Hello all!

I got back from visiting my grandmother today.  Had an OK eating day on Monday, and a much better day today.  I was able to go to the gym while I was there (thank goodness for Planet Fitness).

I agree with the comments about eating 5-6 meals a day...it think it's really important.  

Tomorrow is a LB workout day.  Need to rest up.  It's a killer on the legs...but in a good way.

I'm going to try to up the weights...gotta feel the burn!

Enjoy the day!

Heather

Greetings gang...

First 2 days worked out well. I really can see the importance of pre planned meals. Its so much easier preping for the day when the whole week is already planned. The fisrt day I coud only eat 5 meals. The second day my metabalisim was humming!

Hope all is well

John

All this change will become like clock work.

Way to go John!!  Jason is right, the neat thing about this whole thing is - if you stick around the boards long enough and so some surfing and ask ALL of your questions you will gain so much insight and knowledge that getting and staying fit and healthy will become quite easy and before you know it it will be second nature.  Keep referring back to the book though, it IS the fountain of wealth of information and again ask ask ask, ask everything.

Have a great day 8/23er's!!!!

p.s.   Drink ALL your water today  =)

Pretty good 2nd day for me.  Completed my cardio and 10mins extra credit low intensity cardio.  Resisted the temptation of free food at work.  But, strayed from my 6th meal plan by having yogurt with dried berries.  Overall, not too bad.  Looking forward to LBWO today!  After see my rear in my before, I really want to get it moving! =)  

I carry my weight in my middle and was thinking I should ad more abs exercises to the prescribed program.  Has anyone modified it to focus on abs?  Any advice to help shed belly fat?

No way to make fat come off a specific part of your body. Without surgery that is. Just loose fat and it will come off just as it went on.

Due work your abs out hard. I found it hard to do the 12 10 8 6 12 12 on my abs as it was to easy. Ive added weights and I just make sure my abs are sore the next day.

Ab hint: Low or now weights with high repetition will yield a flat runners stomach. Adding weights will yield that muscular 6 pack stomach. Chose the one you want now and focus on that type of workout.

Hello All,

I stared my challenge on 8/23 and am so focused this time! I've started so many times years ago I can't even count.   Now at age 50 I've put on 25lbs in 3 years, thanks to mother nature!  I feel pretty good now just way too heavy.  I recruited my boyfriend to do the challenge with me since we are both in the same boat regarding weight.  I'm not so sure he'll be as focused so I would love to have this group to come to for motivation, info and feedback.  We took our before pics last night.  I just about burst out in tears.  I knew I was out of shape but to see those pictures in a 2pc swim suite was just not right. LOL. When getting ready to take my pics, dear boyfriend said "honey, how did you get so fat".  Now most of you are probably gasping at this but I have to tell you, this was what I needed to hear.  I know I can do this challenge.  I planned well, got all the BFL books (had original for years) and am keeping my food, w/o journals.  

Goals:

1. Reduce body weight from 165 to 145

2. Reduce body fat from 35% to 25%

3. Gain energy back (already see a different in 3 days here)

4. Reach my goals and live as a live example to others

Cheers All,

Sharon

PS, did the group come up with a name?

Hi everyone, I too started BFL on August 23rd so I am hoping to be able to join this group!  Currently, I am wickedly focused but I know at some point I may wane a bit and I am certain this group will keep my head, heart and stomach in line.  I may also be the only other male in the group other than Ridshack so I hope that is ok.  My goals are simple, lose this belly that I have acquired and to build muscle size and strength.  I do follow the plan accordingly but I do tons of extra cardio.  One, because my kids are back in school so I now have some time  and I love to cycle and two, I feel like I need the extra cardio work to lose this "tire" that someone slid over my normally flat stomach while I wasn't paying any attention.  One question I have, I follow the meal plan accordingly but does anyone count calories?  I understand what we are eating is low in calories anyway, but I was just curious if I alone worried about it.  

I am a Fire Captain and a proud father of 5!  I am 42 years old and I am very excited to do this.  I hope that I may be included in this group!  I wish all of you great success in this journey.  Only 82 days left!

Hey Ridshack.  Thanks for the advice.  I've been working out consistently for a few years, so I know that the abs portion is going to be too easy for me.  I'll add my own abs workout to leg day then and try to follow the same reps/sets pattern from the BFL book.

Hey Firewalker welcome. The program by design isnt meant to count calories but by eating authorized foods and controlling portions. But as I get my meal routines I will add up a days worth to make sure Im on target.

Great, that is what I thought, thanks for replying!

Does anyone know anything about CLA?  I've done some reading about this supplement and what I've gathered so far is: it's omega-6 fatty acid that helps in lypolysis, helps prevents fat storage and should be taken with meals.  I saw that the EAS Pro CLA contains 1.5g per capsule, but what is the actual effective dose per capsule?  I'm confused about what the proper dosage is, what's the best way to use it (e.g. stacked with other supplements??), etc...

freshbach - I took CLA & Betagen on my first challenge - CLA is a fat loss aid but not only does it help your body lose fat it protects your lean muscle mass in the process - the Betagen is for muscle repair and recovery.  I don't think the supplements are "gender" oriented BUT i was advised by women to take the above.  What I ran into was not wanting to try a ton of supplements to find the one I was after, too expensive.  I was/am looking for fat loss and to be toned (may decide later for more muscle definiton, it is a definietly an interest).

If I were you I would call the the Body For Life Experts hotline 800-297-9776  they are there to help you succeed, they may be able to point you in the right direction.  

Also I can remember reading on the board somewhere that "abs are created in the kitchen"  you can and should work them but you won't see them until the last layer of fat disappears, that looks like clean eating and take a free meal versus a free day.  -  It is persistence and patience, don't give up though before you know it you will go to bed one night without them and wake  one morning with them.........WALAH..................and Life is Good =)

Also I can tell you that drinking a RTD Shake right after my weight WO's made a big difference in my appearance as well, I tried this a number of years ago and stopped at week 8, i didnt' look anything like I did at week 8 this time.

Have a great evening everyone.

Not sure if you all are taking advantage of everything that is offered on this site - here is the link to the Weekly Challenge Guide - there are entries from past Champions, great insight and encouragement as well. - there is one for each week of your Challenge.

bodyforlife.com/.../guide

Cory,

Are you saying that by drinking the RTD shake right after wo's was an advantage of disadvangate to your appearance during your challenge?

Sorry - definite advantage.  When I did the challenge back in May 2008 I was just doing an authorized breakfast in the mornings - but when i did the Challenge in May of this year (hmmm what is it about May LOL) I decided to do the RTD shake after I WO, literally, it is waiting for me in the car and I drink it before I even pull out of the parking lot of the gym - otherwise I get home and get distracted and i lose that 30 min window (read the label) not to mention I like my breakfasts being quick and easy, can't get any easier than that - then when I get home I drink my 4oz of Betgaen and I am set for the first meal of the day.

I noticed definition in my calves, thighs, upper arms, back and could feel the hardness in different spots of my  midsection (couldn't see any abs yet but could tell they were coming) when I quit (didn't push through the last 3 weeks of the challenge like I had hoped for BUT that is water under the bridge).

hope this answered your question smms.  Have a great night.