ventluck- I feel the same way on my 'free day'. I do a light jog/brisk walking paced 5k on my off day because I feel like I'm slacking lol.

Wow. Seeing that in type here- me doing a 5k...4 months ago I would have called you crazy for even mentioning it. Now I'm DOING it....

Hey guys, I am also looking forward to taking my pictures on week 8.  I love being able to start my the day with a workout, and that makes my whole day so much better. It's a good feeling going to work knowing that you are doing the right thing for your body and mind.  

Hang in there guys - we will make it through it together.

Well i didn't exactly do as well on my UBWO as i thought i could.  when i made my plan i didn't take into consideration that along with my broken foot,  i am also coming back from a broken radius. (arm)  it was a little shaky. But, i'm feeling the ache this morning and it feels soooo gooood!

cant do HIIT for a long while so am doing "Push - Pull" workouts.  

Day 1 Chest/Triceps

Day 2 Back / Biceps

Day 3 Legs (as much as possible)

Day 4 Shoulders / Abs

Day 5 Chest/Triceps

Day 6 Back / Biceps

Day 7 free day

etc. etc.

Champster posted more photos from the BFL Champions weekend here on the site.  Great photos.

Here's the link

bodyforlife.com/.../2596.aspx

Champster posted more photos from the BFL Champions weekend here on the site.  Great photos.

Here's the link
http://bodyforlife.com/community/boards/bfl/f/14/t/2596.aspx

KatSouixCity -your are amazing.  keep it up your doing something.  I don't know if I could've kept it up this long with a broken bone.  Thanks for doing the role call.  

Things are going well here.  This week the scale has gone down a bit each day.  Down a solid 13 pounds and still have a month to go.  I'm so excited to see how I look and feel at the end.

Yesterday I thought I would try on some jeans I wore 3 years ago.  Last year there was about a 2 inch gap at the buttons.  I couldn't believe it, not only did they fit, they weren't tight at all.  I tore my closet apart looking for all my old favorite pants.....So far they all fit.   I totally am in denial, I don't feel like I should be fitting in them yet.  Kinda like what I told you guys about the treadmill, I don't feel right putting my current weight in, its so much lower than how I preceive myself.   Awsome baby.

Today marks the last day of week 7. i would like to encourage our group to dedicate week 8 as high Intensity week! Lets get that extra mile on the elliptical, get in an extra set of reps at the gym, give up that cheat meal youre looking forward to. Lets challenge ourselves and push it to another level. We didnt reach week 8 by just cruising through the challenge. and most importantly, lets prove to ourselves that we are better, strong and faster than we were on day 1!!!

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other”

   - Walter Elliot

Yeah yeah yeah.

I'm still here.

I've been afk for the most part since about mid-Sept. Very difficult to eat properly and workout when you are traveling with an infant... let alone get on a computer and do something "unnecessary" like post on a forum.

I'm pretty much back to square one on the weight and bodyfat, but I'm much more aware of what I'm eating, how much water I'm drinking, and what my exercise sessions need to look like. Before the traveling began I was even getting up at 5am so I could get my exercise done before my husband left for work! (Someone had to be home with the baby...)

A month ago when the chaos began and I had a trade show in Vegas, I even loaded up the freeweights in the back of the van and managed to do a workout from the open hatch, doing lunges across the parking lot early in the morning. But eating six times a day when you are at a trade show is almost unrealistic. Likewise, working out daily when you are visiting relatives and on a tight schedule for me, at least, was unrealistic. It's somewhat inappropriate to ask your cousin whom you haven't seen for 2 years to watch your child while you borrow her car and go to the gym... especially if you're there to see her in the first place. I found myself  trading my own meal choice and getting in a workout for being a gracious guest. This was the right thing for me to do, even though it didn't do much to further my goals.

My daughter and I are now in rural eastern PA, my husband has joined us at last, and I have actual moments to myself. I have borrowed a bike, got a pass from my mother-in-law to the local-ish YMCA, and have picked up my nutrition and exercise journal again to resume my plan. We have (another) birthday party on Friday and then on Sunday with untold yummy goodies just waiting. But I've had yummy goodies before, and they are never as good in reality as they are under the glass. So I plan to pass.

We'll be back in San Diego next week and back to predictable days. It's been a great month, but it  will be a real relief when the fun melts back into our regularly scheduled life.

Good to hear you are all doing so well!! Woo-hoo!!

-Laura

Well, the day is here. We leave for our cruise in a few hours. I just finished my LBWO. When I started BFL I set a goal of being down to 185 lbs. (I have been as high as 204). Guess what?? I weighed in at 185.0 lbs on my digital scales!! I am so excited about that. I am finding clothes at the back of the closet that I once thought I would never wear again. I’m taking some of them on our cruise. I still have plenty of BF that needs to be converted to muscle. So I’m taking my workout log sheets with me & am looking forward to using the ships gym …. Over 150 machines plus free weights, etc. My workout room in my basement will never be the same after this!!

Internet time on the ship is very expensive so I’m going to have to go through withdrawals of not having my BFL forum friends over the next week. But you can bet that I’ll be checking in as soon as my feet touch USA soil again!!  

primo0458 - IMHO this group does not need to do extras for the last few weeks of this challenge.  Continue to eat as you do and do the exercises as scheduled within the timeframe.  What I do suggest is everyone change up what exercises you are doing.  For example, if you have been on the elliptical for cardio, select another cardio equipment to use.  If you've been using a machine for triceps, try using the cables instead.  Keep it simple especially if this is your first 12 weeks.  You can get the extra by making those type of changes rather than adding more of your time in the gym (or where you do your exercises).

LauraD - Welcome back and do the best you can do just like you did when you were away. :-)

Grandpa Hiker - Same for you, do the best you can while on travel.  Have fun and we look forward to hearing how you are doing.

Here are a few travel tips for anyone else needing it:

Travel and BFL (courtesy of DanaAZ) - plan and prepare just as you would at home. BFL Meals should be quick and simple to prepare.

Will you have a mini-fridge & microwave in your hotel room? That helps a lot! You can go to a local grocery store and stock up on your quick prep staples (enough for a day or two, so it fits in the fridge). Fruit, veggies, water, cooked chicken ***, cooked fish, cottage cheese, packets of tuna, hard boiled eggs, oatmeal, liquid egg whites, etc, etc.

I pack all of my supplements pre-measured into baggies (whey powder, betagen, etc) and I pack a silicone measuring cup set (folds flat) so I can measure oats, CC, berries, etc. I also take a knife, mini cutting board, fork, spoon & a bowl for microwaving (oats/egg whites)I take a small blender with me so I can prepare shakes with ice. Plenty of ice via the hotel vending area - I place a pillow over the blender so I don’t disturb everyone around me.

I also make sure the hotel has a fitness center with cardio and weights (or there is a health club nearby) Travel and BFL are very doable! Just realize your ’BFL bag(s)’ will be as big as or bigger than your clothes/bathroom bag! Safe travels & don’t forget your workout clothes/shoes, gloves, workout journal and stop watch/timer!

It's really all about planning.  Get the Success Journal.  It will help with your planning.  Search the web for a local gym.  I'll send another message later with exercises you can do in a hotel room.

Traveling Body Weight Workout - WORKOUT TO BE USED WHEN NO EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE. (courtesy of MichelleT)

Do this with no rest between exercises. Rest 1 minute at the end of the 7-minute circuit and repeat for 3 cycles.

Bodyweight squat (15-20 reps)

Pushup (10-20 reps) - do it on your knees if you must

Reverse Lunge (10 reps per leg)

Plank (30 second hold, add time as you can)

Close-grip Pushup (10-20 reps)

Side Plank (20 second hold per side, add time as you can)

Mountain Climber (10 reps per side)

Do winners do the minumum? NO! They do 20 reps when it says 15-20.

Do they drop out of plank position when they hit 30 seconds? NO!

They hold their plank position until their arms are shaking, heck- until their whole body is shaking.

HI guys,

I have to confess to you that I am a little discouraged this week.  I am trying to keep at it, eating BFL 100 % of times, but yesterday I succumbed to a few donuts. Well, my little "self sabotage voice" keeps telling me that I am working hard (I did not missed a workout in the past 2 weeks" - but it seems that is not enough ...... sighhhh. I can see that I a little smaller, but I don't see any signs of a transformation yet, and that's just killing me.  

I was getting excited that we are closer to the 8th week (so I could see what all the other ladies were talking about it) - but I just don't see it happening for me. That little  voice keeps nagging at me "you are too old, you are not working hard enough, your portions are too big to lose weight" and all those little things that  goes on and on on my head making me think on throwing the towel. I only lost 7 pounds these whole 7 weeks, so I don't see it how I am going to lose at least 25 like most women on past posts did.

This forum is awesome - you guys are great and really helped me coming back every day and reading the posts.

Please talk some sense into me; like someone said a few days ago - I need a kick in the ars.

I just posted this on another thread.  "I've done several challenges.  In each one I saw the biggest changes at some point in the last 4 weeks, even as late as the 12th week."

Don't get hung up on the scale weight. Take your measurements, compare your photos and the number of sizes you drop in cloths.  The pay off (the "miracle") happens if you've been working hard and eating portioned authorized  meals.  It also happens if you've followed the timeframe for workouts. Too much extra cardio will rob your body of the muscle you are building which will then slow the fat burning potential of your body.

Hang in there and keep going.  Don't wait for the miracle, go get it!

BTW Jerseyfit, you are not too old...no one is for this program.  There was someone who shared that in the entire 12 weeks she only lost 3lbs.  If you look at her you would think it was more.  Do a search in the upper right of this page for "KatieJ," you'll find a link to her photos.

Jersey! What do you mean "only 7 lbs"?  That's great!  I will kick your ars if you give up now after losing for 7 straight weeks!!!