So ladies (and lurking men!) how is Stage 1 going?
What are you finding the hardest so far?
For me, it's been actually getting all my workouts in. With 4 littles, the rash of dentist appointments, homeschooling, doing my design work, and now needing my husband to be home and *willing* to lift my barbell for my squats (until we get a squat rack) it's been hard for me to get my schedule just right. I keep having to lift later at night and I'm SO tired and my last two workout weren't what they could have been because of it. So today was a B workout so I worked out in the morning. I feel much better and my head was so much clearer than when I worked out late at night.
AND I think really pushing myself. I've always been someone to say i was giving 100% and not really doing it. I always felt like a failure deep down because I knew (or thought) that I was weak. So I find really pushing myself hard. I look at the weights some of you are using and I've been getting that feeling again that maybe I'm not really giving 100%. I've had some moments where I knew I was giving it my all (like my last HIIT session where I was thinking I might need a puke bucket next to the treadmill) but at other times not so much. This whole NROL4W thing is really going to be life changing in that regard for me.
So what's been hardest for you? Is it an exercise? Judging the right weights? Finding time? Motivation? Pushing yourself? Trusting in the amount of calories the book says?
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Kim. Not Kimberly, not Kimmie, and certainly not Kimbo. Just Kim. Though it was frankcassiesmom for a blink of an eye.
For me I'd probably say it's judging the right weights. I know on some I need to work on bumping them up faster. I'm doing pullovers instead of lat pull-downs, and on that one I'll probably struggle more (it's the only one that the weights I started with felt tough).
And eating more, although on Saturday I did bump up to the minimum I worked out. It wasn't a big bump, so why not?
I'm very lucky at the moment that my time is completely my own. Who thought being unemployed and headed back to school would be a good thing!
So ladies (and lurking men!) how is Stage 1 going?
What are you finding the hardest so far?
I have a few little problems, grip strength, needing longer rest between some sets...But my biggest problem right now is boredom. I SOOO want Stage 1 to be over. I am doing B6 today so I the rest of this week and then 2 more workouts before the special workouts. And as much as I am not looking forward to the special workouts I will be glad to get stage 1 done with and move on!!
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AM, homeschooling mom to Wild & Wacky, see my fitness journey here, my training log here and my everything else blog here.
Consistent practice equals consistent progress.
Finding the proper weight is still difficult sometimes. Trying to follow the fine line between increasing weights so my muscles are challenged, but not bumping up too much to protect my joints.
I'm not having any major DOMS, but still need to add extra days of rest between workouts, probably because I'm not a spring chicken. Also as the days get warmer I'm getting back into the outdoor chores with dh that are really great functional fitness workouts & soon it will become a nearly every day thing.
I had an AWESOME workout today (I'm on 5-B). I went up in everything, and even made up for a silly error I made last week, and then some.
I know what you mean about looking at others' weights and wondering if you are doing enough...it is a little discouraging to me.
My favorite thing about this program so far, compared to any other program I've done in the past, is how worked my back feels. I've always worked my back, but apparantly not enough It's the only part that still gets some soreness the next day!
Well lets see the first 2 times I did deadlifts I hurt my back which flared up my sciatic nerve(a problem I had about 15 years ago).This was weeks ago and my back has long since healed but the sciatic nerve tends to make certain exercises feel like someone is sticking a dagger into the back of my left leg.I've been going to my Chiropractor weekly to fix this so it's slowly getting better.I've spent a lot of time reading and watching videos on deadlift form and I think my form is pretty much perfect now.I'm still gun shy about deadlifting too much weight right now so that's my biggest issue I'm dealing with.The step ups leave me REALLY sore for 2 days and I'm using 20 lb dumbbells with those.The lunges I'm using 20s also and I'm sore but not too bad.I'm going to try to use 25s on lunges next time and see if I can manage it without too much pain.Over all I really like this program and am actually excited to workout
Can I make a suggestion? Come to think of it, this might be better placed as its own thread, but whatever, lol. There's the "official" weekly thread, and then there's this one that many have been commenting on that is geared towards people who have just recently started, or are at least still in stage one. Can I make a suggestion that maybe we title these "unofficial" threads as just weekly check-in threads? There are many of us that aren't in the official challenege, and many are in different stages. I'm on stage 3, others are on stage 2, etc. Does this make sense or am I just rambling? lol.. at any rate, you girls are doing awesome :-) Keep it up!
To be honest I wasn't really interested in doing a weekly thread every week. Anyone who knows me knows I am anything but reliable LOL! I don't care what we call them I just wanted a place where I as a beginner could post about Stage 1. If ya'll want us to not have Stage 1 threads that is fine too. Either way.
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Kim. Not Kimberly, not Kimmie, and certainly not Kimbo. Just Kim. Though it was frankcassiesmom for a blink of an eye.
Haha! I'm the same way! By all means, I do not want you to not have stage 1 threads, I wasn't trying to imply that at all. (If that sentance even made sense... lol) I tend to post in the "official" threads anyway, I just say I'm not "official". :-)
I'm on my 3rd week of stage 1. I'm loving all the exercises and how quickly I'm in and out of the gym. I also love that the amount of weight I'm lifting increases each week. The hardest exercise for me is squats. My squat weight is so much less than my deadlifts and other leg exercises. I wish I could have a trainer work with me on JUST perfecting my squats and figuring out why I have such a hard time getting low enough with them. Other than that, it's all going great!
The hardest exercise for me is squats. My squat weight is so much less than my deadlifts and other leg exercises.
Me too! I have pretty good flexibility in my back - I can do a bridge up - But I have a really hard time getting low in squats without dropping my torso as I get lower. Deadlifts make me feel powerful - I just did 95# in 6B the other day and felt tough and balanced, but my squats are at 60# and I feel pained on each rep.
When doing squats, I'm trying to envision that a soccer ball may come propelling at me at any given moment, so I'd better have my chest out and open to receive it - that's helping me focus on my posture and keeping my torso up and butt down.
In rereading the book, I notice a whole section on quad/glute imbalance in women, and I think that I'm actually a lot stronger in my back and butt - my upper back is another story - but I need to focus a lot more attention on building my quads.
I have a huge imbalance, evidently. I did deadlifts with 115x2x12, but can only do 50x2x12 for squats. I did step ups with 55x2x12 and could probably go higher. So, is that saying my quads are weak? Or that I just have huge flexibility issues?
I just did Level 1 - B6. I am finding it interesting that people have such difference between their squats and dealifts. Mine are about equal - 100 lbs. I think that my squats are going to go higher tham my deads soon just because of grip strength. I am finding it hard to hold on to 100 pounds!
My challenges are grip strength. It almost seems like to me it's wrist strength if that makes any sense. All I know is that my wrists are tender after a set. I don't usually have failure with my grip, it's just kinda achy. With lunges, I have gone to setting the dumbells on my shoulders. After readings some of the posts, it sounds like I shouldn't be doing that.
I don't know if these would help, but I've read about Versa-Grips in Oxygen magazine...they might help some with grip issues. I know my hands are very small and gripping is a problem for me sometimes. I am thinking of getting some of the grips someday, just not yet. Amazon.com carries them.
I did my first workout of Week 3 this morning (at 5am! so that I could get it in before we headed out of town), and it felt good. I bumped my squat up again. Now I'm just focusing on getting my form right. I think I'm doing pretty good, but I think I might give my former trainer a call and get him to come and watch me lift just to make sure I'm doing everything right.
I've gotta say that I've had a pretty stressful week, and doing my lifts has really helped me work through that stuff.
Thanks - I might have to break down and get some. I also have very small hands. I am going to try to hold out as long as I can and see if I can develop my grip strength along with my other muscles.
I also have been struggling with choosing the right weights. Especially the squats and deadlifts. And I made the mistake of weighing myself last night! I know it isn't the whole picture, but seeing the same number was frustrating. I have to keep telling myself to be patient. I have been noticing my quads getting much more firm and my arms seem to be getting smaller, so I guess its better than nothing
My weight is up a bit (like a pound), but at the same time, my eating hasn't been clean at all.
I'm definitely seeing definition in my biceps and triceps and in my quads and calves, too. So I might not be seeing changes on the scale yet, but my body is definitely changing!
And I made the mistake of weighing myself last night! I know it isn't the whole picture, but seeing the same number was frustrating.
it's really hard, but you've really got to get out of a scale mindset. i've been doing the program since early january and i have only lost nine pounds (a drop in the bucket for a 250 pounder!) but my body has changed in so many amazing ways! many of them aren't real obvious to the observer or even in my monthly photos, but i can see them and more importantly, feel them! i am incredibly strong, have amazing muscles and just feel wonderful. for more support, check out this thread.
I finally did my deads right and went from 70 (when I was doing romain) to 100lb doing the correct ones for stage 1. I feel better now that I'm not quite so unbalanced. DL 100lbs, squat 135lbs. Thanks everyone for your help!
Thanks Karen. Finding this forum has really helped me stop fixating on the scale. I used to weigh myself daily! This past fall my doctor told me my BMI is on the high end of average for my height. I really let it bother me and I hate to dismiss this way of measuring size, but the BMI is no better than those old height and weight charts in my mind. My little brother is an amateur hockey player who has about 9% body fat, but by the BMI is considered overweight! I can't wait to lift with him this summer and show him how much I have accomplished
I almost threw my scale away today! I've decided I don't need it to tell me how to "feel" about myself! I'm really trying to change my way of thinking...my goal now is to be as fit and healthy as I possible can so I can (in the DISTANT future!) be the cool grandma who rides bikes and climbs trees with her grandkids! Plus, it's really cool when my 16 year old football player son admires my muscles (and his BMI is considered overweight, too! At about 10% BF!)!!
Letting go of the scale, trusting the calories -- that part is SOOOOOO scary for me. I haven't lost any (up 1-2# BUT it's "that time" so hopefully they'll go away soon and take friends with them!) I want to believe I can eat close to 2000 calories (conservative calculations based on the book say 1550 on off days, 1850 on lifting days). I have been used to maintaining on 1400 or less, and needing to drop to 1200 (and increase cardio) to lose any pounds. Which, of course, I could never stick to!
BTW I have Versa-grips and I LOVE them and have lifted with them for years now. Maybe my grip strength could be stronger, but I still highly recommend them.
This is my first week; previously I was doing a 5x5 plan. My biggest challenge is doing 15 reps! I can squat 135-140 lbs no problem, but at 15 reps I'm crying with 55 lbs. Same with my deadlifts. I was doing 180 lbs. Today I wanted to die with 100lbs. Forget about the lunges, I could barely use 5lbs I'M SO EMBARRASSED
Needless to say I was due for some sort of change to shake things up.
This is my first week; previously I was doing a 5x5 plan. My biggest challenge is doing 15 reps! I can squat 135-140 lbs no problem, but at 15 reps I'm crying with 55 lbs. Same with my deadlifts. I was doing 180 lbs. Today I wanted to die with 100lbs. Forget about the lunges, I could barely use 5lbs I'M SO EMBARRASSED
Needless to say I was due for some sort of change to shake things up.
If you were lifting that kind of weight, I'm sure you'll increase quickly!
My weight is up a few pounds which is quietly freaking me out because my measurements haven't really changed. I've only been at this for a month, though, so I know I just need to give it time. I'm also frustrated that my squat weight seems low compared to what other people are doing. I always thought my legs were strong from cycling, but I'm still not able to squat more than 70lbs.
My biggest problems are a combination of finding the right weight and the large number of reps. I get so tired doing 12 lunges, but it's not that it's too much weight, I am just physically tired. Same with the steps ups. For the deadlifts and squats, I still haven't found the correct weight. The deadlifts hurt my hands at 80 lbs, yet I barely feel it anywhere else. I've been trying to use the empty oly bar for the squats, but it's still too heavy if I do a full squat. If I stay above parallel I can easily do them, but can only do about 6 on ATG. Plus I have to put my heels on plates (still working on ankle mobility). These are most of my problem exercises. The other exercises seem to be okay.
My weight is up a few pounds which is quietly freaking me out because my measurements haven't really changed. I've only been at this for a month, though, so I know I just need to give it time. I'm also frustrated that my squat weight seems low compared to what other people are doing. I always thought my legs were strong from cycling, but I'm still not able to squat more than 70lbs.
This is my situation also- weight up but measurements the same?? Very frustrating.
My weight is up a few pounds which is quietly freaking me out because my measurements haven't really changed. I've only been at this for a month, though, so I know I just need to give it time. I'm also frustrated that my squat weight seems low compared to what other people are doing. I always thought my legs were strong from cycling, but I'm still not able to squat more than 70lbs.
I had moved up pretty quickly on squats at first. Then I read Rippetoe's Starting Strength and really concentrated on form and depth and backed way down on weight. You may be reaching a lower depth on your squats than others who are using higher weights. I was one of those others, until I refocused on reaching the proper depth, and lowering the weight was the right way to go for me.
I had moved up pretty quickly on squats at first. Then I read Rippetoe's Starting Strength and really concentrated on form and depth and backed way down on weight. You may be reaching a lower depth on your squats than others who are using higher weights. I was one of those others, until I refocused on reaching the proper depth, and lowering the weight was the right way to go for me.
When you say 'proper depth' do you mean all the way down, as far as your a$$ can go. Or thighs parallel to the floor?
Non-official Stage 1 thread week 3/17
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