I have been checking my junk filter for notices that new posts have been made to our thread. I figured posting automatically subscribed me to follow the thread. Just this a.m. I realized maybe posts were happening and I just wasn't aware. Duh. So I am still here, just having a blond moment I guess :)

Wow, everyone is doing great so far. I am having to make a difficult realization that "going easy this time around" or "mixing things up a little" isn't really working for me. I am giving in to bad food too often, skipping workouts way too much. Working out 6 days a week in C1 was crazy hard. But I did it b/c that's what I set out to do. As of now I feel like I am really letting myself down b/c I am not sticking to what works so far and I am afraid to back slide the last 12 weeks' progress, which really makes me mad at myself. I think I need to go get the pinch test done and have that be my eye opener to getting my ass back in gear. Afterall, it was the pics that made me finally choose to start BFL in the first place.

BTW, thanks for the info on buying the caliphers myself. Didn't even think about that!

I think I will follow some of your leads and sign up for a race. Something else to work toward and help keep my workouts honest. I bought a 15 and 20-lb kettlebell for home work outs when I don't make it to the gym. I did a 10lb kettlebell workout from a magazine a few weeks ago and I was sore for 5 days!

I know I shared the Skinny Taste website on our last thread, but since I have also discovered Skinny mom's kitchen. Lots of great recipes, all with nutrition info and good resouces on freezer cooking and meal planning and other kitchen prep to help stay on a healthy track when the day gets away from us.

Helcat - amazing fundraising!

monscal - figs and cashews sound tasty. I say I don't like figs, but I don't think I've ever really tried one...so maybe I should! I just had my "healthy eating" take a swift kick in the pants when I read an article on the sugar in a banana. Dammit. It was pretty much all a woman should consume in a day. I was eating one with every breakfast for a week+. I got on a kick w/ them on my waffles w/ almond butter and I went to town. Gotta find a replacement for that for sure!

Hi, group.

I haven't had internet access for a few days, so haven't been able to check in.  Nice to hear from you, srbrown.  I ordered some calipers, $4.00 + shipping, so came in at $15.00 and change.  There's a site at www.free-online-calculator-use.com for instructions on how to do the 7-site skin-fold test, and you can click on something there to do a 3-site test.

I know what you mean about "going easy this time around."  It doesn't work.  I went at it hard the first time around, with some slacking here and there, thinking margaritas weren't going to really make that much of a difference.  Wrong!  The second time around was good, too, but we were travelling in Florida, so I didn't always have access to a gym.  The third time around was just a waste of time.  This time, it's even more serious than the first time.  I time everything to keep it at one minute between sets, and I find I work up a really good sweat doing the UB and LB workouts.  I push cardio really hard and try to get extra ones in where I can.  We're just finishing up week 3 and I can tell my efforts are paying off.  I know if I want the "after" results that everyone else gets, I can't slack off.  If I don't have six check-marks on my schedule at the end of a week, I won't keep up the necessary pace.  Week 1 I had six, week 2 I had seven, and this week I expect to have six, hoping for seven.

Figs and cashews is my new favourite snack, but I should have said dried figs.  I like the black ones, the mission figs, and I only eat raw cashews.  I don't like them roasted and I never eat them salted.  Raw cashews and cucumber is another yummy flavour combination.

I know there are people who would tell you not to eat bananas because of the high sugar content, but there are others who would tell you there's nothing wrong with eating bananas.  Bananas are loaded with potassium, fibre, vitamin C, and manganese.  Yes, a large portion of the calories come from sugar, but it's fruit sugar and it's natural.  I'm one of those people who will tell you there's nothing wrong with eating bananas.  I have one every morning in my smoothie with blueberries and Greek yogurt.  Yummy!

Hey Everyone,

I also started on April 9 but have been reluctant to post until I got to the end of my week 3.  This is the first week in the program where I'm actually starting to notice gains in the gym, gains in the belt loop, and my cardio is no longer a struggle to finish.  I now have the energy to push my Level 10 intensity in the cardio which is very exciting!

Just out of curiosity, what sort of cardio workouts are you doing?  I'm pretty exclusive to my rowing machine (though this is a love hate relationship :P).  I want to change it up a bit and wondered if anyone had some ideas.  I could run but I find it really hard to manually increase my intensity 6 -> 7 -> 8 -> 9.... etc. while jogging.  I need a treadmill.  Any ideas would be great.  Have a great Saturday all :)

Hi, all those Back 4 More!

We were away for the weekend and I am so happy to say I got my cardio in on Saturday night.  I could relax on Sunday, knowing I didn't have to get on the treadmill when we got home at 8:30.

Day 1 of week 4 and all workouts are checked off for the first three weeks.  What a great feeling!

Hi, Marcus Aurelius.  I love my treadmill and I pretty much stick with that.  I also have an elliptical trainer, but I haven't used it for a while.  I get more out of a treadmill workout, and I can see the fat and calories worked off, the miles run, and the minutes are important to me for the interval training.  I used to run outside, but now I'm running with a specific purpose in mind, so I stick to the treadmill.  I may join my sister-in-law for a little jog down our lovely dead-end, dirt road now and then, but that's different.  I would log that in my records as a "leisurely stroll," not a cardio workout.  Also, when I get bored with the treadmill, I do the Insanity workouts.  They are tough!  It's very satisfying to finish one of those.  I know what you mean about the level-10 intensity.  For me, it's very exciting to see that mph number go up and up and up.  My PB right now is 8.5 mph for my 10.  For me, that's fast, and I don't know if I'll be able to get to 9.0, but I didn't think I would get to 8.5 when I was doing 8, and I didn't think I would get to 8 when I was doing 7.5, so we'll see.

Hope everyone is doing well.  This week is a big one for me.  I love getting to the end of week 4 and finding all my workouts checked off and then being able to say we are a third of the way there.  Time goes by so fast, another 4 will be finished before we know it, and then, of course, the last 4 is the home stretch.

Cheatday, my thoughts are with you in this difficult time.

Who else is still in this?

Hi, group.

I am without internet at home until after the 20th, so another twelve days or so.  I am, of course, wondering how everyone is doing.  We are into week 5 and I hope I am not the only one left, or maybe our little group has found a bigger group?

Week 4 was a little less than stellar, as I was plagued with severe, debilitating headaches!!  I managed four of the six workouts, so not a total write-off.  I am seeing results, so that motivates me to keep going.  Post if you can.  I would love some company.  Hope all is well with everyone.

Still here - just crazy busy at work, which is where I do about 99% of my online fun :)

Eating is good to go. Maybe a little more lax on the weekends than C1 and a few more glasses of wine thrown in - why is that so hard to kick?!?

Workouts are getting better. Trying for 5 a week this round to be realistic w/ my work/life/home balance. Did 4 last week. This week has been good too. I want to do them on week days so my weekends are free if needs be. And like Monscal, I need the treadmill to really follow my HIIT, otherwise it turns into a light job when I am outside. Which is nice, but results not nearly as awesome.

I feel like I am seeing results in more muscle development, been loving the kettlebell workout. Still having issues w/ losing belly fat - feels like everything else is tightening up but that. Boo.

Hi, srbrown.

Belly fat, you say??  That's my problem area, as well.  Everything else is changing.  Well, the belly is changing, too, slimming down, but still jiggly.  I'm starting to see nice definition in my arms and legs, my husband sees it in my back, but all I see is the jiggle around the middle.  I hate it!!  This is the first challenge I am being strict with the abs.  Every LBWO day, I also do abs.  It is HARD, but I know I have to work hard to see results, so that's what I'm doing.  Today is LB, so abs, too.  About the wine, I know, right?  Why?  Keep this in mind, though.  I forget if it was my daughter or my husband who told me red wine actually prevents new fat cells from growing in, yes, your belly!  I haven't done my own research yet, so I hesitate to repeat something that may not be accurate, but for now, I'm going with it.  I do try to restrict my intake to one glass a week, though, which is HARD!  I have cut out the margaritas and that has made a difference.  The odd beer still finds its way into my hand and down my throat, but I try to limit that, as well.  All in all, I think I made good progress over the last four weeks, so I'm excited to see what the next eight bring.  After that, I'll stick with it.  It's a good plan, a good schedule.  If I don't exercise, I'm crippled, so it's work hard and stay mobile, or don't and be immobile.  I'm not the couch-potato type, so a little hard work an hour or so a day keeps me upright.  For me, the belly fat will be the last to go, so that's what I'm working toward.  Hang in there.

At least we're not alone. Interesting info on the red wine - when I back off alcohol, red wine is still usually my go to when I am going to have a drink. So yummy :) I was also trying vodka sodas - a little flavored vodka w/ flavored seltzer...good for sure, and healthier as drinks go, just not really my thing. But at least I wasn't tempted to have more than one.

That's a good idea w/ the abs. I will have to throw that in each day as well - just a little something extra to get the ball rolling. Do you do any special workouts or just the usual? I had been doing russian twists w/ medicine balls, that always made good sore muscles the next day. I also did a plank workout last week that was a killer on thighs and abs. It was from Self magazine. The belly is the last area keeping me from releasing all the pre-baby clothes from the closet...and summer is so upon us, I'm getting inpatient! I know that results are possible though, just gotta remember it takes time. It is nice when our husbands can see the results though, isn't it? :)

Hi, group.

Still no internet at home, but I am back at my parents' house to check e-mail and play, so checking in.

srbrown - so I think we're day 1 of week 6 now, so almost halfway there.  My tummy will be the last to go, too.  I remember complaining years ago to my doctor about my tummy jiggle.  I had been working out and I still had a jiggly belly.  He told me to give it six months for the skin to tighten up after weight loss in the tummy area.  Six months!  Okay.  I'll hang in there.

My workouts are pretty routine now, so I know what I'm in for when I go downstairs to do UB or LB or cardio.  Cardio is the treadmill with floor work for glutes and inner thigh.  LB is leg extensions and seated leg curls, twice for each, with abs on LB days.  Abs are on my Total Gym, inverted crunches (abs and obliques), pullover with a crunch (abs and obliques), and there is an abs attachment thingy with handles and pads for your forearm and you pull up the gliding bench while on your knees (easier) or on your toes (harder), and I do this for abs and obliques, too.  UB is pretty basic for me.  I used to mix it up a lot more, which is probably better, but these moves are making me stronger, so I'll change it up again once I have more strength.  Seated biceps curl, lying triceps, shoulder extension, seated chest press, pull-up, chin-up, everything twice.  I love the routine, and the moves flow from one to the next nicely, with the last setting on one being the first setting on the next.  I love it.

You're right about summer being upon us.  No more hiding under long sleeves and jackets.  This challenge ends on 01 July, so I'm aiming for that date as my 'after' image, even though I will continue to follow this routine until I am no longer physically able.

I'm curious about the Russian twists, so I'm going to google it and see what you're doing.

Is there anyone else still with us?

Hi, group, if there still is one!

Internet at home again, at last!  We are halfway there.  How is everyone/anyone doing?

My weight levels keep going up (what I'm lifting, not what I weigh), but sometimes when I do a workout, I feel weaker instead of stronger, like I'm not going to be able to get through my workout.  Somehow I manage to, but then it sits in my mind as an upcoming "chore," yet I do it again and again.  Yesterday's UBWO, however, was fantastic!  I increased my levels and felt great.  I'm hoping it will be just as fantastic on Friday.  I think I have to increase my cardio workouts, though, as I'm not shedding this chub I despise so much.

Is there anyone else still around?

Hello!  Is there anyone out there?

Change is taking place.  Increased cardio workouts and this seems to be working.  UBWO today was great.  Looking forward to the next increase.  It seems to be what I needed.

Hope all is well with everyone/anyone.

Cheatday - my thoughts are with you and yours.

Still here. So much busier at work than I am used to.

That is great with your results and workouts monscal.

I am in the midst of trying to get my gym schedule back on track. Life was getting in the way and as a result I was doing almost no workouts. I realized I needed to start doing something even if it wasn't exactly what the expected thing on the schedule was that day. So I am pretty much not following BFL right now, at least not very striclty. I am eating right, working out at least 4-5 day a week...but nothing like how I followed in C1. I am just making peace with that and being happy with the results I continue to make and having fun finding new workouts to try (loving the kettlebell and medicine ball training). I still want to get the calipher testing done b/c I think that will reinforce my good gym behavior on days when I just want to go home.

Happy Memorial Day weekend to all who celebrate :)

Hi, srbrown.

I didn't get your last post in my e-mail, so I haven't been checking in.  Can you believe it has been a month?  I thought I might be the only one left!  One more week to go.  I've been doing all the workouts, eating right, and I still have that annoying layer of jiggle.  I'm going to finish this challenge and start another on 02 July, but I'll try to make some changes where I can, like maybe getting up an hour earlier to do my workout in the morning.  I have always wanted to do that, but can't drag myself out of bed before 6:00.  The sad part is, I usually wake up around 5:00 and then struggle to fall asleep for an hour.  An hour later, I'm falling asleep, but my alarm is screaming at me, and then I'm more tired than I was an hour earlier.  I'm going to try to start listening to my internal clock.  It's going to take some determination and discipline.  Why is that last jiggle so hard to lose?

Cheatday, if you're out there and still checking in, my thoughts are with you.

Hellcat, if you're out there, I hope you're doing well.