Lifting Alone--No Longer!

[thedrsma@dslextreme.com]

I started weight training with NROL4W about 8 weeks ago after experiencing a months-long plateau in weight and fitness with the traditional "eat less/exercise more" paradigm. I came to the independent conclusion that this approach is unsustainable in the long run because I was having to eat less and less and exercise more and more simply to MAINTAIN where I was! How silly is that?! I feel like a poster child for the book where Lou describes *exactly* what I went through and why weight training is a better way.

I am about 3/4 of the way through Stage 1 and I love lifting (to my great surprise!). I am lifting in a pokey little neighborhood gym that is an old 1950's style Cabana Club with a limited selection of machines and free weights. It has been fine up to now, but I have been getting the nagging suspicion it will not be in the future. Also, I am the sole woman lifting more than pink Barbiebells (I love that term). I feel alone, isolated, no one to talk to about what to do next--more weight? how's my form? Hey look at those leg muscles I never knew I had. It is sad not to be able to share my success. I have some great friends here but sadly they are a fairly exercise-phobic group.

Completely by accident, I stumbled on this forum last night. Wow, what a find! I stayed up way too late reading numerous posts from women experiencing everything I have been! How much weight to lift? Questions on form (boy was I ever doing the deadlift with bad form!). Reports of very positive results with the compound exercises versus isolation exercises. I must say that I took a core class weekly for a year and did not get as much ab definition as I have now with only 8 weeks of Alwyn's program!

But mostly, now I have a community of women ( and some men) just like me who understand what I am doing with weight training! I have some benchmarks! And form advice! And encouragment! And some place to share! I am no longer lifting alone!

So I will go find a new gym with the right equipment. I will lift heavier weights! And I will come back here to share it with my new (albeit virtual) weight training friends.

Thanks for being here and posting your experiences. It has given a great boost to my motivation to continue the program.

[outofcontrol]

Welcome to the forum! I agree, it's so nice to have a place to talk about this stuff with other people who are actually interested!

[Amblus]

Welcome! You are definitely in the right place.

[Fang]

Welcome! I too feel pretty much alone in the gym--very few women are lifting heavy although it seems to be changing a little. This forum is great support.

BTW, I had trouble at first losing weight--started NROL4W in March, lost virtually nothing until July, when I got really serious about watching my portions and curbing the mindless eating. I also quit drinking beer (temporarily I hope). I've lost almost 15 pounds, and that's only working out 2-3 times with weights and probably an average of 1-2 HIIT sessions per week. Most importantly, I'm fit for the first time since I was a teenager, and my husband is totally floored by the way my body has changed--he is not a real demonstrative sort of guy but he can't stop talking about how great I look. We've been together for 20 years in January and he says my body has never looked like this (even though I weighed less when we got together).

I love this program, I just can say enough about it. Glad you're here!

[iowafepusher]

Welcome!

Your post made me smile. I know exactly how you feel. I didn't have anyone to talk to either - all of my fitness-phobic friends were starting to get annoyed by my gym talk. I can't help it! I've never felt so good, and I just want to share it with everyone!

Keep up the good work! Look forward to hearing more from you.

[nancysmithwp]

I just finished stage 7 a couple weeks ago, and got so much inspiration from this forum! Even though there are women in my gym who lift seriously also, I don't talk to them. We're there to work! Welcome. You will love this program more and more as it goes on. It rocks! I got so strong this year! It took me from February to September to get through all 7 stages. Now I'm doing a set from each of the stages for old times sake.

[CarolG]

Hi,
Yes, this place is great. I don't really have anyone to talk to about "things" either. But I know I can alway come here and get advice and "listen" to the conversation. I'm so glad you found this place too.