Hope it is going well after week one!!!  

Pam

I'm in! I had my first attempt at BFL at the end of June but only made it a few weeks. I do not have ANY support from my friends and family which makes it so difficult :( The one good thing is that I have definitely been keeping up the exercise portion---hitting the gym 6 days a week and focusing on both cardio and strength. It's really the nutrition aspect that I need to get under control. I really hope that having a supportive community here is what I need to keep me motivated. I'm really feeling dejected and hopeless right now that I will ever be able to accomplish my goals. I need some buddies in this challenge and hopefully this is where I can find them! Good luck to everyone!

I'm also in!  I actually started a couple of weeks ago but because of work and personal issues it's been a slow start.  Restarting tomorrow. Like you Firebatongirl, I know it works to because it has worked for me in the past, but I let myself go.  Time to be serious.

Great! We have serveral great candidates!!!!  I am not an expert but I have been following the program for years...ever since Bill Phillips put out his first VHS tape in the early 90's. (I still have it...who knows maybe it is worth some money now).  I will try to answer any questions, but if I don't know the answers....we will find someone who will know!

Dannywood---You can start the challenge any time!  You just have to have it completed by September (whatever the date is..... IF you want to compete in the 2010 challenge.  If you end up starting later in the game and you have not completed your challenge by the 2010 completion date, then you are entered for the first round for 2011). The paperwork is not sent in until AFTER you have completed the 12 weeks.  Look at the instructions....the only thing that you need to do is 1) register to do the challenge 2) start the challenge on whatever date you choose, get your body fat %, and weight....you may also want to get your BMI, take measurements of your body, check blood pressure, lipid profile and ect. (This is not required for the challenge, but weight and body fat analysis is mandatory and must be done within the first 5 days of starting the challenge). 3) Take your before pictures within 5 days of starting the challenge.

If I didn't explain it well, then call on a BFL specialist at the service center.  I am sure that they can explain it better than me:)

Everyone---We need to be encouraging of each other and share our bumps in the road.  We will all stuggle at different times so we have to keep each other going.  It takes 10-14 days for your brain to adapt to change and make a habit....so, long story short, for the first 2 weeks your body/brain is going to resist the new plan, but keep pressing on and get through the barriers and make a permanant habit!

I have actually decided to start my program today, 7/25/10 instead of 7/26/10....only because I decided that I would like to have me free day on Saturdays instead of Sundays....so my first day every week will fall on a Sunday.

Good Luck everyone!  I am off to do interval training on the treadmill!!!! Perhaps, I will use my before photos as a motivator??? I would only it is difficult to run and cry at the same time...lol

Stacy

Peace!!!!

I

Ok.  Here's a new bump in the road I wasn't expecting.  Maybe some of you who have done BFL have been through this.  I just started my first Challenge on 7/21 and my boyfriend is being kind of a hater about the whole thing.  I'm 37 and he's 38 so have definately not teenagers, first love kinda thing. We have been dating for about 4 months.   He is not doing BFL and acts like he doesn't want me too.  He says he is supportive but makes little comments and jabs about how the BFL Forum seems like a dating site and that I am going to get all in-shape and break up with him for a body builder.  I now it's just his insecurities but WOW, is it getting old!!!  I did not ask him to join me in the Challenge because we don't live together and are fairly new in our relationship.  Besides,  I don't want to feel responsible for anyone elses success or failure.  It is difficult enought to focus on me and sticking with the program!  

What to do... what to do.....  Any advise???

tyra

Ill go to the docters office to get my body fat and weight tomarrow, hope he can do the body fat thing cause I dont have anything to do it with myself.Ill get my bloodpressure but the rest of it not sure if I can get maybe i can get a tape measure to do body measurements with.

Tyra---Keep pressing on!  Make yourself happy because you can't make anyone else happy unless you’re comfortable with yourself first.

It is completely natural for family, friends and others to be negative about someone else making a positive change in life.  I have studied human behavior for years (I work in Psychiatry) and most people (statistically speaking...I will find the studies at work tomorrow and post them later) will speak negativity over someone who is trying to do something positive because he or she is afraid of failure themselves....I think that self esteem does account for some of the negativity, but from what I have studied it comes from the person (who is making the negative comments) believing that they could not achieve what it is that you are trying to achieve (whether its an exercise goal, sales goal or otherwise) therefore, they then believe if they cannot achieve it then you cannot achieve it as well.

They are wrong!!!!! Don't let that negativity get you down!  After you adhere to the program for a month or so....they will soften.  In fact, you will serve as inspiration for others by your example.

He does sound a little jealous...be careful, I have gone down that road before and it is not easy trying to reassure someone else all the time...it can be exhausting.  If he doesn't let up you will probably get tired of his jealous comments and find yourself wanting to spend less time with him.

Okay---I am totally not trying to give any type of relationship advice...just kind of went off on a tangent for a moment.  

But, just know that you are not alone, most people will not be very encouraging in the beginning.  I remember the first time I did this program; I was told by a personal trainer who looked at the program that it could not be done!  He said there was no way that I could achieve those types of results.  12 weeks later he was signing up for his own challenge!!!

Dannywood---Your doctor may not be able to do body fat analysis at the office.  It is best to ask someone at your gym to do the body fat….it should be free of charge and included in your membership.  They will probably do your measurements as well.  Ask your doctor to do a lipid panel so you can know your overall cholesterol level.

Peace!

Stacy  

Pictures within 3 days

I'm still new to this. Only a few weeks into the program..although I am not new to fitness and health. So far, I am loving this plan!! I feel great.

So welcome...or welcome back...I could use your insight and experience as well since you have done this before. The fact alone that you have done this before and have decided to return to it speaks volumes about the program. So thanks for that.

Best of luck.

Oh, and did you get the refrigerator?

Hi Stacy,

Thanks for the advise.  I definately have my doubts about him as well.   If he can't get on my team he's just slowing me down and I don't have time for that!

I am looking forward to showing all those negative people out there the result of this challenge!

Tyra

Hey  Stacy,

I'm in.. my cousin and I are doing the challenge Starting Monday the 26th. We have our first gym day also tomorrow.  I Did it once and had amazing results, but ? Went back to old habbits. Not this time! I need to help my cousin who is younger than me.  We have all of our stuff ready to go, and have taken our before pics, and our bni etc.  We're fatty's. !  But not anymore! We are going to do this gig, and be up on a stage somewhere.. So we're in!

Good luck on the fridge.   Give us a shout. We're in North Jersey

Ann

Hi everyone,  

I'm starting tomorrow also.  I successfully completed one round of BFL 10 years ago (wow! didn't realize it was that long ago.)  And am starting my second tomorrow.  It's all new again and I'm grateful to have a support network this time around.  Good luck to everyone on their exercise tomorrow.  

Carol

I, too, am planning on starting tomorrow. I have my books and have bought the grocery items I need to get started. I moved to Alaska last year and found my happy place. I quit smoking after 28 years and in January began exercising and eating healthy. Just 2 weeks ago, I hired a personal trainer and decided to sign up for the BFL challenge. Win or lose, I still am a winner. I am ceurrently waiting to go to grad school for a Master's degree in human nutrition then I want to persue a career in personal health coaching. I hope we can encourage and inspire each other on this life journey.

Sherry

Hi everyone!!

I've just started my challenge today! I can't wait to see results!

Little background info: I'm 25 y.o. female. This is my 1st BFL challenge. About a year ago I lost 20-25 lbs and felt great about it. But now I want more! I've been working with a personal trainer for the past 3.5 months and have seen pretty good results.. not but great results! I'm thinking it's mostly due to  my struggles with eating properly. I don't have a set goal number-wise. I'm more interested to see what can happen in 12 weeks if I'm really committed!

Jessica

Hello!  

Is it alright if I join the club?  I could really use the support.

My story: About 2 years ago (age 21) I lost about 20 lbs.  I was really getting into the nutrition and fitness scene.  I looked and felt fantastic!  I maintained it for almost a year.  I graduated from my undergraduate university and moved away.  I was soo involved at the university that I cried for a week after I left.  I started turning to food and developed some disordered eating habits (the binging kind).  I've been dealing with it and fighting it for about a year now.  I would have a few days of normal eating and a few days of binging...then I seem to "punish myself" for it by binging more.  The worst part?  I am a certified aerobics instructor and a nutrition graduate student.  There is no excuse!

Anyway, I found this BFL program.  I've "doing it" for two weeks....and I've been failing miserably.  I decided last night that I wanted to start over today (7/26).  The physical changes would be nice, but why I really want to do this program is for the mental changes.  I need to re-teach myself how to eat.....and even more so, how to live.

Since I obviously cant do this on my own (and seeing a counselor didnt help), I could really use the support of some of the stronger women that I have been reading about in these posts.