My NROL Experience

[lance02]

Way to go on FL-II Stingo!! You've done a great job progressing through the program. A well deserved break is just what you need. What's next?

[stingo]

Originally Posted by lance02

Way to go on FL-II Stingo!! You've done a great job progressing through the program. A well deserved break is just what you need. What's next?

I don't know... lol - So many options... Here's the possibilities:

NROL's Fat Loss III: The last Fat Loss program in the book and from what I understand the hardest. My choice here would be the venue in which I'd do it. These are

1. At home, which would require my buying all the gear and setting it up in my basement (which sometimes gets water in it). More expensive in the short term, but cheaper in the long term. Sociability is zero.
2. The corporate gym, which is the lowest cost option but they're lacking in some gear like power cages, squat racks etc. So the exercises I do would need to be adapted to the available gear. However, I'd be nearly assured of having the time and what gear IS available ready for my use. Sociability is high. Also too, I'd be able to be around my friend that I'd got to doing NROL. We don't do the same workouts - she'd be doing Fat Loss I, but it's nice for the camaraderie.
3. The commercial gym, which of course is the most expensive in the long run, however they have 3 power cages and other related gear, so if I worked out a time that the gym was quiet I probably could work out without interruption. Even so, sociability would be medium to high.

Turbulence Training DB-BW Fusion Workout: I picked this up on Jill's suggestion, as it'd enable me to do the workouts as written at the corporate gym, or at home with sufficient dumbbell weights.

Never Gymless workout from Ross Enamait: Got this a while back because I was interested in bodyweight exercising. But I've yet to try a workout in it yet.

Having gone with NROL so far, and having seen good results with it, I'd be reluctant to switch (especially since I got someone else started with using it too). Not that the other programs aren't good - just that I've the most experience with NROL. I'm thinking that the adaptations that'd need to be made would be good enough, and that while I'd not get the full benefit of doing the exercise exactly as written, I'd get enough from something nearly as good. On the other hand of course, doing something different would be fun too. Still not sure which way I'll go but those are the options as I see them. Any help/suggestions/advice is always appreciated. Thanks.

[gregl515]

Give it a go. I have to adapt my workouts and its not the end of the world!

[UConnJulie]

I'd also say give it a go ... or switch to a different NROL workout ... you can lose fat with ALL workouts depending upon what your caloric balance is. If you have been doing fat-loss type workouts (sets/reps/rest scheme) then you might benefit from really mixing it up with a strength or hypertrophy program ...

[stingo]

Greg and Julie - you both make great points. I think I feel ready to tackle Fat Loss III now though. If I remember correctly, Profile #4 (Seriously overweight etc) had Break-In then Fat Loss II then Fat Loss III. I've done Break-In, Fat Loss I and Fat Loss II, and I consider Fat Loss I my prerequisite for even attempting Fat Loss II or III (kind of a Break-In in and of itself).

[L'ilJ]

I say go for FL3 while you're deciding what you're going to do re: getting access to a squat rack (gym vs. home). Once you've tackled that problem, you'll be ready to take on one of the Strength or Hypertrophy programs. That's where the real fun starts (especially with the strength programs!). Or, you may decide after FL3 that you want to try some TT programs for a while. In that case, you don't need a squat rack...just DBs and such.

You have time. It seems like you're comfortable with NROL now, so I say keep doing what you're doing and take care of your diet and you'll see some results.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by L'ilJ

I say go for FL3 while you're deciding what you're going to do re: getting access to a squat rack (gym vs. home). Once you've tackled that problem, you'll be ready to take on one of the Strength or Hypertrophy programs. That's where the real fun starts (especially with the strength programs!). Or, you may decide after FL3 that you want to try some TT programs for a while. In that case, you don't need a squat rack...just DBs and such.

You have time. It seems like you're comfortable with NROL now, so I say keep doing what you're doing and take care of your diet and you'll see some results.

Yeah I'm pretty certain it's going to be Fat Loss III, just a question of the venue. I think that decision will wait until at least Thursday, as that's when I'm scheduled to go through the routine with the woman who runs the corporate gym.

Strength and/or Hypertrophy programs might be an issue at the corporate gym simply because for certain exercises, I'm at the top of the weight range (ok, only 2 so far - the deadlift, and the cable row - so if the strength and/or hypertrophy programs call for less reps/more weight then that becomes somewhat of an issue.) so I know I'll have to move on from the corporate gym. While the idea of having all the gear at home does appeal to me, I think at this point I'd be best served by joining a commercial gym so that I can readily ask questions about form, or get a spotter if needed. (I still don't feel like I know all I should know about lifting/working out, so to me it's a reasonable expense to have that kind of expertise readily available.) Plus the possibility for socializing is always a plus.

Sorry to go on and on about this, I really appreciate everyone's help and input.

[missjane]

Having done both -- home and commercial gym -- I have to say I am WAY more motivated when going to the gym. I really love my gym and love going. So, that in and of itself is worth every penny. I don't know about your gym, but at mine, we can get complete fitness evaluations, too. So, it's nice to get measured, weighed, body fat, etc done at regular intervals by the same person. Plus, like you said, the socialization aspect is a bonus.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by missjane

Having done both -- home and commercial gym -- I have to say I am WAY more motivated when going to the gym. I really love my gym and love going. So, that in and of itself is worth every penny. I don't know about your gym, but at mine, we can get complete fitness evaluations, too. So, it's nice to get measured, weighed, body fat, etc done at regular intervals by the same person. Plus, like you said, the socialization aspect is a bonus.

Yup, the corporate gym does measurements (calipers and bioimpedence body fat %), and I'd imagine the commercial gym does too. The commercial gym also offers nutritional programs/info too. In fact, the program that they gave me in '05 is still basically the way I eat now. (Though I do have to curtail the cheats...)

[lance02]

I think FL-3 sounds like a good option for you, and I'll be curious to see what you think of it. It's the only one of the FL programs I have not done.

As far as working out, I'd say go with what will motivate you the best to keep at it. For me, I workout in a home gym, and that works well because I can easily get there whenever I decide to workout. But there are definitely advantages to a gym outside of your home -- mainly the sociability, and access to others (trainers, etc.).

[stingo]

Originally Posted by lance02

I think FL-3 sounds like a good option for you, and I'll be curious to see what you think of it. It's the only one of the FL programs I have not done.

As far as working out, I'd say go with what will motivate you the best to keep at it. For me, I workout in a home gym, and that works well because I can easily get there whenever I decide to workout. But there are definitely advantages to a gym outside of your home -- mainly the sociability, and access to others (trainers, etc.).

I agree - only thing is, being in the northeast, I have to have a backup plan in case things go awry - like snowy roads.

[SpacecityPaula]

Moving to a gym outside the house would be good, and you could work on building a backup place at your house. I did it the opposite way, but it will be beneficial to have the equipment here at the house next monday since I don't have to go in.

Luckily our corporate gym has freeweights including barbells.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by SpacecityPaula

Moving to a gym outside the house would be good, and you could work on building a backup place at your house. I did it the opposite way, but it will be beneficial to have the equipment here at the house next monday since I don't have to go in.

Luckily our corporate gym has freeweights including barbells.

Yup that's probably what I'll end up doing. The commercial gym is open most days including holidays so that's not really an issue. It'd just be where I couldn't make it there due to inclement weather, or just didn't feel like driving over.

[Victoria]

It sounds like you'll be able to create several options, which would be best, then you'll always have a Plan B when something happens. It would also give you a chance to mix things up now and then if you get bored or just need something different one day. But, like Julie said, I don't think the program matters so much, it's what you put into it.

[stingo]

On my between program break from lifting. So I did my intervals and called it a day.

4 Rounds - 6.0/3.0

[Egham]

Enjoy your break, stingo.