new training plan...is this too much?

[allenkt]

First, an update about me. I'm 39 (actually turn 39 in 2 weeks) and not totally new to training. I've been in the Army for over 20 years so I'm used to doing at least something most every day. I did some powerlifting when I was in college (about 8 years ago) and competed a couple of times. Then two years ago I decided to get serious about my training. I used Carter Schoffer's Summer Prep Plan (from Precision Nutrition) for 12 weeks with pretty good results. I followed that up with the Velocity diet for a full month. After that I continued the workouts of the SPP and added kickboxing 3 days a week. By this time I was feeling pretty good about myself. Then I was selected by the Army to attend graduate school and went back to school to get my M.B.A.

That is where the good times and good physique ends. From July through December 2007 I took 29 credit hours as a full time grad student. Needless to say all I did was study and physical training was virtually non-existent. I have put on 25 pounds since this time a year ago (I was 156 lbs at the end of the V-diet and weigh 181 as of last night) and trust me, it's not muscle!

But now I have a chance to get serious again and want to maximize this opportunity. On Friday I leave for Morocco for language training as part of my degree. Since I am leaving my family here in the States and will be taking no other classes other than language (4 hours/day) I will have nothing to do except train and study and sleep.

My plan is to do the routines from New Rules of Lifting. I will be there for ~28 weeks so I figure I can get though a break-in program, Fat-Loss I and II and Hypertrophy I before I get back home.

But my main question here is can I do more? I will be going with 2 other people and one of them is also in the Army and will be training for a Triathlon in November of next year. Would it be too much to try and lift in the morning (doing NROL) then train with him in the evening? Food and rest shouldn't be a problem as I should be able to eat plenty and get 8-10 hours of sleep every night (something I haven't done for as long as I can remember).

I'm just fed up with what I've become physically and want to take advantage of this opportunity. I will also create a log on here to track my progress and for support/encouragement

So any opinions? Can I do this? Or should I play it by ear and see what my body can take?

Karl

[Bill2380]

I'd go for it. You can always back off if it's too much.

[Lost Dog]

You can do more, but consider doing less and working up to more. If you start full out, where do you have to go as you get better and/or hit a stall?

At least in the beginning, do weights for just two days a week. You might find that two days a week is just fine with all that triathlon training. You can always go to three later.

[kaydubya]

I agree with Lost Dog. I'd start off with less and work up to more as you feel you're ready. I'd hate for you to jump in too deep and then realize it was a mistake only after you're too far down to save yourself (so to speak).

[JoshDunn]

I wouldn't do the interval program if you are planning on doing some tri training. Weights 3 times a week and a few tri based cardio session would be fine. As others have said, start slow.

[Lost Dog]

Thanks Josh. Good add.