Daedala (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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lifting_heavy_things2011-02-05 03:35 pm
daedala) wrote in lifting_heavy_things2011-02-05 03:35 pm
NROL4W Stage 1
We're on the third week of the first stage of New Rules of Lifting for Women. My sister has dropped out for a bit due to a car accident (she's ok, and she'll start up again when her doctor gives the ok), but my partner and I are still doing it. It's really helpful to have him working out with me -- I haven't put the workout off a day or anything yet.
The first stage of workouts for the book is set up so that the reps decrease: 15 reps in the first week down to 8 reps in the eighth week. This makes it a good way to ease in -- starting with body weight wasn't completely ridiculous, with fifteen reps -- and it's really nice to be able to increase the weight faster because the reps are going down. I've decided that this is very clever psychology on their part. :)
The most important realization I've come to is that I'm not a personal trainer and I don't want to be a personal trainer, even for myself. I like doing the program, getting it done, and knowing it will work. I'd had a fairly regular practice going until I was injured (not lifting) in 2007, and then could never get very far when I tried to restart, and I think it's because it basically wasn't fun to figure it out myself. The whole geek "I can figure it out myself!" is definitely a part of my identity, so it's been weird to let that go. On the other hand, Practical Programming is worth a fair bit used on Amazon, so that's a win!
So far, this workout is fun.
The first stage of workouts for the book is set up so that the reps decrease: 15 reps in the first week down to 8 reps in the eighth week. This makes it a good way to ease in -- starting with body weight wasn't completely ridiculous, with fifteen reps -- and it's really nice to be able to increase the weight faster because the reps are going down. I've decided that this is very clever psychology on their part. :)
The most important realization I've come to is that I'm not a personal trainer and I don't want to be a personal trainer, even for myself. I like doing the program, getting it done, and knowing it will work. I'd had a fairly regular practice going until I was injured (not lifting) in 2007, and then could never get very far when I tried to restart, and I think it's because it basically wasn't fun to figure it out myself. The whole geek "I can figure it out myself!" is definitely a part of my identity, so it's been weird to let that go. On the other hand, Practical Programming is worth a fair bit used on Amazon, so that's a win!
So far, this workout is fun.
no subject
My understanding, with the step-ups, is that you want your thigh parallel to the ground, so 10" is a bit low (though if you have trouble with higher, by all means do that -- that is what my sister is doing).
Stage 1 has 16 workouts; I'm sure you'll get it by then! For me, squats were one of those things that was hard to coordinate for a while, and then suddenly I got it. (And then the cheap gym only had a Smith machine, which I wouldn't touch, so I'll probably be back to square one with barbells now anyway...)
Prone jackknives are fun when I'm doing them, but getting on the ball is hard. Especially with the bf watching. With ab exercises, it's very interesting just how much concentrating can make them harder.
no subject
Getting on the ball: I do this like flat diving into a pool. Put my chest on it, arms forwards, roll until I can get my hands on the floor on the other side, then roll further forward into right position, while finding the initial balance.
Step: For now, 10" is plenty for me. Especially to get out of the habit of pushing. :-S