New to NROL - My job requires travel - ideas - JP Fitness Forums

Monica · 09-25-2007, 05:49 PM

Hello! My name is Monica and I am new to NROL. I have been lifting weights at home for the last few years. I have never really stuck with any program, and noticed a slow down of results over the last year. I only have a little bit of fat to lose -- I am a 31 year old female, 5'4" and weight 123 lbs. I really am hoping to gain more muscle and definition.

After reading NROL I have realized that I put way too much time into isolation training such as bicep curls and tricep work. When I reviewed the Break-In workouts my first inclination was to skip them as they looked easy. I kept reading on this board that you are encouraged to do them no matter what your level. Well, I was surprised at how much energy the Break-In workouts took. I definitely was not used to doing as much as 15 repetitions.

This week I started Fat Loss I. I decided to go to the gym so that I could have access to a squat rack and a cable station for the back work. I have been a gym member at Bally's and 24 Hour Fitness for years and had never worked up the courage to use the squat cage nor the cable / pulley areas. It always seemed like it was for men only, and I was very intimidated. I would only do dumbbell work. Well, I was sooooo proud of myself when I went into 24 Hour Fitness and just decided to go for it. It was the first time in my life ever using an olympic barbell -- man that things was heavy! Due to the number of repetitions in Fat Loss I workouts 1-4, I am only able to do the bar + 10 lbs for a total of 55lbs on my deadlifts and squats. I was able to go as heavy as 65lbs for RDLs.

So I know now that I have been going on and on without getting to the point, sorry, I'm just very excited about this program.

My job requires that I travel Monday - Friday, every other week. When I travel I tend to have very long days and it can be tough to find a gym. The hotel gyms typically only have treadmills and a nautilus 3 in 1 machine thingy. Do you guys think that I can still get results if I do the NROL program when home, and just do bodyweight exercises when traveling?

Also, I used to do tons and tons of cardio years ago, and I have been reducing it slowly and slowly, now to the point where I might do 1 cardio session per week, sometimes none. Do you think that I need to add back in more cardio? I really do not miss it at all.

Sorry for the long winded message. I have been reading on the board quite a bit and finally thought I would introduce myself and ask some questions. Thanks for your time.

Monica

Lisa~ · 09-25-2007, 05:57 PM

Congratulations on getting into that squat rack! It's empowering isn't it?!

Sure, you can make gains doing a gym workout one week and a bodyweight workout during your travel week. Just try to mimic all the movement planes and make the bodyweight movement tough enough to count.

I do want to encourage you to move into the hypertrophy programs though. I think you'll like them better too. And be sure you're eating enough to add that little bit of muscle that's going to give you the body composition you'll want.

Welcome to the forums!

L'ilJ · 09-25-2007, 06:07 PM

Hi Monica - Welcome!

I travel quite a bit too, though not quite as consistantly as you do. I do lots of bodyweight/GPP stuff on the road along with rope jumping and other assorted things (you can check out my log). Do you travel to different places each time? If you belong to 24 Hour Fitness or Bally's, there may be affiliated gyms in the locations to which you travel. Even if you get only one NROL workout done during that travel week, it's better than none right?

Good luck to you. You should start a training log. You'll get lots of encouragement from the other forum members. Many of them are doing/or have done the NROL programs. It's great to swap stories and keep motivated.

missjane · 09-26-2007, 04:47 AM

Hi Monica!

Welcome! When I used to travel for work, I always called ahead to the hotel and/or the city chamber of commerce to find suitable gyms in the area. Most always, a gym was willing to let me workout while I was there for a small fee. In some cases, my hotel had an arrangement with a nearby gym for guest passes. I think I was always able to find a nearby gym when I was travelling.

Good luck with NROL....I'm loving it and currently doing FLII.

Monica · 09-26-2007, 10:44 AM

Thanks for the responses and support! I am so excited to meet other women that love lifting weights. Most of my family and friends don't understand.

LISA -- Yes - getting into the squat rack was very empowering! I think that after Fat Loss I, I will go ahead into Hypertrophy I. There is no problem with me eating enough! Quite the opposite. Since starting NROL I feel like I am more hungry. Sometimes with breakfast alone I have already consumed 600 - 700 calories.

L'ILJ -- I basically get four cities across the U.S. that I visit throughout a calendar year. I have given up my Bally's membership, but am currently using my 24 Hour Fitness. I will definitely check out your training log and might start one up myself!

MISSJANE -- That is a good idea to call ahead for gyms in the area. Like Jill recommended above, if I can at least get in one NROL workout while out of town that would be better than none.

Happy Wednesday!
Monica

Monica · 10-04-2007, 03:32 PM

Hi guys,

So before leaving for Detroit I completed Workouts 1 & 2 of Fat Loss I A & B. I got to Detroit on Monday and asked the hotel if the were affiliated with any local gyms that I could attend. They referred me to the YMCA. Well I went over to the YMCA and they had me pay $15 for three visits while I'm in town. So the "manager" at the YMCA asked me what it was I wanted to use, I told her I wanted to lift weights. She told me that there were stability balls and some dumbbells next to the track and that I could walk the indoor track with the dumbbells. So I then asked her if they have a weight room. Her response was unbelievable! She said, "No honey, we have a weight room but it's for men." I asked her if I was not allowed to use it then? She replied, "well you don't want to go there, it's all the big heavy stuff." I told her that yes, that is what I am looking for. She continued to 'correct' me and stress that it is the big heavy weights that only men use. I was honestly shocked!

It ends up that the weight room was really weak. There was one squat rack that was being used by the men for shoulder shrugs and rows. The room was so small and cramped that you could honestly barely walk around. Forget about doing supersets because if you get up you instantly lose that piece of equipment. I did the walking rotational lunge on the indoor track and people were looking at me like I was nuts. I decided not to go back. I called Bally's and renewed my membership for $8/month, paying for three years upfront. Between having a 24 Hour Fitness and Bally's membership, it should increase my chances of having access to a gym while travelling.

I went to a Bally's in Detroit the next evening that was actually very nice. I usually didn't care for the Bally's where I live, but this one in Troy, Michigan is very very nice. Lot's of equipment. I think that they have five or six squat racks/cages. I was able to complete Workout #3 for A & B. Halfway through Fat Loss I. I will go to Hyp. I next.

Just really wanted to share my story about the woman at the YMCA. Can you believe that!? Hilarious.

Take care,
Monica

L'ilJ · 10-04-2007, 03:43 PM

Hey, I'm in Detroit. I'm gonna PM you. I can give you recommendations if you want.

Lost Dog · 10-04-2007, 03:48 PM

Ask your club for a IHRSA sticker or card for your membership card. When you travel, you can use that affiliation to get a discount entry into some clubs. Some don't honor it, but it gives you an in to suggest some sort of bargain with them. I've gotten a week at Gold's for $20, vs. $10 a day on a trip to Boston. Some clubs just let you in.

The best thing is that I've found that they don't make you fill out all the waivers and temp membership info if you have that sticker. Save time, getting in. Maybe they forget or just think it means more than it does?

Aoife · 10-04-2007, 03:50 PM

Wow.
I think I would have laughed in her face.
I also would have walked up to the dude in the rack and asked if he was gonna be done soon so I could get my squats in. It's not so much about being bold and getting the rack, it's about seeing the look on some dude's face when you up and ask them if they'd get their sorry asses out of your way. :p

I get odd looks all the time while in the cage. I think the people that frequent the gym when I go have gotten used to me, there's not normally much staring now. But the other night some guy looked totally amazed I was in there. And I was barely squatting anything. The looks when I put on the 45s are near priceless.

Keep it up. I never see other chicks in the cage. I swear if this place didn't exist I'd think all women were afraid of the sucker.

LWilson212 · 10-05-2007, 06:22 AM

I love your story! "Oh no honey, those are for the big strong men. Why don't you use those pink plastic dumbbells in the corner?":p
I was trying to save some money so I quit the nice place I belonged to and now I go to a Y that is pretty much like you are describing. It has all the equipment to do all the programs and if I pick my time right I can do supersets and use the cage.
I hardly ever see any other women in there. All the guys are pretty much used to me now and are willing to spot me on my bench and offer tips.

Leah

Chris-STL · 10-05-2007, 07:59 AM

Sounds like a typical Y to me, mine out here in Washington, mo (close to you) is exactly the same. I dropped my membership 2 years ago after we bought a house and installed our own gym.

Oh and welcome to the forums! Cool to see another Missourian here (and your stats are nearly identical to my wifes...spooky.)

missjane · 10-05-2007, 08:31 AM

That story is priceless!! But, good for you for getting in your workouts!

My funny story....a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in my car after my workout completing all of my notes and such in my log. I looked up and there was someone IMPATIENTLY waiting for my parking space. I couldn't believe it! And, you just know this person who waited 5 minutes for my close space went in there and walked on the treadmill for an hour!! Where's the logic!