Life After NROLFW

I'm pretty amazed to find myself so close to the end of this program. I have another three or four weeks until I reach the end - yikes. Suddenly I'm getting serious about what will come next in my new life as a free weight addict. I've contemplated Afterburn, RFFL, and other programs targeted at fat loss, but I have to say that I'm skeptical of the super-fast loss claimed by these programs. I believe the fat would come off, but I can't imagine it would stay off for long. So now I'm thinking of following MeganR's lead and doing programs from NROL.

I'm wondering what other lifting programs you've tried and enjoyed, or what you're contemplating doing next.

**Meganr - I started a new forum, but I don't seem able to move this thread to it. If you are able to move this there, would you be so kind? ***

I am only in Stage 2, but always planning ahead.

One of my goals in getting fit was to be able to do a pull-up. I still can't and don't imagine I will any time soon. BUT, I am in much better muscular condition than I ever have been, and am looking forward to the next level.

I have looked at the same ones you have... NROL seems logical, but I have also considered P90X... which is the extreme version of P90. This is also a program that you can do over and over. Due to the muscle confusion, your body doesn't have time to condition itself to a routine.

Anyway... just my thoughts...
~Julie

Maybe we should start another forum in here for "Life after NROLFW".  I like that title by that way.

Some comments about NROL - I really hated the break in stage, which was similar to Stage 1.  Going back to 2 x 15 reps made for a short workout, and I couldn't go as heavy as I wanted.  I ended up adding on a bunch of stuff so I felt like I had actually done something.  I know, slap my wrist.  Anyway, I just finished the last workout and have been contemplating which of the other programs to do, since in NROL you get to pick.  There are programs for Fat Loss, Hypertrophy and Strength and I've been debating about what to do first.  I ended up picking Fat Loss II - Fat Loss I is a lot like the break in program in the sets and reps so it didn't sound appealing.  And I figure if I could get just a bit more fat loss before really going for strength or hypertrophy, that's probably a better strategy.  I'm fairly happy with my weight right now, so it's not that I'm trying to lose any, but with fat loss, there has to be a deficit of some sort.  So I'm a little hesitant, if only because I love my chow.  Ha ha.  And the other thing is that to gain muscle, which is what hypertrophy is all about, you have to eat over maintenance - i.e. hypothetically gaining weight, from a psychological perspective for me isn't what I want either.  Because then I'd have to go and lose it all again, and it was hard enough the first time. 

Now I know that it isn't strictly necessary to create either deficits OR eat over maintenance to get a lot of benefit from lifting weights.

The workouts in NROL are similar in style, of course, and kick butt.  Yay.

My husband's doing some version of Starting Strength and getting some good results from that.  He didn't like NROL because it changed around too much, which is actually what I like most about it.  Different preferences I guess.

I'm about half-way through Stage 4 of NROLFW and I recently bought NROL and will probably do that.  Although.... I have heard a lot of good things about PX90 and have considered doing it as well. 

I am going to buy NROL for my husband.  He still works out the old fashioned way - single muscle exercises like curls.  So if it looks good maybe I'll join you.  But I am leaning toward RFFL.  I love stage 7 with 20 reps and 30 second rest periods.  I feel like I am getting cardio and strength training all at once.  I would like to try afterburn, but i just can't justify $60 for an exercise program.  I am a cheapo.

Don't start a new group for life after NROFLW!  Just start some new threads about what you are doing.  The feedback from people ahead of others in the program is invaluable.

You ladies are lovely! Thank you for the feedback so far. I have bought NROL - and Amazon just delivered it to my doorstep. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll be starting with that, too. Megan, I'll pay close attention as I read the workouts because I think our goals are similar - I'd like to lose some of my "lady-phat" but overall I'm pretty happy with my body composition.

I like the idea of starting a new forum within this group - and if the name of this thread works for you, then I'm all for it.

Now, off to read!

Original Post by laura42:

I would like to try afterburn, but i just can't justify $60 for an exercise program.  I am a cheapo.

Don't start a new group for life after NROFLW!  Just start some new threads about what you are doing.  The feedback from people ahead of others in the program is invaluable.

 Heh, I'm cheap too!  Buying a book is good enough for me.

Anyway, I wasn't thinking a new group, just a new forum within this one, like we have with Workouts, Results, etc.  To tell you the truth, I've been a tiny bit bummed out because I'm done with NROLFW, but I don't want to give up this group because I like the feedback and support and camaraderie of everyone here.

We're so glad you didn't leave us when you finished! I just created a new forum for this thread, within the group. Megan, are you able to move this thread to the new forum?

Yep, it looks like it worked. 

Sheesh - you're fast!

I really should be working.  Heh heh.

I'm STILL not finished! This has made me realize that the fat loss workouts - high reps, lower weights, just don't motivate me the same way the strength building workouts do...I'm much more prone to make excuses, sometimes good ones, but often pretty wimpy, to not go to the gym. I'm going today, and I have one more after this one. Then I'm doing a deep read of the workouts in NROL and a re-read of the workouts in NROLFW.

On the other hand, I'm still doing pretty good with nutrition - I have a lapse about once a week, and I've imbibed more than that, but less than before - so net positive. My husband is even eating some this healthy food with me, which is nice in a number of ways, but mostly because we can talk about the same meal when we eat together.

I know what you mean.  Stage 7 really wiped me out.  I am doing Fat Loss II in NROL and I like it a lot.  The exercises are challenging, but 12 reps is waaay better than 20!!  And there are only 3 sets, another bonus.  The whole thing takes me about 40 minutes. 

I agree too.  I like the strength workouts much better than the fat loss ones too.  I just started FL II in NROL yesterday.  I am a bit sore from all the lunges and such.  I see it builds down to 30 sec rests and I am not going to like that, but at least the reps go down too!

Well, I started NROL Break-In last week. 

I didn't complete Stage 7 of NROLFW, because I strained my back/neck and had to take a few weeks off.  When I came back I knew I wasn't ready to jump back into the middle of Stage 7, but the Break-In seemed like it would be a perfect place to start back up. 

Hope everyone else is enjoying NROL as much as I am. 

karozel, so are you done with NROLFW or do you plan to go back to stage 7 eventually?

Hmmm, I probably won't go back.  I figure it's just a program... I'm not sure it will make any sense (or difference) if I go back and finish it, or if I just go on and get on with lifting.

Some of the Fat Loss programs in NROL look similar, so I'll probably just forge ahead. 

Also, I have a friend who I'm going to loan my NROLFW to.  She has been lifting weights with her husband, but they pretty much have a single routine they do without much variation.  I'm hoping to convert her!