Good morning,

I have followed the practices for Body for Life, but never did a complete challenge.  I am starting today.

I don't have much to lose, so motivation is lacking. I lost about 15 pounds over a year ago, but it is creeping back.  I tend to go long periods of time with out eating, I am just too busy to bother and I don't think about it.. My boyfriend loves to cook and go out for terrific dinners. Then I feel like I can indulge, but the indulge is putting LBS on me.  

Susy in San Diego

Hi Heather,

I'm starting today too....had great success with Body For Life in 2001...need it again!

Good Morning everyone! I did my cardio this morning and weighed and measured. I am also starting my last semester at FAU today! This is going to be a great time for me I know it. I would like to lose 25lbs on my first go around on BFL. Good luck to everyone and talk at you tomorrow. We might want to think about starting a Spark group they are easier to use than this site. Even thought this site is great. Something to think about. Sandy

Tried to starty 2 weeks ago, but have had a number of health problems that arose.  I would like to join your group.  My set backs at this time are that I am having IBS and am undergoing alot of testing to try and get it figured out, but I don't want that to be an excuse to stay out of shape.

At this point I am to avoid all lactose and gluten so it is making it harder as most of the protein shakes have lactose in them.  I cannot do the cottage cheese thing either.

Do anyone have suggestions?

Due to my moring schedule I started with the Cardio today and will do the weights on T/F/Sat.

Hi everyone!

Sandra checking in here!

Isn't this exciting? I did my upper body this morning, had my oatmeal and my arms are still wobbly - what a lovely feeling!

I finished C1 mid-July and lost 15lbs and 13.5 inches. I realize that this is now going to be a way of life for me - I started down a slippery slope since finishing C1 and am very glad to be back in BfL mode! I am 5'8" and would love to get down to 140lbs - so 20 to go.

I can't be of help to rockinmomof3, but I have bad reactions to the protein shakes too - they do a number on my tummy! I generally stick to food instead of the shakes and bars, unless I am out and about - they are so convenient.

Great to see all the enthusiasm!!!

Personally I love to cook up a batch of ground turkey and place it in baggies for my protein snack. Ill toss the stuff in noodles with salsa... yum!  

Im not sure about the other things your allowed or not but I also have any carb source such as whole wheat noodles, whole wheat bread or apple.

You dont need to use anything special to be successful. Just follow the basic principle and you will be fine.

But please do consider a good multi-vitamin if you wont be taking the shakes or bars.  

Add to your multi-vitamin an Omega3 as well, good brain food and all around BFL vitamin :)  I also eat Salmon 3xweek to get my "good" fat in.

Way to go everybody, have a great evening.

Started this morning:

BFL Upper Body - 60 minutes (trying to get used to the different routine than I'm used to doing so took me longer than usual)

XLIC - Walking - 30 minutes

HRM Stats - 800 calories burned

On track with meals:

1st meal: Breakfast Burrito

2nd meal: Nutrition Shake

3rd meal: Turkey Mini Bagel

4th meal: Cottage Berries

5th meal: EFL Turkey Meatloaf Dinner

6th meal:  to be determined (probably Protein Pudding

Can't wait for Cardio tomorrow: HIIT!

Hope everyone else had a great start...

What are the abbreviations please?... And how on earth do you you burn 800 calories in one workout?

Hey!  My name is Laura.  I just started my first challenge today.  I would love to join you guys!

Good morning,

I can't possibly eat all the food I am supposed to.Had a shake for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch and a shake for dinner. Is my metabolism that slow? If I ate that much I would gain  weight

Morning Everyone

Susy - It is a lot to take in isn't it BUT the book says that the # of meals 5 - 6 is a must, not only is your body taking some for fuel and some for energy BUT your body is also taking what it needs from your clean eating for your muscle/body repair after you have worked it hard - do not fall into the thinking that if you WO more and eat less you will speed up the process of weight loss either, your body is smater than that.

Simply follow the book to a T (eat 6 small meals a day spaced 2 to 3 hours apart and make sure your portion sizes are what they should be, (off the authorized food list for weight loss and from the EFL book for maintenance), drink your water, WO 6 days a week (3 days of HIIT and 3 days of strength training U&LBWO)  and before you know it your body will start to take shape and you will notice a difference in how you look and feel and your clothes size will go down.  The book promises and so do the others who are in the BFL community that have tested/tried it and have been successful.

Question - did you read the BFL book?  Just wondering.  =)

Stick with it - to a T - and in 12 weeks you will be so glad you did.

Have a great day.

I agree with cory susy. They meals should be small enough that you are hungry and ready for your next feeding. I usually have to drink a bunch of water to feel full and two to three hours later Im feeling very hungry for my next meal.

Rosyriveter,

First, abbreviations (some from my previous post, some you will see in the days to come) :

EFL = Eating for Life (cookbook for BFL)

BFL = Body for Life

XLIC = Extra (meaning additional) Low Intensity Cardio

HRM = Heart Rate Monitor (a must in my opinion)

HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training (cardio)

*HDT = High Density Training (circuit weight training, moving from one body group to the next with no rest between reps and only a cardio rest between sets--increases cardio burn at the same time as weight training) *this is for advanced lifters only (e.g. chest bench press 1x12 reps move to lat pulldowns 1x12 reps, etc. through your circuit for upper or lower body, repeat from beginning until you complete 4 sets of each with a warm-up and cool-down).

It is absolutely possible to burn 800 calories in one workout. It all boils down to intensity. I didn't burn 800 calories in one workout, though, yesterday (8-23-10). My upper body workout lasted one hour, and I burned 550 calories (normally for an hour of upper body weight training I would burn 800-1,000 calories, but I was going extremely slow by trying to follow BFL protocol). I can burn this many calories because I normally do HDT--I would never do it for an hour, though I have done so before. There is too great a risk of burnout and or injury. Second, I did my XLIC 3 hours later for 30 minutes, which burned 250 calories--keeping my heart rate between 60-70% maximum heart rate (MHR). When I do HIIT, I will burn 400 calories in 30 minutes, heart rate 75-95% MHR. I usually will not go beyond 30 minutes for HIIT, again due to burnout or injury. I will usually always do an XLIC workout later in the day.

Day 2 Check-in 8-24-10, on track.

HIIT = 20 minutes, 310 calories, included 2 minute warm up and 2 minute cool down

XLIC = 30 minutes, 280 calories

HRM = 590 total calories burned

1st meal = EFL Breakfast Burrito made with egg whites

2nd meal = Chocolate Nutrition Shake

3rd meal = EFL Turkey Meatloaf, brown rice, green beans, cantaloupe

4th meal = 1/2 oz raw almonds, 1/2 apple w/ 2 teaspoons reduced fat peanut butter

5th meal = Filet Mignon (5 oz.), Italian side salad, small baked sweet potato w/0% Fage Greek yogurt

6th meal = probably Protein Pudding

Thoughts so far: I may reduce my meals to 5. I'll give it one week and see what the results show. I feel like I am eating a lot, but after adding up yesterday's calorie counts, I am right where I am supposed to be for my height, current weight, activity level, age, etc.

Hope everyone had a great day!