Stage 5

I've finished Stage 4 and am now entering Stage 5 - which is clearly Stage 3 all over again with less reps.  Has anyone done Stage 5 with only 2 sets?  I remember the Stage 3 workouts getting crazy long and me losing motivation to do them because of that.  When I look at the exercises, I don't remember having issues with anything in particular - just the length.

Strangely enough, I'm looking forward to doing the body weight matrix again - even if it does completely wipe me out.

im just doing my own version. i can run okay now, just want to be better and i like their method.

i ran 3, 5 min intervals with 3 mins walking between... ill just go up from there. today ill do 6 min intervals with 2.5 min walks....and so on

Maybe tomorrow morning I will try.  I am too lazy today!

I did a little yesterday - about 20 minutes on the tread with some 1 minute jogs at about 5.5mph.  I get way too bored doing it though.  I really don't know how some people can stay on the treadmill for a whole hour! 

I have been bad since Easter with my diet... gained about 4 pounds.  I was hoping they'd come off, but they haven't, so now it is time to reduce the cals and I am not liking that.  If I exercise too hard though, I just seem to get hungrier so I'll have to see how this works.

Wouldn't you know it.. just before summer - i gain!

yoga, an hour on a treadmill is boring indeed. Been there, done that. But an hour running outside can be a pleasant experience. Well, sort of :)

Chels, I'm not sure I understand why you can't do both - lift and run.  I'm doing it, and even though I realize that I'm not going to improve in either area as well as I would have were I concentrating on one thing, I'm still making progress.  Running helps to burn those extra calories, and it's such a great mood booster!

I'll soon be starting my training for 1/2 marathon. Probably May 1st... I'm a bit nervous. I opened the running season on April 13th and ran only 4 times, totalling around 20 miles. I have such a long way to go...

I must say that HIIT helped me run faster. I used to go 9.1-5.5-9.3-5.7-9.5-5.7-9.5-5.7-9.7. Now I go 9.7-5.7-10-5.7-10.3-5.7-10.8-5.7-11.  That last 11 mph minute kills me, but I'm sure eventually I'll be able to go faster. My legs are definitely stronger, and I can feel the difference during the sprint.

I am also a wimp when it comes to cold.... so as it gets warmer, I may try outside!  Wow - you are fast!!!!!! 

Hi Maha-

I could run and weight lift, but I am not an avid lover of exercise such as you seem to be (I wish I was) , to me its a means to an end (fat loss and health) and working out 3 times a week for me is perfect and achievable. If I set out to workout more and dont, i get REALLY down on myself.

Running is a great mood booster, but the three NROLFW workouts a week kill me! I dont do much besides that.

HIIT has helped me run a bit faster but im CERTAINLY no where near you. When I do intervals/HIIT I am in the 8mph range and recover in the 3-3.5mph range. My treadmill only goes 10mph and its not super stable at that....

I think all my posts this week are related to my feeling like a bloated pig due to my TOTM.  I just feel like I need a little time off NROLFW, and want to do cardio in that time off.

I want to start Fresh, either this Monday or next - with Stage 3.

I just feel right now like I'm never going to be able to reach my goal, as eating well all the time and excercising consistently has always been a challenge for me.

I write down on my calendar everytime I do a weight program or cardio (or both) and so far from Jan-April I average about 13-15 total workouts per month.... not great but not bad.

I'm doing the same thing I do with other women in better shape, I compare too much. Lots of us in the NROLFW group do the program and then ALOT more! I can barely do the three workouts each week....

Blah- im just down on myself this week. Right now I'm going to go try the BMW and then run outside for 20 minutes or so. (I have a little set route) to hopefully uplift my mood and offset the carrot cake slice I had earlier (my treat for today)

Thanks for listening.

Chels - even though Maha IS superwoman-like - I don't think everyone else is.  I, personally only have been lifting  3X per week and that is it.  Last Saturday's bike ride was more for fun and because the weather was finally nice!

I DID drop 2 pounds this morning though, so only 2 more to drop!  I had lots of water yesterday and ate well.  I allowed myself NO diet pepsi. 

• Oatmeal & a banana - 1/8 c milk for breakfast
• Red sockeye salmon on a salad with romaine and tomato for lunch
• pretzels for snack (ok - not that good)
• Tilapia - sweet potatoe and broccoli for dinner
• Fiber one cereal with milk for snack

Oh, please! The only superwoman-like thing about me is ... the so called "superwoman" move in BodyAttack :)

Honestly, Chels, I did not always enjoy exercise. 2 years ago (in May 07 to be precise) I joined Goodlife Fitness and started off slowly. I could not run at 5 mph for longer than a minute. I'm serious. When I did my first BodyPump class, I thought I'd die after 5 minutes of squatting with an empty 3-lb bar. I didn't die, but I could not go to work the next day - I couldn't go up or down the stairs at home! Did I enjoy exercise back then? God no! It was only the matter of discipline - I said I'd do it, so I MUST do it. Now it's much more about fun and enjoyment than obligations. Though even now I sometimes have to give myself a kick to stick to a program. Committing to something long-term was the key.

Of course we're all different, but I have a feeling that you also need to stick to a plan and allow yourself no deviation from it (other than for reasons beyond your control). No offense, but it looks like you get discouraged easily and it sways you from the path.

And I'm not saying you need to work out 10-12 hours a week! I personally need way more than 3 hours of lifting because I need to burn more calories. I can't restrict my calories more, so I opt for burning more. Maybe you can solve the problem with the diet easily and you don't have to force extra exercise on yourself if you so dislike it.

Cheer up! I know the feeling, it sucks, but it'll pass.

Is the weather as beautiful across the lake as it is in Kingston today?

Congrats on the loss, yogagirl!

I like your menu! Fish twice a day - mmmm. I'm having salmon tonight. I bought steaks, and they are 240 g each! (>1/2 lb). So I'm debating with myself whether I should try and cut mine in half (across, to make thinner steaks) or just have the whole thing. That's a lot a calories! Why do they cut them so thickly anyway? It's so much easier with fillet...

Maha- your totally right. I do get discouraged very easily. I usually bounce back.

Going for the nice 3K run yesterday evening helped me out, and I tried the BMW and with no workout before it, it was a HUGE challenge. Barely finished....

It is gorgeous today, so I might do the 3K route again. I found a cool site www.mapmyrun.com and have found a 3.5K route so I will go up to that one the next time I run on the weekend.

I will start to lift again May 4th- until then I am going to focus on running consistently and trying to get up to 4K (i'd like to do a 5K sometime in the spring/summer)

Thanks for listening and contributing ladies.

Sorry for highjacking your thread.

ps

ate a light breaky, now im off for a 3K run. :)

Maha - you are VERY active.  That is great!  I would go for the whole steak!  Lots of protein   I love steak!  Kroger had T-bone and Porterhouse on sale for 4.99 pound... so I bought a bunch!  YUM.

Chels - Ok - we will try to kick your butt in gear!  I use mapmyrun too for my bike rides.... It is a good way to find where the sidewalks are and where you can go where cars cannot -  like walkways that have cement blockers to prevent motorized vehicles. 

I did my first c25k today!!! I have never run in my life.  I never even liked it in school.  I did 3 min walk (3.3-3.5 mph) and 2 min runs (5mph).  I jumped into week 2 because I didn't think I could stand the length of time it would take for 1 min runs.  Anyway - after the 1st mile I thought I would not be able to finish as I was bored, but I made myself finish!  It took 46:55 - not the greatest - BUT I FINISHED!  I think that is the longest I have EVER been on a treadmill!  I am soaking wet!  Need shower now!

PS - Maha - I would guess that my 2 pound drop was water since it was only on a few days...  but I'll take it!  Thanks 

I meant salmon steak :) I like beef steaks, but I've never tried cooking one at home. Beef steak = dinner at The Keg in my book.

Good job on the c25k! Do you listen to music/watch TV while you're on a treadmill?

I also use mapmyrun, an awesome website!

Oh... duh - I misread it.  Salmon steak is good too. enjoy it!

No TV or music - my tread is in my workout area in the basement.  There is a large screen TV down there, but I don't turn it on and I have other equipment in-between... I could move the tread, but it is really loud!  I'd have to have the TV blaring to hear it, especially when I go faster.  It would probably help to have something to watch for steady state, but I can't imagine watching time and TV at the same time.

Wonder if I will be sore tomorrow from running?  If I am, I am not sure I will be able to do this & lift when my week off is over.

I've run three times this week (Tues, Thurs, Friday) totally 10K! I wanted to run again today but my ankles/shins are really sore...

Think I'll wait til tomorrow...

You should allow yourself time to rest, especially when you're just starting to run on a regular basis. It's easy to overdo it.

After spending over a hour trying on a gazillion pairs I bought myself new running shoes! Can't want to try them outside after work today. They worked beautifully on a treadmill yesterday - so light, like running on clouds!

I did my 3rd workout B yesterday, which I am very proud of. I was tempted to stay home all day (no help form my husband there, he was being lazy too), but then all of the sudden I went upstairs, changed, and then pretty much told him to get ready for the gym. How mean of me :P

Now that I have only 2 workouts left in this stage, it's time for me to decide whether I'll be doing stage 6 or moving on to 7. 

Good for you Maha! What kind of shoes did you get?

I ran a total of 10K last week, which was cool for my first week at running! I kinda like it- so I think I am going to try and keep it up with weights.

Soooo it was hubbys dads bday yesterday and we went over there for a BBQ. I had about 4 glasses of wine (ugh) and some pretty med-rare meat (which was delish) but I very rarely eat red meat anymore, and I prefer it much more cooked than that but it really was delicious so I ate it all. A moderate portion.

I know I am going to have a headache in the morning for sure from the vino, but instead I woke up at 3am with a splitting migraine and ended up throwing up in intervals from about 4am to 630am. Then I couldnt get back to sleep no matter what so I've just been nipping at some berries and sipping water, poweraid option and just had a camomile tea.

UGH- I wonder if I am allergic to red meat, or if it really just doesnt agree with my stomach if its too rare? Bottom line is im staying away from red meat now...for a good while.

What do I eat on a day like today when I want nothing to do with food really...Scared to upset my stomach.

I'm hoping to nap a bit in the afternoon cuz I only got 3 hours of sleep last night.

Chels - dry toast maybe?  That is what happens every time I drink vino!  I cannot even have one glass.  I figured I am allergic to it.  I also did 10k last week!  I did 5k Fri and 5k Sun!  Yeah us!

Maha - funny - I got new Avia running shoes yesterday too!

Yoga I have Avia's too! I love em.

Ya toast is what Im going to try and choke down next.

My 10K was split into Tues: 3K Thurs: 3.5K Fri: 3.5K

I'm looking forward to returning to weights next Monday. I think I am feeling better about it now and getting a little excited. I think I definately needed a break- and this running thing is fun!

Chels, if I were you, I'd stay away from wine for a while, not red meat. ;) I'm sure I'd spend the night throwing up if I had 4 glasses.

As for the shoes, I got Muzino Wave Runner 12. I also liked Wave Creation 10, but they only had 1 pair in my size, and the right shoe seemed a bit defective. I tried what seemed like all current models of Asic s(my last 2 pairs were Asics), New Balance, Saucony, a few Nike's and something else - I lost track of them after the 10th pair.

Maha- I think ill stay away from both. I dont drink during the week and rarely on weekends now (mind you- with the nice weather coming that will change a bit)

We were there for over 3 hours- 4 glasses didn't seem that much. I wasnt feeling it til I got home and it was too late.

UGH. Starting to feel somewhat normal again. Eating fruit, had a bowl of fibre 1 with skim milk and now a weight watchers bagel with nothing on it.