Questions for the authors?

[LisaS]

you are mis-reading the book. that is not a pyramid specification.
it is different workouts (*) with different set/rep schemes per each.
so Monday - 2x15 A#1 , Wed 2x15 B#1 exercises, Fri 2x15 A#2, Mon 2x15 B#2,
Wed 2x12 A#3 --- do you see?

see pg. 124-125 , chart on 125, example on pg 138 of a workout log showing part of a workout A#1 day

[Tree]

Originally Posted by Lou Schuler

I'll also note that the clients who train at Alwyn's facility often work out just twice a week. Nobody trains more than three times a week.

'

They only train with someone at his facility twice a week, or only train twice a week period? His facility is pretty expensive to only train twice a week. From what I've read of his and listened to his interviews I was under the impression they met with a member of his staff 1-2 times a week, but also trained on their own.

[Morkai]

Ouch Phit2at.. you must be sore

You basically did 2 separate workouts and the setxrep ranges that should have been done over 16 different workout days.. !

Pg 140 is Workout A - Page 141 is Workout B. You alternate these two workouts. Lisa said the rest.

Thsi workout should only take about 20-30 mins tops.

[phit2at]

OH man! I did the entire 6 weeks in one morning!

[Lou Schuler]

Originally Posted by phit2at

OH man! I did the entire 6 weeks in one morning!

Wow! This is one for the the record books. I wish I had some kind of trophy to send you, because after that ordeal, you deserve something besides sore muscles.

I wish you a speedy recovery!

[SpacecityPaula]

Lou I know she wasn't the only one that did that.....

[Lou Schuler]

Damn! I guess I should've spent more time explaining the whole training-log thing.

I don't mean to give anyone homework, but can any of you point out which parts of the explanation are incomplete or confusing? That way I can write up a post that goes into more detail for the readers who aren't used to using this kind of training system.

What I mean is, if I look at the workout charts with soft eyes -- looking at it as if I've never seen anything like it before -- I understand why it comes off as hieroglyphics.

But I tried to explain it before readers got to the charts, and I filled out a sample workout chart. That's more or less how I approached it in the original NROL, and I can't remember anybody being confused about how the system works (although I confess I'm working off deep memory here).

My big screw-up in NROL was that I didn't explain "superset with full rest," which I apologized for on the Amazon page.

I can do the same for this book -- create an Amazon blog and explain how to use the workout charts -- but first I need to understand what's confusing or inadequate about the explanation in the book.

Anybody up for the challenge?

[LisaS]

sorry, it made sense to me at once - but I'm used to NROL and t-nation workout specifications so not the best judge. I thought the explanation and sample log were sufficient too.

[missjane]

Lou, I'm with Lisa. I thought is was explained very well. In looking over it again, I just can't figure out how anyone thought this was a pyramid workout. I can't see where the confusion is???

[Cynthia]

The workout did not make sense to me until I saw it written out in succession, like in this thread:

Please Help!!

Originally Posted by Victoria

Stage 1
Workout A

Workouts 1 & 2:

A:
Squat-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.
Squat-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.

B1 & B2:
Pushup-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.
Seated Row-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.
Pushup-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.
Seated Row-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.

C1 & C2:
Stepup-15 reps
Rest 60 secs.
Prone jackknife-8 reps
Rest 60 secs.
Stepup-15 reps
Prone jackknife-8 reps
Rest 60 secs.

etc., etc.

[Lisa~]

Originally Posted by Lou Schuler

But I tried to explain it before readers got to the charts, and I filled out a sample workout chart. That's more or less how I approached it in the original NROL, and I can't remember anybody being confused about how the system works (although I confess I'm working off deep memory here).

That's how I remember it too. The guys seemed to get the concept without an issue.

You did explain it before you got the the charts. But maybe it's just easy for me because I'm used to looking at training programs. Maybe this whole concept is new to a lot of women. It's certainly been an interesting phenomenon!

[Karen411]

My question is on the 2-3 sets in Stage 4 and 3-4 sets in Stage 5. I don't get what criteria we are supposed to use to decide how many sets to do. I admit that I may be missing something, but I honestly don't see the answer anywhere. Is it something we're supposed to work up to or is it something like deciding you didn't work hard enough and probably can do another set?

The only thing I found confusing about the charts is that I thought there was supposed to be a warmup and then a warmup set for each exercise. Other people here have said they only do a warmup and then a warmup set for the first exercise, then continue on with the workout as written.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Cynthia

The workout did not make sense to me until I saw it written out in succession, like in this thread:

Please Help!!

I understood how to do the workouts (only because I've done TT before, and am familiar with supersets from that program). I remember being confused about it in the beginning myself. Thinking that I should start at A, work through to C, then start over at A for a second/third time OR that I should do A, rest then do B1 twice, then B2 twice, then rest... I messed TT workouts up so much until I finally understood how supersets worked.

I brought the "B" workout of NROL4W to a personal training session at the gym yesterday, and the trainer didn't really "get" the supersets as written either. I had to explain to him what the "A, B, C' sections were, and how to do them. Even then, he didn't have me alternate the B1/B2, B1/B2--he had me do B1 twice in a row, then B2 twice in a row...


I hope that wasn't more confusing than I meant it to be... I understood what you meant in the book, but only because I've blundered through screwing up supersetting before. I was a little dismayed that the trainer I saw didn't really get it...and that he had never heard of Alwyn, or Lou (and warned me to "be careful" about any workout information over the internet/from "just any" source because "anyone can make a website and stick some letters after their names").

[Lou Schuler]

My question is on the 2-3 sets in Stage 4 and 3-4 sets in Stage 5. I don't get what criteria we are supposed to use to decide how many sets to do.

Karen, the extra set is optional. If you feel like doing it, go for it. I'm pretty sure I didn't explain that nuance, so I apologize for leaving it hanging out there.

[Lou Schuler]

The only thing I found confusing about the charts is that I thought there was supposed to be a warmup and then a warmup set for each exercise. Other people here have said they only do a warmup and then a warmup set for the first exercise, then continue on with the workout as written.

How you do warm-ups is really up to you. I don't see much purpose in doing one or more warm-up sets when the work sets are 15 reps, but you can certainly do them if you want.

For lower-rep sets, using heavier weights, I always do warm-up sets. But I don't list them on my workout charts along with the work sets -- it just clutters things up.

However, in an earlier book -- The Book of Muscle, which I wrote with Ian King -- we prescribed warm-up sets and put them into the workout charts.

But for the two NROL books, I don't think Alwyn and I ever considered doing it that way.

[Lou Schuler]

I was a little dismayed that the trainer I saw didn't really get it...and that he had never heard of Alwyn, or Lou (and warned me to "be careful" about any workout information over the internet/from "just any" source because "anyone can make a website and stick some letters after their names").

Now you know our secret! Alwyn and I just set up websites, stuck letters after our names, and somehow got a major publisher to print our books. It's amazing that no one has caught on until now.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Lou Schuler

Now you know our secret! Alwyn and I just set up websites, stuck letters after our names, and somehow got a major publisher to print our books. It's amazing that no one has caught on until now.

I know! It's so shocking!

This was coming from a guy who I'd never met before...I didn't toss back at him: "So, what certifications and experience do you have?", but I was tempted.

[campingmom]

Originally Posted by Azure

I know! It's so shocking!

This was coming from a guy who I'd never met before...I didn't toss back at him: "So, what certifications and experience do you have?", but I was tempted.

Exactly! Because, you know, just because you're seeing him live and in person automatically means he's NOT lying, right? Yeah, I'd wonder how up-to-date that guys is on his training if he's never heard of any of this!