Stage 7

I'm starting Stage 7 today - wish me luck!  These workouts look killer: four sets with high reps and not much of a rest period.  I'll have to experiment with finding the right weight for this so I don't flame out in the middle of the workout.

Originally, I was going to do these workouts at home where my husband has an OK setup in the garage, but I've decided to do most of them at the gym instead.  (I have a better energy level earlier in the day.)  It does mean that I'll have to get a good setup with all the DBs and barbells I need and "guard" it because the supersets include up to four exercises.  With the exception of the lat pulldowns and seated rows, I'll be able to do the workouts as planned out.  It's just that my gym gets crazy busy sometimes, especially around the cable stations, so if you give up your spot to go off to do another exercise, you're pretty much hosed. 

I did workout three today and I was a bit bummed; I've lost strength on my dead lifts, and had a heck of a time keeping my grip! I'm choosing to blame day light savings time and the loss of energy caused by dealing with middle school mayhem - my goodness, the children were squirrely today!

Yogagirl, I'm bummed to hear about your interview being cancelled. I hope you you heard back from your recruiter and that there was a good reason for such an unprofessional move. Hang in there.

I haven't heard a thing yet - so hopefully she was sick yesterday.  It's still early here.

KMK - It's that time of year - Spring!  The kids probably can't wait until it's really nice out.  My 13 yr old son had a half day last Friday and all he did was play outside all day long until dark!  It was a rare day around here, sunny and warm.  That was the only nice day we've had too.  We had heavy rain all weekend we are back at it today again.  

 I've felt the same way as far as feeling like I've lost some strength.  I wonder if it has to do with switching up the workouts so much.  I am about to go do stage 7 workout 1 again.  I am hoping to keep my eating down to a minimum this time through!

Here's the deal on the interview:  They liked me in my phone interview.  The job is for AS/400 Administrator - which I have heavy exprience doing.  They also said managing a Windows Server environment would be a plus.  I have alot of experience with that too.... But I guess after thinking about it, they want someone who not only has the 2 above requirements, but also a Unix background!  SHEESH!  They are requesting more resumes to look at.

I don't think they will find that, but you never know.  I will find out later in the week, if they still want to consider me.  Really - these companies can reach for the moon these days.  They've wanted someone for a month now.  I am in the second group of resumes they received and each step of the way they ask for more!

Anyway - stage 7 repeat - did wo 1 today.  I think I'm going to change it up for the next 5 workouts to 3 sets and 12 reps with 60 sec rests.  That way I can up my weights a bit.  The last couple are always hard and I hate doing 15 reps.

Windows Server AND Unix? Reminds me of a joke

-----

If taxi drivers were hired similarly to software developers, the requirements section of a job posting would look like this

- 15 years experience driving a car

- 10 years experience driving a truck

- 2-5 years exp driving a train

- helicopter piloting is a plus

-  Astronaut training course is a plus

Original Post by maha-kisa:

Windows Server AND Unix? Reminds me of a joke

-----

If taxi drivers were hired similarly to software developers, the requirements section of a job posting would look like this

- 15 years experience driving a car

- 10 years experience driving a truck

- 2-5 years exp driving a train

- helicopter piloting is a plus

-  Astronaut training course is a plus

 

 Hahaha... yeah - windows server & unix & AS/400!

So I finished stage 7 on Monday.  I haven't lifted since then.  I've taken 2 40 minute brisk walks and that's it since Monday.  I've kept my calories around 1600.  I am absolutley wiped out.  Do you think this is normal for finishing up the program?  I don't feel sick, but I have zero energy which is not like me. I feel like I'm walking through molassis and it's been going on a little over a week.  LIke I said in another post, for the last 3 workouts, instead of lifting every other day, I had to have 2 days in between each session.  Anyone else experience this when finishing up the program?  It's also TTOM, so that may be contributing, but I don't usally feel this bad.  I want to start NROL on Monday so I hope I'm feeling better.

Hope you are feeling better.  I would think that ttom has alot to do with your feeling like zero energy.  Anyway - it is good that you are taking time off to let your body recuperate!  I remember the last week I took off, I was sore the whole time.  I was surprised the soreness lasted that long.

If you did stage 7 as written, pat yourself on the back - it is tough! 

I am doing a modified stage 7 the second time around.  3 sets of 12 reps & 60sec rest.  Reps still high, enough time to recuperate fully and still lots of volume!  (I have been doing the first exercises with 3 sets instead of 2 sets).  I like this much better than 4 sets of 15 reps and 30sec rest. 

Yeah, I think any way you arrange it, it is a touch workout.  3 sets of 12 will allow you to go a little heavier too. 

I still feel cruddy today.  Maybe I am fighting something.  But I don't feel sick in any way, just really dragging.  Maybe daylight savings time has something to do with it.  Who knows.  But I will rest this weekend and hopefully be ready to go again on Mon.  I was tempted to start today, but I decided to listen to my tired body who is shouting at me to take a break.

I'm here on Stage 7!  I probably shouldn't be -- I did the program up to Stage 5 just like I was supposed to, but during Stage 5 I was not looking forward to the workouts at all.  I had alrady decided to skip Stage 6 for now.  I am more interested in the fat loss than the strength right now. 

So I skipped the last 2 workouts of 5 and started Stage 7 last night. 

It kicked my @$$!!!  I started with weights I thougth I could handle for 4x20, but I didn't take the 30 second rests into account, and I had to lower most of the weights even more and the last set of the B workouts I only did 15 of each.  My heart rate monitor said I burned over 800 calories for the hour (which included a mile on the treadmill to warm up) and my average heart rate was in the 140s! 

What a killer!  It felt great and I was happy to get out of the 120 second rests, but I will admit some of my rests were more like 45-50 seconds instead of 30!.  And there were a coupld of times I had to stop and catch my breath, like in the middle of push-ups. 

Kudos to all of you that have done Stage 7, especially if you did it twice!!!

Great going, karozel!!  The B workout was really tough.  Kudos for doing 20 reps almost all the way thru.  15 is bad enough for me.  I didn't even try the 20.  Yeah - those 30 sec rests are killer.  The first time I tried the workout - it got me incredibly nauseous as I didn't wait any longer than 30 sec.  The later workouts, I learned to wait until I wasn't panting anymore! 

I'm going to attempt workout 2 of Stage 7 today.  I hope I can manage it, as my legs and butt are still aching from Sunday's workout, LOL. It's killing me to sit down on the toilet or go up/down stairs.  I'm as sore as I was when I started all this!!

@yogagirl -- yeah I actually didn't get the 20 reps all the way through.  The last set I had to drop down to 15...  I had to move my push-ups from the step to the bench so that I culd do 20 (or 15 at the end). 

I'm going to drop down more on weights and try to get through all 4x20 tonight.  I think I can do it if I pick the right weight and version of exercise. 

I managed to get through Workout 2 without too much problem.  I started too high with a couple of weights, but quickly realized my mistake and dropped them down. 

Managed to get 4x20 of everything except for the BB pullovers (I work out at home, so I can't do lat-pull-downs).  I squeaked out 20 of them on the 3rd set, but only 15 on the 4th set and some of those were weak -- not full ROM. 

I was wiped out again.  1:10 and 15 minutes of that was my warm-up/cool-down on the treadmill.  I don't fully trust my HRM, but it told me I burned 900 calories, and that my average heart rate was 140 for the time.  Ooof!!!  It's a lot different than Stage 5!

I'm in 5 now, and looked at stage 7 today. I was just wondering if it was possible to do any other kind of activity at all. I usually do a few cardio workouts a week in addition to NROLFW, but it doesn't really look possible in 7.

Original Post by kilkusj:

I'm in 5 now, and looked at stage 7 today. I was just wondering if it was possible to do any other kind of activity at all. I usually do a few cardio workouts a week in addition to NROLFW, but it doesn't really look possible in 7.

I would say try it for one week and see how you get on. I'm taking a break doing the Real Fast Fatloss program that was developed by Alwyn & Chad Waterbury. (will be back to Stage 5 in June).

Its basically the same principle as with Stage 7, but the exercises are using complexes which are waaaay harder than just the ones on Stage 7. After week two I'm able to add in some running in between. Even tho I'd rather not but long story, I'm committed to this fun run in June. 

Also depends on your stamina & nutrition.

OCTO - how is the rffl going for you?  Have you dropped any pounds yet?  I have a hard time reigning in my hunger when I do some of these higher metabolic cost programs.

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

OCTO - how is the rffl going for you?  Have you dropped any pounds yet?  I have a hard time reigning in my hunger when I do some of these higher metabolic cost programs.

I have a hard time reigning in my hunger always, lol! I'm trying to up my carbs before and after the workout, & then the next morning too, within food ranges. It kind of helps, I think.

RFFL is kicking my behind. Most times its been really really fun tho, but last workout I was tired, a quivering sweaty beast, those 4 sets x 10 reps, ugh! 

I lost 1.5 or 2 kilos, hard to tell with that scale at the gym. The last time I did it I lost about 4lbs in two weeks (& it was mainly fat, as my clothes felt looser), I kept my calories at maintenance, but then my body started to get used the exercises & the maintenance calories.

I think they are good exercises for when you need to shake your body out of a plateau.

Officially in stage 7 after skipping stage 6...took me long enough!

I only did 15 reps of everything in workout 1. I thought I was being kinda wussy until I tried to walk to my car after I was done. I know my workout was crazy when a) I try to figure out a way for someone to drive me to my car, which is a 2 minute walk away and b) once I get home I contemplate just sitting in the car for awhile so I don't have to stand up :)

I hate Alwyn. I hate Lou. Sadistic bastards...

Did workout 3 yesterday. Nearly threw up. I was nauseous first 2 times, but yesterday was REALLY BAD.

I don't think I want to be a better man than Lou... Doing THIS 12 times doesn't sound too appealing.

I haven't decided yet, but I'll probably stick stage 6 between the cycles.

I had to go MUCH lower on weights.

Lunges, step ups, squats (heels on plates), rows - 15 lbs. Yep. Not 30-35, 15!

Romanian deadlifts - 65

Underhand lat pulldown - probably around 57.5. Started at 67.5 and totally killed myself on the first set, had to lower it down each time until I got down to 50 by the 4th set. Even that felt like torture by then.

Shoulder presses ... Don't laugh. 12.5 killed me on the first set, couldn't complete rep #18. After that it all spiraled down - 10, also couldn't do #18, then 7.5 for the last 2 sets.  I keep forgetting that marking doesn't take into account the handle, so they are all +3 lbs. But still... 10.5 lbs for shoulder presses!

This stage makes me feel weak.

Oh, and having both barbell deadlifts (125 lbs, 2x8) and romanian deadlifts (65 lbs, 4x20) in the same workout (#3) is cruel. My forearms were screaming in pain.

Ok, I think I'm done whining for today :)

Keep it up maha-kisa! I haven't gotten nauseous yet, but I think I may have gone a little easy because of all the warnings I read about this stage.

However,  today I looked ridiculous every time I tried to walk, due to the lunges and deadlifts yesterday so I guess I did something good! I was hoping to do workout 2 tomorrow, but looks like it may be Saturday!