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.

I didn't know there was an option of skipping 6 LOL!!-- I am planning on doing 6- questioniong my ability to do the negative chin up but what the heck its worth a try!!

My goal is still to lose weight so maybe need to go to the fat loss stage - If I still haven't lost a significant amount of inches/ weight by end of 5 may start all over again and do it differently.  So many options really.  Now that I have so many exercises to choose from  - one thing for sure I know my muscles are looking good under that layer of fat

I'm in the same boat. I think Im going to go to 7 from 5 and skip 6. I want to lose fat...

I don't know, many love stage 6 and some who are on stage 7 say they really miss stage 6. I'm doing stage 6 twice because I really really want to do an unassisted chin up. I'm not going to do it thrice in a row if I have not done one but may come back to it. 

I do have to say I made a significant increase in strength, and my arms are much more defined. Every week I surprised myself. However, I did the negatives every workout. And I have some cleavage due to my pec muscles. And I'm rather on the small side on breasts so I need it. And I'm a pear shape so more width is needed up top to balance.

I wouldn't recommend skipping 6!  I loved it! It was a really nice break from the monotony of the other stages and 7 will kick your butt!

If you are looking for more fat loss, your diet will be the most important factor.  I found that stage 7 actually made me hungrier, so I actually came away a pound or two heavier. 

I actually lost weight during stage 6. Don't know how/why it happened, it just did. I loved the stage - short workouts that made me VERY sore the next day, and it wasn't the usual endurance-type soreness, but the damaged fibres kind of soreness if you know what I mean. I only get this when I lift to failure, and I love the feeling.

Anyway, it's up to you, but I wouldn't discard stag 6 as useless for fat loss.

Yep the maha & yoga know what they are saying. I am finding that I actually have more time for healthy food prepping since being on stage 6, because its so short, which is actually the weak area of me losing the fat. Oh and depending on your energy level, I added in some intervals after my workouts.

OK I'm convinced. I'll do 6 after 5.. (a couple more 4's to go and it's bday week and vacation in July so it'll be tough but I'll finish it!)

I dont have a spot to put up my chin up bar... :( dont have enough of a lip on any door top to pop it on....

What do I do?

Some how I doubt you'll be sorry. I personally think the negatives are the important part for stage 6.

It took me 2 hours to find and put up my chin up bar in our wardrobe (a closet that sticks out in the way & isn't built in, just in case u didn't know, they are really annoying). I got one of those screw in ones. I had it set up on the door frame lightly and fell on me bum one day, so just be careful. I would start thinking about it now how you are going to manage it.

Upped the weight for the bb bend over row and that dang overhead squat thing!!  I just wish the gym I used had 22 lb dumbells or those plates you can put on db's I can press 20 lbs with ease but 25 is too much - oh well you get what you pay for and the college gym is free for me to use !!!

A young kid was bench pressing and I asked if I could try what he was lifting (90 lbs)  I got it off the bench pretty easily but just couldn't get it lfited - oh well thats half my weight so guess its pretty good since we don't bench press in the program.

Hey Dbackerfan:

Nice! What are you using for the bb bent over row- its one of my fav's! I cant wait to be done Stage 4 ... 2 more workouts.

I think there was dumbbell chest presses in one of the Stages wasnt there? Stage 3? I remember doing barbell chest press and was doing 60 lbs total weight for my reps ...another one of my favs. I LOVE upper body, and HATE lower (but my thighs are my problem area...go figure)

90lbs would be SO hard to press!!! Doubt I could get it off the rack. My man benches something silly like 185lbs so I can't even move that bar an inch. He is impressed with my 100lb deadlifts though!

How are you liking stage 5?

I'm only doing 65 lbs bb bend over rows - but will up it to 70 next week- 65 wasn't that difficult for 4 reps. 

Stage 5 is a repeat of stage 3 so yes the bb chest press is back!!  Wow 60 lbs -- I can do the 20 lbs each arm fine but can't lift those 25lbers up- I think maybe next week I'll ask the gym attendant to spot me and if I can the 25ers over my head I'll be able to do the lifts but its the getting it up there.  I also tried to do 25 for the squat overhead press tiptoe thing but that's too much too.  Like I said I just wish the gym would invest in those 2lb plates you can add to dumbells.

Yeah at home we have 4 -2.5lb plates and I use them all the time.

I did 60lbs I believe in Stage 3 with the BB Bent over Rows- that was more reps though so hoping to go way higher in Stage 5. Love these!

How many sets/reps are you doing in Stage 5? I havent paid attention to that...

I'm only doing 3 sets at this time - want extra time on the treadmill doing intervals- need to lose the fat is my focus at this time. 

I'm thinking after going thru the stages once and then concentrate on losing more weight than repeat the book again vs going onto just the NROL as others seem to have done.  May even do the RFFL on tnation if I'm still not where I want to be.

Original Post by dbackerfan:

I'm only doing 3 sets at this time - want extra time on the treadmill doing intervals- need to lose the fat is my focus at this time. 

I'm thinking after going thru the stages once and then concentrate on losing more weight than repeat the book again vs going onto just the NROL as others seem to have done.  May even do the RFFL on tnation if I'm still not where I want to be.

 I thought of re-doing NROLFW too.  It is a really good program.  If I did, I would change the 2 set workouts to 3 at least.  NROL has alot more volume to it.  I am doing a 2 week break in the starting strength advanced novice program, then probably moving to HYP II.

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

Original Post by dbackerfan:

 I thought of re-doing NROLFW too.  It is a really good program.  If I did, I would change the 2 set workouts to 3 at least.  NROL has alot more volume to it.  I am doing a 2 week break in the starting strength advanced novice program, then probably moving to HYP II.

when you say youd change 2 set wo to 3 what do you mean??  How do you do that are you saying you'd maybe do like stage 2A 2B and 3A for one stage then 3B,4a 4b for the next???

The other night while working out my book ( paperback) started falling apart!!  I think the summer heat has melted the binding ( keep workout bag in car and AZ heat not friendly) or using the book so much to make sure I'm doing the workouts right I've managed to wear it out- probably a combination of all the above.  Oh well, nothing like proof I'm working it even if I can't see the difference on my person quite yet LOL!!

Original Post by dbackerfan:

 

when you say youd change 2 set wo to 3 what do you mean??  How do you do that are you saying you'd maybe do like stage 2A 2B and 3A for one stage then 3B,4a 4b for the next???

The other night while working out my book ( paperback) started falling apart!!  I think the summer heat has melted the binding ( keep workout bag in car and AZ heat not friendly) or using the book so much to make sure I'm doing the workouts right I've managed to wear it out- probably a combination of all the above.  Oh well, nothing like proof I'm working it even if I can't see the difference on my person quite yet LOL!!

 That STINKS about your book!!  I have a hardcover one.  I think I would try and return it for a new one!  Sheesh.

No - I don't mean 3 stages at once!  I'd have to be a maniac!  What I mean is that in stage 2 you do 2 sets of 10.... I would change that to do 3 sets of 10 or maybe even 4 sets.    Just the number of sets in each stage.

thanks yoga- also I bought the book in December and like I said I think part of it is just using and abusing the darn book myself.-- its still useable -- seems the workout picture sections are the ones pulled away from the spine but if nothing else I can just pull these out and jus take that to the gym LOL!!!

Original Post by dbackerfan:

I'm only doing 3 sets at this time - want extra time on the treadmill doing intervals- need to lose the fat is my focus at this time. 

I'm thinking after going thru the stages once and then concentrate on losing more weight than repeat the book again vs going onto just the NROL as others seem to have done.  May even do the RFFL on tnation if I'm still not where I want to be.

rffl is fun. but i would also suggest making sure you work on your upper body strength for it.  sorry about your book

I'm starting Stage 5 tonight! I'm only going to be doing 3 sets througout this stage...4 is a bit too much for me in terms of timing and motivation.

Looking forward/dreading the BWM. Interested in seeing how much more I can lift than I did in Stage 3.

I have my next photoshoot August 9th so gotta get ready for that! Then another one August 22nd. These will help with my motivation.

I have been doing really well with eating lately, not eating late at night anymore- which is good. Have been super anxious though (in prep for my first flight in two weeks) so that might be the culprit.