Some Thoughts on NROL After 5 Months

[JackT]

Yesterday I did my last workout of FL-II; I did 3 w/os a week for 6 weeks. Before that it was FL-I (same schedule), and of course this was all preceded by the break in.

I have to say I'm ready for this break. My knees are starting to feel a little sore, and my legs and hips and lower back are stiff more often then not.

I made alot of progress though, no doubt about it. My strength is WAY up and I think I have gained some mass. I look bigger in my legs, arms, and traps.

Not sure if I'm leaner or not. I look more toned, but I think my pants are also fitting a little tighter, so I'm not sure what the deal is there. I was more concerned with eating enough than with losing fat. (I need muscle more than I need to lose fat, IMO.)

Here's an important thing, though. I think one aspect of this program is very underrated: The modular structure with the multiple workouts per module with cycles within workouts may be scientifically very effective at building muscle, but for me the important thing about it is that it KEEPS ME INTERESTED.

When was the last time I stuck with a workout for 5 months? (10 years ago.) The way this program is put together is very conducive to a short term goal mindset, and there is always something new to look forward to just around the corner. THAT is as important as the other technical benefits, if you ask me.

Next for me is HT-I. I'm a little worried about what to do for eating. Seeing as I did not lose all that much fat (I think) from FL-I & II, can I assume I'm eating enough for HT-1?

P.S. Snatch grip DLs suck. I hate doing them.

P.P.S. Also here's something you should mention in the book: the first time you front squat with big plates, you feel like a total BADASS. Very important.

[finboy]

Jack - it seems you and I are on the same NROL path. Sounds like your strength is greater than mine if you did front squats with big plates...that does sound cool!

I completely agree with your point about the design of the workouts keeping you interested. Thanks for verbalizing it so well. Despite dreading a certain superset in FLII that shall remain nameless, I was always eager to get back in the gym and push my way through another workout.

Congrats on your progress and good luck with Hypertrophy I.

[Mahler]

Some good points. Good luck with HT-1.

[scarface]

Originally Posted by JackT

I was more concerned with eating enough than with losing fat. (I need muscle more than I need to lose fat, IMO.)

Hey Jack,
I was just curious that if your goals were to gain muscle and not lose fat then why did you go with the fat loss programs. Why not hypertrophy?

[JackT]

Originally Posted by scarface

Hey Jack,
I was just curious that if your goals were to gain muscle and not lose fat then why did you go with the fat loss programs. Why not hypertrophy?

Hey that's a good question.

I decided to go with the "Eternal Beginner" scenario for a number of reasons. First, Eternal Beginner sums me up nicely.

Secondly, I think the FL programs are more than just fat loss, I think they are generally great workouts that anyone who is out of shape needs to do. I feel like they are great for conditioning.

Finally, my assumption was that as a completely UNTRAINED individual, I would gain as much muscle from FL as from HT in the very beginning anyway.

Also if I lost a little fat I wouldn't complain!

[UpNorth]

Good stuff! Thanks for taking the time to share. I was thinking of writing my own post "Some Thoughts on NROL After 1 Day" (I started yesterday) but all that I could think to write was "Damn I'm Sore!"

[Lou Schuler]

Speaking of front squats with big plates, I have to make a confession:

I hadn't done front squats since 2004, when Alwyn and I were writing this book and I was doing all the workouts in sequence.

Even when I was doing workouts from Chad Waterbury that called for front squats, I did back squats instead.

So, after reading a Mike Boyle article on T-nation (he's no fan of back squats, and believes front squats are a much better exercise), I decided it's time to do front squats again.

I can't tell you how sore my quads were the next 2-3 days. I haven't felt like that in recent memory. I was also surprised at how challenging it was to my trunk muscles. I think my body had forgotten what it's like to balance with weights on the front instead of the back.

It was humbling.