finding a program

[kobeat]

I'm having trouble fitting myself into any of the catogories to find a program. I'm female, 41, have been working out (mostly cardio) for a majority of my adult life. I discovered weights about 10 years ago but only lifted consitently the last 3 years (use a bowflex type machine with some dumbbells). I've got obligations (kids with activities, spouse, house & job), not seriously overweight but need to lose some, any program I've followed has been of my own creation and tends to focus on the upper body (being female that is where I'm weak and have used the excuse that the cardio I do is good enough for my lower body). My goal is to lose some weight (20-25 pounds) and lower my bodyfat from near 30% to 17%. I enjoy (usually) working out but need to tighten up my nutrition. I workout at home and have invested in a barbell and swiss ball so I can follow the exercises Alwyn has outlined in the book. I did break in workout A yesterday and for the first time ever wondered if I would be able to walk up my basement steps! Any thoughts on which program will do me the most good?

Thanks

[cdkrug]

Originally Posted by kobeat

I'm having trouble fitting myself into any of the catogories to find a program. I'm female, 41, have been working out (mostly cardio) for a majority of my adult life. I discovered weights about 10 years ago but only lifted consitently the last 3 years (use a bowflex type machine with some dumbbells). I've got obligations (kids with activities, spouse, house & job), not seriously overweight but need to lose some, any program I've followed has been of my own creation and tends to focus on the upper body (being female that is where I'm weak and have used the excuse that the cardio I do is good enough for my lower body). My goal is to lose some weight (20-25 pounds) and lower my bodyfat from near 30% to 17%. I enjoy (usually) working out but need to tighten up my nutrition. I workout at home and have invested in a barbell and swiss ball so I can follow the exercises Alwyn has outlined in the book. I did break in workout A yesterday and for the first time ever wondered if I would be able to walk up my basement steps! Any thoughts on which program will do me the most good?

Thanks

Yeah, not making it up the steps means you're doing it right . . .


Nothing wrong with doing Fat Loss if you think you need to lose fat. Sounds like you should start on FL I, take a week off, then do FL II, then evaluate where you want to go next.

If you're still sore, take a week off after breakin'

[austintwo]

I'll go along with CD's recommendation. Start with FL-I, it ought to do what your trying to do. Maybe Lou or Alwyn will stop by and opine as well.

[kobeat]

Thanks for the input guys. That's the direction I've been leaning toward. Though building strength in my forearms would be nice. I did BI workout B yesterday morning and really had to focus on holding the dumbbells in the step ups on the last couple of reps of each set! I don't really want to teach my cat not to lay next to me while I lift by dropping a weight on her head. Of course had I READ the description instead of looking at the pictures of the step up I might have realized my step is less than half the height recommended and that may explain why my legs didn't really feel the workout! There are disadvantages to early morning workouts.

[cdkrug]

Since you're in the basement, use the second step going up, unless you're short enough to use the first or tall enough to use the third.. A couple dumbbell handles that match your barbells will help if your stairs are too narrow for your bar.

[kobeat]

The steps are probably a better idea than my kids play table (slippery top + early morning workout + heavy dumbbells = kobeat sliding off said table onto the cat in a big heap of pain) which I noticed this morning is just knee height. I even have the dumbbell handles already. Thanks.

[Lynn46]

When I tried using the basement steps, it was much more difficult to balance because I had to reach further back to touch the bottom (floor). I ended up using a chair which worked for me since I am 6'2".
Lynn