Oh one more thing.... when I first started this challenge I would bring my myoplex shake in my car and drink it right after my work outs. But after reading BFL cook book, and listening to you guys I am working on waiting an hour to eat after my work outs. Also, in the BFL Cook book, Bill talks about 4 things for our eating:

RIGHT FOODS

RIGHT COMBOS

RIGHT TIMES

RIGHT AMOUNTS

So that's what I'm focusing on these next few weeks as we end our challenge. I have been noticing my portion sizes have crept up a bit and I'm not always getting in 6 meals.

ok that's it REALLY!LOL:))

Jane

Hi there! Today I pigged out,shame on the supermarket and on the food !HA!I ate a lot of whipped cream with orange and bluberries, and I mean about 31 oz of whipped cream!

I know, how can anyone eat so much whipped cream?It was from powder not from heavy cream.

I'm an idiot! I was down to 272 pounds last week!Everything was going wello, then I depassed my calories two days,once on Sunday and again today. And I hurt my left calf, it hurts me that I can't even run or go on stairs. I hurt it after I used a recumbent bike! I mean I had no problem while on bike but after that it started to show the pain only in my left calf. Any advices for recumbent bikes?Thanks.    

Oh great goodness almighty this is getting tough like trudging through the mud! I missed two workouts last week (the first ones of the challenge) and I ate freely on Wednesday and Thursday. Not TOO free but free enough. I had falafels both days because apparently North Carolina has some of the best that I've tasted on this side of the Atlantic.

I ALMOST didn't jump back on the exercise wagon. It's always been my experience that after I miss a workout I say to h#ll with it because I'm not getting anywhere anyways. That little chatterbox got inside of me and I was back on track Friday and Saturday UNTIL I went out with friends and had a few vodkas.

Sunday I was SO annoyed that I haven't seen much progress and my numbers had gone up SO I drank beer ALL DAY LONG!!!! I think I MAYBE ate 2 meals. They weren't bad ones either. I just had a liquid diet.

I just can't see how by week 12 I will have seen any changes from ALL of this hard work. BUT I'm back on track and tweaking my meals. I have decided to throw out any wheat bread or pitas, and pasta. Lower my carb amounts in the afternoons and see where that takes me by the end. I don't expect to be a size 6 but if I can go from 14/16 to 12 I will be OVER the moon! I want much since I do plan on other challenges but I don't know if I can get the gumption to do a second challenge if I haven't made any progress. Last week was my worst week of the challenge and I haven't been crazy with my free days. I'm trying to muster up that faith and keep going...3 more weeks!!

So, this is my first tough week....it is also my first week away from home for an extended period of time during this challenge.  This is hard.  Today is/was my free day, although not intentionally.  I sat in a room all day and ate when I was hungry, when I wasn't hungry, when I was bored, after coffee, before coffee, when I saw someone else eat, when it was my 'normal/scheduled' snack time.  It was just plain not good and I can already feel the effects (sluggish, too full, etc).  Why did I do this?  Below I am reposting Mike Harris' analysis, for others' benefit, but also, really my own.  I feel like people use this board as a confession area - which is great because I get the need to confess to my team that hey, I messed up today.  I think the part that's missing (and Mike Harris talks about this) is WHY?  What happened?  What situation were you in? How can you prevent it?  Ok, you did what you did....but what can you learn so you don't do it again?!  I am so in the same boat.  What happened to me today?  I was in a different situation and I didn't follow my plan.  Why?  There were temptations all around me that I just am not used to.  How do i say - i'm better than that?  I won't feel good if I eat that.  It's not healthy and it's not for me.  Why is that so hard?  So, tomorrow I will repeat:  I made a promise to myself to complete this challenge and give it all I have.  Eating _____ doesn't fit with my goals and will not keep me fit or make me feel good.  

Let's have a good Thursday everyone.  Think about your self promise and keep it!  

For the person worried about the holidays.  Nope - hasn't even crossed my mind....I'm thinking about today and tomorrow!!!  Don't worry about a hurdle that is 100 days away, worry about tomorrow's hurdle.

Analyze THIS!

by: Michael Harris  2/19/2007

Over on the Body for Life guestbook, usually every Monday there are posts of dismay over what happened on free day--or even more often about what happened on free day plus a couple other binge days to boot!!Those posts are nearly always followed by quickly drafted "Oh, don’t worry about it--just forgive yourself and move on" types of posts from others on the guestbook--that are ABSOLUTELY WRONG!

Quickly forgiving yourself for such a lapse and " moving on" is a recipe for disaster! See,in my opinion, if you have cheated on the diet and lost control, what you need to do is not forgive yourself--but analyze yourself. Just forgiving yourself leaves the problem still sitting there, just waiting for the next chocolate chip cookie or bag of kisses that somehow walks right up to your desk, or jumps into the seat of your car with you.

Here’s the real problem. Once you break a promise to yourself, two things happen. A. You get disgusted with yourself--as you should. And, B., you are afforded an opportunity to make a serious correction in your life habits. By quickly forgiving and moving on, you still have the guilt and disgust, and you haven’t figured out what you can do to correct this problem. So, you’ll do it again--guaranteed! And the next time, it won’t be just like the last time, it will be even worse.

Breaking a promise to yourself has major consequences. Just think of how you deal with those who have consistently broken promises to YOU. You don’t trust them; you don’t believe in them; you don’t rely on them; and if truth be told--you don’t love them very much either! You’ll treat yourself exactly the same way. BUT, if you truly analyze what went wrong, and take effective, forward steps to avoid this happening again (not just making another foolish vow) then you’ll be doing the work necessary to restore your faith in yourself.

The answer may be as simple as avoiding certain places--the bar after work, or the ice cream parlor. Or it may be as complex as arranging counseling for that eating disorder that is killing you. But, whatever it is, you must do it, or you’ll repeat history until you’re much worse off than ever.

Do this right. Body for Life--IS FOR LIFE. Don’t rush through something and miss the chance to change yourself for the better--for life.

Hey All,

Still plugging away here. I have only had 2 bad days. This is really a commitment to ourselves! It is a challenge because it is not easy and we have to constantly correct and make better choices for ourselves. THIS IS OUR LIFE after all!  I find when I am weak I fill up on carrots or veggies and water.  Again I really do walk around with carrots in my scrub pocket at work so when I feel hungry I can munch on those.

Well as we approach the end of this challenge I am committing myself to the next one. I have lost 22 lbs and am felling great. I'd like to lose another 20 or so and really  buff up. It has been hard working getting home late and instead of parking my butt on the couch to relax I have to hit the weight room. But I have made my workout room my second home...added a TV, cable, etc so when I am there I don't feel like I am missing out on the other things I want to do like watch my favorite shows, etc.

Well good luck to all keep on keeping on!

Michelle

Indigoeye

Hi everyone,

My computer wasn't letting me log in most of the week, cleaned up alittle and seems to be working better. I have good BFL days,  great BFL days,  and hohum BFL days. I guess at the end of the 12 weeks it will all balance out. If I had of planned better,  waited till a better time of year, I would have done a little better. Or maybe I would  have gained 10 more lbs in the last 12 weeks instead of losing only 10 lbs. Any way this goes I'm happy with what I've done ,  and where I'm at now. I'm looking forward to the end of this challenge and the beginning of the next one.

Keep up the good work we're almost there!

Caryl

Week 10=BAD!!! I hope week 11 is better. My husband is away for the week so I don't have anyone to help hold myself accountable.  It can't be worse than last week.

Hi All. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that had a rough Week 10.  I got really sick and ended up missing 4 workouts.....I can live with that since you have to allow yourself to heal... but the stupid part on my end was that I let my diet go too.  

However, I was back at the gym first thing this morning and it felt GREAT to be back.  I had a terrific workout, which only inspired me to have follow the diet all day.  Amazingly, I feel so much better.... guess they are right that when you get used to eating well, when you start putting trash in your body, you begin to feel like trash.  Well folks, I'm taking the trash out.... can't wait to get back to the gym tomorrow.

Can you believe we are almost there??? I think I'm going to take two weeks off of the formal weight training program , but will still maintain the number of workouts and diet ... and then on to the next challenge... anybody think that is reasonable or crazy?

@rockstar313 - i am sick now and it sucks!  I just did some walking on the treadmill this morning because i needed to do SOMETHING, but man am I exhausted....stuffy head, etc.  

I cannot believe we are almost there and am really bummed that i am sick THIS week....of all weeks.  I hope i feel better for the last week so I can finish with a bang.

I, too, am taking two weeks off...but was thinking....I am going to do my own 2 week challenge!!!  set my own rules, and start planning NOW so that when BFL is over I have an easy transition to my own challenge for two weeks.  Buying a notebook today so that once I finish my success journal i have something to jump into.  I think it's reasonable to take a break, but I don't think that should mean going back to our old ways....just think of it as changing a routine.  

Hi All...Rene here...

I hope that everyone is doing well.  I know that it has been really tough for me to post due to starting school..I am still here, though.  I am heading out to do my cardio...very excited about a new product I am trying that will (i hope) help with fat reduction.  I researched it for a couple of weeks and the person at GNC recommended it.  I have a 30 day supply...I will let you know of the results.  

Keep up the good work everyone and keep pushing.

Hi everyone , Sorry I haven't been on more often . Life has gotten really hectic lately, school starting fall on the farm is here and my family is getting pretty envolved in some political stuff here in Missouri that will really affect us. BFL is going as good as can be expected. Workouts are getting crammed in wherever I can stick them and food is sometimes just yougert and cottage cheese or coffee and protien powder. If I have to do fast food I've been ordering whatever is the cheapest with a grilled chicken ***

and just eating the chicken. I used throwing hay bales on the truck all afternoon as cardio one day.I think I'm down to 140 I hope to reach 138 by the last day of week 12 thats still 10lbs above what I had hoped for but I think it is doable. Hope all is going well for everyone.

Caryl

Oh also I think I'll be in with the 2 challenge on Sept 27th.

Caryl

I can't remember for sure, but aren't some of y'all on the east coast?  If you are, be careful and safe as Earl comes by or comes ashore.  Been there done that more than once.  I'll be thinking about you.

Ahhhhh... a holiday weekend, which means the gym won't be quite as crowded and lots of time to be outside and active.  Hope everybody is enjoying the weekend..... and then on to the last few days!!!

Hey Dream Team!

I feel lucky that my husband has to work on Labor Day- we have no big plans, so I can eat clean without a lot of holiday hassle!

How is everyone doing?  Seems like maybe we lost some?  It would be great to celebrate the progress we have made...next week...can you believe this is our final week on C1?!?!  I had a rough couple of days, but have my head on straight, thanks to the Coffee Crew.  Love them!!  They are genuine.

I am definitely starting on C2 on Sept. 27th.  I am looking forward to active rest where I plan to take some group cardio classes, yoga, long walks and I can try some of the delicious looking recipes in Eating for Life.  A  lot them don't seem quite clean enough for an all out challenge, so I am trying them during AR.  I definitely need a break but am finally feeling like I've got this down and I don't know a better way to live my life.  Even on the tough days, it good to be a BFLer.  I hope you guys stick with it- rockstar, caryl, renee, lex120, megan, michelle (indigoeye), tia?  Jane? Alexana?  ScotSteve?  Where/how is everyone?!?  It's never too late to jump back on the wagon!

DREAM TEAM is ready for C2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Bring it.

Jen