I'm loving the workouts...

[jsylves]

for weeks 5-8 of the original OPT and I am completely surprised. When I looked at the workouts before I started the program I thought they were completely lame and that I would hate them. I was so used to doing upper/lower splits with heavy weights for at least an hour a day that I thought these workouts were going to be pointless.

I have to say now, after doing the MRM program and now working through the OPT program, my outlook on working out has completely changed. I'm no longer freaked out at the thought of taking a week off working out or not spending 2 hours a day in the gym. I can't say I've lost a ton of body fat yet, but I am enjoying the program.

Just wanted to share my opinion in case anyone on here is contemplating ordering the program. In my opinion, it is totally worth it. Especially if you've been overtraining for years without seeing the desired results.

[maggieandmommy]

Yay! It sounds like you have really benefitted from MRM and OPT! Awesome!

[tttgood]

I am in week 6 of OPT and really liking it too - the workouts, the food tracking - and have lost 9 lbs so far! Much easier than I expected - and I've had a few "off" days as well where I ate higher than my caloric allotment. Yes, I'm being a little "anal", but I figure it's 12 weeks. I am excited to see where I end up at the end of the program.

[Leigh P.]

I am really happy to hear about your experiences. You know we do so much problem solving it is nice to hear the simple on things. Great job and keep up the great work.

[P-Zilla]

Want to try this so bad... I am going to finish the TNT Diet's 12 weeks and try this.

So many exciting programs I want to try and so little time!

[tttgood]

OK, I'm about to start my 7th week of OPT (tomorrow) and have a couple of questions for anyone who's doing or done OPT and/or Leigh:

I am 5 foot 4 and I started out at 137.5 lbs and got down to 128.5 lbs as of last Tuesday. In between then and now, I've had some higher calorie days (Passover/Easter holidays) and am up, as of this morning to 130 (have been at 130 the last couple of days that I've weighed myself). I fully expected this, and realized that I should keep doing what I'm doing to stay on track and the weight will eventually go back down - but am just curious to hear from other people:

a) have others experienced a stall/slow down in the middle of OPT?
b) at my current height/weight and goals (I don't have an exact goal weight, but think I'd be happy with how I look around 120-122, so therefore want to diet down to 117-120 as Leigh recommends in the maintenance manual so that I can allow for the inevitable 3 lb gain), is this realistic within the confines of the 12 week OPT plan?
c) I love cardio and have been doing slightly more cardio than the OPT plan recommends - especially after the more recent higher calorie days. I don't do anything very high impact, just elliptical and walking uphill on the treadmill. I have not been changing anything about the calories or macro %, but just doing more cardio that the recommended 3X per week. Is this going to jeopardize anything? Something about sweating and cardio makes me just feel cleaned out and works as a mood stabilizer for me, so I really like to do it at least 4-5 times a week, if I can.

Thanks!

[maggieandmommy]

If I was following OPT, I'd probably follow the recommended exercise/activity amounts. Otherwise, it's hard to know if things are happening/not happening because of the program or because of what you're doing extra. I don't know that it would make a difference in this case, but it might...