Hello -

My name is Robert, i'm also a newbie to the forum.  The time has finally come... I have always felt that I can do this by myself but I have proved myself wrong.  I'm reaching out to the BFL community to help me make my transformation.  

My confidence took a blow last week when I saw my beloved love handles that I didnt think I had (damn mirrors:)) A couple years back I was a strong, healthy, happy weight lifter to lifted all the weights in the world.  I packed on the muscle weight and thought I had the world in my hands.  About two years ago I was set back by an inguinal hernia that scared me straight.  I stopped lifting weights and started melting away.  I have lost weight, I went from 280 to 240 by using the BFL program for about 6 weeks.  My dedication was there initially but temptation drove me away from the program as I saw the results and thought I was where I want to be but in reality I was to lazy to finish the program.

The biggest challenge I face is motivation.  I stay motivated for awhile but lose touch by being over confident in my old aspirations.  I tend to feel that I know more than I actually know, I feel that I'm always right when it comes to training but I never practice what I preach.

The happiest I have ever been with myself was when I graduated Marine Corps bootcamp in 2001.  I graduated as a 190 lb Marine, the last time I was 190 lbs was when I was in Junior High.  My body was thin, trim and my confidence was soring.  My goals are to reach 190 lbs and run the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct 31st.   I have along ways to go but I have to make this change.  

I read the BFL Champions book last week and have never felt so motivated to complete the program and to live a healthier life.  I look to use this forum as a crutch to do my best and to help inspire others to achieve their goals too.  Enough about me, thank you for listening.

Best Regards,

Keep up the great work, I too am finishing my first week and going through menopause. The body fat is also one of my concerns. I have been pushing myself on my cardio harder each day. If you're working on machines like treadmill or stationary bike keep uping the resistance, man it works. I have to catch my breathe when I'm done. I have a pair of jeans I love, it was to point of laying on the bed to zip them and I slid them on this morning!!!! That's where I am seeing the difference. Good Luck, you're doing great:)

I think we are all here to help each other and to give each other motivation. I am only at the end of my first week, but wow, I feel great! Don't look great YET, but that's coming. I too am not friends with my mirror or camera at this time, I kept making my daughter take new photos, but then realized, ahhh, it's not the camera. That is my motivation. Reading the book helped me too and when you feel less than motivated, think of how good you are going to look and feel on the other side of your twelve week:) Great Job!!

Robert: (I love love love the name Elliot for a guy...nice choice - :) ANYWAYS, you remember how HOT you felt before, and the trick is to get back to that place. You can get there.....you just have to work hard. Not for long, but consistantly.

We are here for you. I know you can do it - with a background such as yours, YOU CAN DO IT.

Be as good to you as you are for others.

See you on the happy side of success buddy.

Hi...I am a return BFL member.  I took the challenge 10 years ago during the summer that I turned 40.  Well, here I am again 10 years later...facing 50!  I have tried on several occasions throughout the past to successfully complete the challenge once again, but I've never made it.  Maybe I just needed another "special" birthday to get me started!  I am a school teacher.  I am married and have 3 children.  My husband and I are expecting our first grandchild in just a few weeks.  I am very excited to get started again, but I know how important it is to use the forum to its potential.  I look forward to any motivation and support I can get!  Wish me luck!  I'm starting on Monday!

Congrats for having the desire and motivation to come back bets122.  I am coming upon my 40th so that is what motivated me as well.  I think that the forum is awesome!  I come on here daily just to try and keep motivated.  I am so sore and it is worse when you feel out of shape and sore then in shape and sore.  Ha. Goodluck to you on your BFL journey  and  Congrats also on your grandbaby.  

Roxane

I'm starting tomorrow.  Since menopause several years ago my middle has slowly become fat, jiggly, and just plain uncomfortable in my clothes.  I either need to do something or just go out and buy larger ones and that wasn't an option.  I travel a lot for my job so this will be difficult at times, but I intend to plan my meals and snacks so I can stay on track.  I'll do my cardio when I'm out of town and do the weight training while at home.  I have to eat out a lot, too, with people so that will be a challenge I'm sure.  I thought today I needed to work on a transformation to get my old self back and instantly thought of BFL. I'm anxious for structure and discipline because I want to win this!!

Hi Everyone, My name is Julie, I'm 48 years old and thinking about starting the BFL program tomorrow. My company is running a wellness plan that is modeled after the BFL plan and some of the people participating have seen some great reasults. I have about 10-15 pounds to lose and would really like to lose my pregnant looking belly and cottage cheese thighs. (By next weekend - ha ha)

I need to go out today and get the BFL book. I have the "Champions" book plus the e-mails from the at work program so I have a good idea of what the plan is about. I'm a little nervous about the food and it being too much. I've been doing weight watchers but like some others have said it doesn't feel like I'm really focusing on the right foods for my body. I'm familiar with clean eating and my husband was doing South Beach and it seems so much healther to me to focus on eating clean foods instead of counting points. But it's scary to not count...you know?

I run, well, jog, and I've done two half marathons in the past then last summer a series of 5ks. But like someone said in an earlier post I am always the slow fat one at the back and the slowest of all my friends. :(  I totally fell off the wagon over winter and I feel like I'm starting from scratch. Seems I do this every year. But I've been out there last week for a couple of 30-minute jogs just for fitness sake no pressure or judgement and it felt just great.  

One of my biggest challenges is I am always looking for what program is going to be the "right" one then I pick one and I don't stick with it long before I'm looking at something else that may be better. I really would like to stay with this the full 12-weeks and complete this challenge and stop this cycle. I'm so inspired by the success stories on here - I'd love to be one of them myself one day!

Hello, Everyone. My name is Lou and I can't tell you how many times I have started this program and just quit. I am 37 years old 5'10" and weigh 300 lbs. The doctor told me that I am border line diabetic, high blood pressure just to name a couple and in danger on getting put on all kinds of medicines. I just got an asst. football coaching position at the high school. Its hard to tell a bunch of kids how to train and do things right when I am not doing them. My commitment to them, my family and myself is to get in shape with them. I have always lifted weights and am real strong but have always battled with my weight.

My goal is to get these kids in shape and ready for next season. I am going to use the body for life wok out on me and them. I know this workout routine will get us all in shape and ready to go.

Wish us luck and hope to show everyone their hard work and commitment at the end. The school will be setting up a facebook page for the football players so maybe you all can follow along and give us some pointers.  For know any updates on the team will be done through my facebook accout until the web page is setup.  Luis Pisarra

Thanks

Coach Lou

Hi Julie92761, I know what you mean about changing and switching up a lot. I have done that too, but I am DETERMINED to stay with this this time for the WHOLE 12 weeks.  Hopefully we can keep each other accountable.  I am 53 and have 30 lbs to lose.  If I can do that I would be SO happy.  I am going going through menopause and it makes it really hard.  This is my second week tomorrow so we are running the about the same. :)

Niviag, I feel you on the menopause, I am going through it now, but we can do it.  My second week and I finished strong, lost 3.5 lbs and feeling good about it.  So starting the second week on tomorrow.  I am thinking about taking my cardio up to 6 days a week, but not for sure to alter the plan, but feel like I need more cardio.  Hopefully someone will encourage me that I will see results even if I am only doing 20 minutes of cardio 3 times a week.

Hi Kristin, I starte don the 17h of May as well,  I would love to be your buddy.  Although I am 53, might not be much motiivation :)  I need to lose 30 lbs so if you would like to be my buddy, my email address is downens75089@verizon.net   I want to finish the 12 weeks as well,.  

Coach Lou, First of all, welcome to BFL!! You have taken the first critical step!

Second, I'm a PE teacher and coach as well. Right before Christmas I told myself that I was being a hypocrite for not following what I was telling my students and athletes to do. I had done BFL years before, just didn't have the mindset to keep going...so since Christmas I have turned from just talking the talk, to walking the walk. I've lost 33# and 25 inches since, gone from an 18 to a 10/12 and feeling

AMAZING! I am helping parents of my students start the program which helps motivate me to keep going.

Back in 2001 & 2002 I did BFL, had amazing results and my co-worker and I decided to have our wt. training students do a modified BFL workout plan. It works, just make sure the kids are using proper form and the right wt amounts. We let the kids max out every 4 weeks to show their improvements and also only started them at 10 reps, going to 8, 6, then another exercise of 10 reps. But these were middle school students so high school boys should be able to handle the regular workouts.

Also on the cardio, I'm not sure if HIIT is the answer for hs football; I think regular running drills, sprints, ladders, whatever would be sufficient.

Best wishes on your success on also on your team's success!! YOU can do this!!

fine2008, stick to the program as prescribed in the book. As long as you are doing cardio the HIIT way, you WILL see results...

Check out my pics on my profile page...I will be adding my 8 wk pics somewhere as I just finished it, I'm on C2 and have lost 33# and and 25 inches since Christmas...

Welcome Everyone else that I may have missed! :-)

Day 1 is almost in the books... I stuck to my diet today and trained my butt of this morning.  I really look forward to tomorrow.  Thank you all for your words of encouragement.  Keep up the great work, success is just around the corner:)