Has anyone finished? and What do you do next?

I was just curious to find out if anyone has finished, and what they did next?Did you create your own program using the same routines? Did you go back to cardio to maintain?

Megan - whoo hoooopo!!!  Congratulations on finishing and on finishing while pushing yourself to the limits!   I just hope I have enough dedication to do my last workout like you did!

amayou - I would suppose you would be still lifting, but not increasing the weights?  I am not there yet, so that would be just a guess.

Oh ok, I was just curious because I don't feel like I have a lot to go (although the lack of weight loss may change that) and I'd want to have a plan for when it's maintaining time.

Yeah - it is a question I have asked myself too.  I am not really looking for weight loss, but I'll take some fat loss!    I wouldn't think you can maintain the muscle mass without lifting - if you don't use it... you lose it I think.  Lifting is hard work to be doing until your 80s, but who knows!  We may end up being some dumb-bell toting grannies!

Have you noticed any difference at all?  Maybe the way your clothes feel or maybe how your legs feel much tighter?  Arm definition?

Not really i think I have lost as far as inches goes, but my pants have been feeling tighter in the thigh area I mean I put on some of my favorite pants and I had to take em off and iron something else they were just too tight. I don't really see any difference in my arms either people have always told me i have "nice arms" so I think it will take a while for me to see any change. As long as I see the measurements go down I'll be able to hang in there. I only started in January so I don't have any unrealistic expectations I'd expect to actually SEE some difference by the end of february.

I was thinking that maybe I'll just start the program over again because at that point you could just up all your weight and then it will still be challenging. I like the idea of continuing the same program just because it makes you so much stronger, and it's nice to have the structure. I need to start throwing in cardio though to burn off the extra layer I have hanging out.

that wouldn't be a bad idea

I read Octo-luv's rffl journey.  It intrigues me.  I am going to try that after I finish this. And I may finish sooner rather than later because I am going to skip stage 6.  I have that stubborn gluteofemoral fat that I can't get rid of (I think that's the right term for the lower body fat :).  It's my fault though.  I am not doing enough cardio and I am not strick enough with my eating.  Working on it!

Congrats Meganr!!!!  I am not sure why I even looked at this thread because I just finished stage one and the specials.  I loved doing the specials because I could really tell that I have increased my strength and I can also see it in my arms.  OK now I am having trouble starting stage 2.  I am going to go home in 2 hours, feed the dogs, change my clothes, then head out the door....I will do it.  I have no clue where my motivation went; this is so stinkin stupid

amayou - sounds like you have a great attitude!  

ckfyamaha - yeah - that is one of my options too.  I like the program!

laura - how come you are going to skip 6?  I was going to skip it too until Meg recommended it, so I decided to do it.  Glad I did.

puppykisses - you are doing great!  Keep it up!  I had to make myself do it a couple times too, but was always very happy that I did.

laura - how come you are going to skip 6?  I was going to skip it too until Meg recommended it, so I decided to do it.  Glad I did.

Because my main goal is to lose fat.  The intro to stage 6 says it is designed to build strength and not burn fat.  I lost a lot of ground in the fat loss battle in December. Based on the recommendations by you and Meg, I may go back to 6 after I do 7. 

Yeah - I hear you regarding the holidays!  If I like stage 7 enough I was going to do that one twice!  Meg was saying that in addition to strength, stage 6 also built up her definition and that is what I am really looking for!  Good luck to you and keep us posted on how 7 is going for you!

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

 Meg was saying that in addition to strength, stage 6 also built up her definition

Yeah, ha ha, I have an "ab" now!  If I could have commited to more of a deficit in Stage 7, I expect I'd see more but I guess my focus was more strength anyway, the fat loss and added definition was a bonus.  (Just as full disclosure, I do unfortunately have some loose skin on the tummy area from the olden days that sort of gets in the way, but I suspect that's more a function of my age than anything else.)  I considered going through Stage 7 twice, but I think mentally I'm just ready to finish and start something else.

Dang, I was looking at the workouts for RFFL, that looks crazy!  There are some fat loss programs in NROL but I may consider doing RFFL at some point just for grins. 

Laura, interested to see how your first Stage 7 workout goes.  Don't be surprised if you have to drop the weights more than you think initially to finish the four sets.

OK I'll let you know how stage 7 goes, but I am only the 3rd workout of stage 5.  Also, since you say you got more definition from stage 6, I may not not skip it after all.  I am going to try very hard for a deficit, so maybe that will help too.

Original Post by meganr:

Well, today's workout was my last one, I have officially finished!  Appropriately enough, I made myself kick my own butt and increased everything in spite of the ridiculously high number of reps. Just because it was the last one.

I'm kind of sad to have finished.  I'm going to start doing the NROL book on Wednesday and some of these exercises I'm going to miss.  (Not the matrix, although I'll probably do it sometimes for the sheer awesome hardness of it).  There don't seem to be any of the one-legged exercises in NROL, probably because that book seems to be aimed at a male audience and they would look too girlie or something?

I just loved this program, I am so happy there are so many women doing this.

Congrats! Do you have any before and after pics? How has your body changed since starting the program? Lost weight, gained weight? Defined?

Original Post by puppykisses:

Congrats Meganr!!!!  I am not sure why I even looked at this thread because I just finished stage one and the specials.  I loved doing the specials because I could really tell that I have increased my strength and I can also see it in my arms.  OK now I am having trouble starting stage 2.  I am going to go home in 2 hours, feed the dogs, change my clothes, then head out the door....I will do it.  I have no clue where my motivation went; this is so stinkin stupid

hey there, i really really enjoyed stage 2, im doing the intervals the next day tho as i am always getting kicked out of the gym for them to close.