:-P Stuck...

I had finished stage 1 back on Nov 30 and took about a little over a week off before goin on to Stage 2 because I just wanted to. So I began Stage 2 on 12/9 and only ended up doing 2 workouts before completely stopping. I blame it on busy Christmas stuff, but I have yet to start back up.

I think that I perhaps becoming frustated with no weight loss or significant inches loss after Stage 1. And being that weight loss is a goal of mine as well as inches I didnt know what to do. I love lifting and that intense strong feeling I get from it and I definitely dont want to be flabby and skinny fat by any means.

Anyone having any similar feelings??? I want to be strong and skinny...er.

I thought about just doing some circuit workout for fat loss that include 8-10lb medicine ball workout and of course BW. I dont know...Im dumbfounded....

bump

I am exactly at the same point as you are. I just did my 3rd workout in stage 2 today. You know, I haven't seen any weight loss (I've actually had weight gain) and I haven't lost inches either but I'm starting to feel stronger. I thought about quiting but I realized I want to just follow through with the program and see what happens. I am really trying to focus on eating better, and maybe with that I'll see some results. It gets really discouraging but I think the concept of the whole thing is really good, so I want to try to make it work. I am going to do HIIT 3 days a week also and maybe that will boost some weight loss. Are you doing cardio during the week at this point?

you know, I was doing HIIT also when I was lifting. I am actually going to workout later (actually in about 45mins) but I am going to some cardio/circuit instead of lifting. I am looking to lose 10lbs first and I can not lose when I am lifting...just like everyone else. Ill just use medicine ball through the out the workout for some strengthening.  

I'm praying I see some kind of loss as well or atleast a different fit in my clothes.

Did either of you take any "before" pics? I know that it's hard for me to tell when I'm losing I have to see a picture of me and take a new pic and literally see them side by side. I'm going to try to take pics and measurements Sunday, meant to do it last Sunday but it didn't happen.

Well, to counteract some of the weight gain angst, I'm going to throw out there the results I've gotten.  First, huge gains in strength and endurance - I just finished the last workout of Stage 6 and did a barbell split squat (not a regular squat, but one where one leg only is doing the work) at 95 lbs.  DB bent rows 45 lbs.  I've pretty much doubled what I'm able to do from the start of the program.

Weight - I first started using free weights in May of this year.  At that time, the high end of my normal weight range was 147.  Now it's 143- ish.  I am not trying to lose weight, but it cranked my metabolism up a lot.  Note:  I am 52 and believe me, not "naturally" blessed with a high metabolism.

Measurements - Since starting free weights in May, I've lost 5 overall inches on my measurements, the last time I measured in November since starting NROLFW, it was 1.5 inches.  I'm now able to get into a size 6 more often than an 8 and that's without restricting calories.

The thing is - I've only measured twice since May because I figured it would take a while before the changes became obvious.  Your body needs some time to adapt and start gaining strength.  I'm really glad that so many women are interested in doing this program, it's such a healthy thing to be doing that I would hate to see anybody derailing because of wanting "results" too quick.  Yes, you can lose weight while starting and doing a lifting program, but there is SO MUCH more to it.  

Thank you for that Meganr!! I definitely have a tendency to "rush" into seeing results and I get really impatient if it isn't happening. I am really only a couple months into the program since I am not even half way through stage 2. It's encouraging to hear that some results come later for alot of people, and hopefully it will be that way for me! I am about the same weight that you were, my high days being 147 but when I started my high days were about 142lbs. I am 5ft.6 so I am in my "healthy weight" range but, I just feel like I'm not where I want to be. I would love to see myself about 12 pounds thinner.

 Anyway, I was saying on another post that I used to do Weight Watchers, which is where I saw so many great results but now I'm doing alot more research and learning that all I was losing is muscle. I have learned that I pretty much screwed up my metabolism by eating less than 1000 calories a day for so long! So, I am convinved to not let myself go back to that since I'm sure it wasn't healthy for me! I am trying to stick at 1600-1700 cals a day now since everything I read says I should be at 2000. That seems healthy right?

So, in answer to your question Amayou, I have pictures from my honeymoon in May (in hawaii on the beach) so it gives a pretty good idea of what I looked like then, a month or 2 before I really started. I guess I never actually took "before" pictures but maybe I should do that now while I'm still fairly new to the program. I did take measurments though and last time I measured, I was still the same.