OFFICIAL WOMEN'S CHALLENGE THREAD

[Natalia]

Welcome, Tanya. And thanks Oh, I stayed up to finish the book, too.....Guilty!

[fengshway]

I have been doing them correctly! they are tough, but I have spent this year building my core muscles twice a week, so I think that has helped.

[Azure]

1. My Plan:
My plan is to use NROL4W for workouts, starting from the beginning. Lifting 3 times per week and also doing HIIT twice a week. I'm going to also probably be adding in some steady-state here and there (when I get back to school, I have a cardio kickboxing class that I -love-). The new TT manual is out now, too...so I will be starting with NROL4W and if I like how it's going, I'll definitely stick with it through the 6 months. If I'm not feeling it, I may switch off to TT.
My calories to start are going to be 1700 on resting days and 2,000 on workout days. I'm going to try for approx. 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight, so 168 grams of protein per day (Chicken breast, jerky and whey: here I come!). The other macros can fall where they may (likely on a low-carb side), but I'm going to make sure
I got a body comp. done at the gym today to get all my starting numbers, and I'm going to try to get one done in the same way approximately monthly (or bi-monthly), to track my numbers.
I'm getting enough protein.

2. Goals:
I suppose some of my goals are obvious: lose fat, maintain or (ideally) gain muscle mass. I think scale numbers are pretty arbitrary (I'm trying to make myself think that anyway, because I've been so fixated on them at times). Though I think that I'd like to sit at a pretty fit 140--though it seems like a numerical shot in the dark (I've never been below 150 in my adult life). I want to get stronger and leaner. I think my big goal is jeans: a size 8 or 9 would be lovely (again, I've never worn below a 13--my current size--in my adult life).

3. Stats:
I'm about to throw out lots of numbers. The following were collected during the body comp. I had done today:

Height: 5'7"
Weight: 168.6 (wearing pants/shirt no shoes); 165 (on a home scale before the appointment, wearing nothing). The home scale will be what I use when I'm not having a body comp done, so I'm posting both numbers as reference.
Fat: 31.5% / 53.11 pounds
Lean Mass: 115.5 pounds
Water %: 46%
BMR: 1687

Measurements (done at home):

Bicep (L): 14"
Chest (under bust): 35.5"
Chest (across bust): 42.5"
Waist (above belly button): 32.5"
Waist (at belly button): 36"
Waist (below belly button): 41"
Hips: 43"
Thigh (L): 25"
Calf (L): 14"

4. Photos (bumbumbum...):




PS~ The photos are tilted slightly to the left--it's not your screen or your eyes I had issues setting the camera up to take shots of myself. And let's hope I NEVER have to look like that again, tilted or otherwise.

[sunshinekisses]

i'm going to join in!

i will post stats and plan on sunday. that is when i usually take my progress shots, weigh myself and take measurements.

[pattys53]

O.K. I htink I may have figured out how to post a picture

[pattys53]

Well, the pictures are really small. I'll keep on working on getting a better picture.
I'm so computer illiterate

[vanessa40]

Originally Posted by pattys53

Well, the pictures are really small. I'll keep on working on getting a better picture.
I'm so computer illiterate

Don't feel bad...i'm the same way...

[Jodi]

Ok, here are my pics. So embarressing......I did take a side shot, but for some reason it didn't show up. I'm lucky to get these to show up. (Thanks, Aoife)

Jodi

[Aoife]

Originally Posted by Jodi

Ok, here are my pics. So embarressing......I did take a side shot, but for some reason it didn't show up. I'm lucky to get these to show up. (Thanks, Aoife)

Jodi

[Jodi]

Thanks again, Aoife!!!!

[UConnJulie]

Great job ladies on getting your posts up ...

THE ABSOLUTE CUT-OFF DATE WILL BE MONDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 2008 11:59 PM PACIFIC TIME.
If your pictures/stats/plan is not up by then, then you are not in the challenge. Of course you can still post in our threads and offer/get support as needed ... but you won't get to brag when you win the whole darn thing, and beat the pants off the top boy.

Remember ... to join you only have to be female and doing a smart plan (nothing where you are starving for days on end only to binge on donuts leaving your weekly caloric intake under 1000 calories all in saturated fat and sugar!). YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO NROL4W. It just so happens to coincide with a time when many of us who bought the book felt it was a good time to start allowing ample time to read and set everything up. But if you want to do a CW program or TT or Jillian Michaels or whomever, feel free.

Sometime on Tuesday (depending upon how much computer time my children allow me at once) I will get up a thread that lists each participant and a link to her log. PLEASE POST YOUR PICTURES AND PLAN AND SUCH IN YOUR LOG. That way people who are stopping by your log to support you don't have to look in more than one place! If you have indicated in this thread your intent to post pictures and join, but haven't by the time cut-off listed above, then you will not be listed in the official list. Sorry! There has been ample time, opportunity, offers of help for the computer challenged. This challenge is about NO CODDLING ... and it starts here. No excuses accepted!

Speaking of no coddling ... many of you are new to JPs ... it is a wonderful place on the web ... many kind, thoughtful, smart people post here. If you are in a challenge, and are making excuse after excuse as to why you aren't following the plan you laid out, expect to get some tough love. We want you to reach your goals, not wallow in pity as to why you can't get your hand out of the cookie jar or your butt off the sofa. None of us want to look like this in 6 months ... and we won't if we don't coddle each other.

Now, those of you who haven't posted your pictures and stats yet (THIS MEANS YOU VICTORIA!!) ... get your butts in gear and git 'er done!!!

[rem1956]

Gals....I'm so happy you started your own thread. This will be as exciting to follow as ours is. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck. It took courage to post those pics and have that type of accountability...I know...look at mine!

Seriously, I'm glad I started this challenge. I expect that all of us will be winners in our own way.

Can't wait till Monday!

[Natalia]

Originally Posted by Natalia

While doing the 'tuck' I feel my Rectus Abdominis contracts. When doing the full 45 degree it engages your hip flexors.

sorry...i was wrong saying it 'engages hip flexors more'. Actually it uses hip flexors less and stresses abdomen in fuller range of motion.

[sveta]

Hi guys,
this challenge is just what was looking for! I love weightlifting and was in a very decent shape about 4 years ago, but things got progressively worse lately. First, I started running, and with my commitment to races had to sacrifice my weight training (was running 6-7 hours a week); did two half marathons in 2006 -which was cool- but those stupid pounds just kept creeping on me...Then I switched jobs and with my new crazy schedule stopped working out altogether, and it's been like this since August. It just has to change!!!

Here's my stats:
Age 35
Height 5'3"
Weight 127 lb
Bicep 10.63"
Waist 26.8"
Hips 36.2"
Thigh (R) 20.5"
Chest 34.6"

Well...and pics

[Cynic]

Good luck ladies. I'll be cheering you all on. Slimming down and strengthening up has a way of making a person look and feel younger.

have at it.

[kfisherx]

Hmmmm..... Somehow this black isn't really all that slimming. Okay here is my official entry and you will now be able to see that I really am that fat....


44 years old (Program Manger by day, guitarist at night, loves to run)
5'4.5"
134 lbs
25.5% BF

Measurements as soon as I find a tape measure

I found the NROL book at Barnes and Noble this evening. (I was there on a date with a friend and it was just sitting there) So I sat down for 1.5 hours and had a read. Read the whole thing and then decided that even though I do not intend to follow this plan that the recipes were worth th money as well as the very good description of the exercises. So I'll be able to follow along with those of you on NROL.

I will be working with my Personal Trainer over the next few months and after that will adopt a plan of some sort (haven't figured out yet). This is all pretty new to me.

My training log is here and I will update it with diet information

http://forums.jpfitness.com/training...posuction.html

[Dolly Dagger]

Originally Posted by Natalia

Those were kinda vague for me. I was not completely sure how to perform those. On youtube I found no demonstration on the exercise. So I made my own video and consulted Cassandra Forsythe. She was kind enough to respond. Said I had correct form. I'd like to share this vid with all the ladies here. Hopefully, it