ve learned my lesson. Back to NROL I go. Has anyone else strayed from their program, only to realize they were wrong for doing so? What made you stray? Was it a new program that just came out? What program were you on when you left?

Thanks for listening guys,
Scott