lstephen, I wouldn't put too much stock in your bodyfat results from the gym. Those things can be very inaccurate depending on the machine AND who's running it! The most precise measurement I've ever had taken was in a Bod Pod and you have to wear a swimming suit and swim cap and breathe through a special air tube with your nose plugged. Also, you're supposed to drink a lot of water a couple of days before being measured, but drink nothing for at least 12 hours before the test or something like that because all those things are big factors!  I'm not saying other machines are completely worthless but their range of error is probably big enough that it wouldn't be uncommon for them to be off a couple of percentage points either way EACH time you were measured.

Kudos to you for your positive attitude and letting this inspire you to keep working hard!

I'm trying to be extra good with the eating this week. We have a banquet one night this week, though, and a hayride/cookout this weekend, so I may have to split my free day into two half-days. I don't want to go overboard though this close to final weigh-in! Did 40 min. cardio (non-HIIT) today and will try to get in a longer session one other day this week in addition to two more HIITs.

The big question is still what will life look like in week 13? What do I do differently, what do I keep the same?  

Hope you're all having a good HEALTHY week!

Lisapizza

Week 12 - Day 3 - Wow, it seems like forever.

Been eating to plan, but have skipped the gym the last 3 days, but should make it tonight, since I'm posting it, right?

RE: "Life after the Challenge"  - The Champions book, suggest many ways to handle it.

1 - Take a 2 week break and start the next Challenge

2 - Reward yourself with a non-food item, celebrate, and get right back on the Challenge

3 - Take no break and keep on it for life, since it's a lifestyle modification, not a 12 week, temporary change.

I'm leaning toward #3, Life Style choice.

For Me, it's been around 30 years of unhealthy eating habits, and only 12 weeks of better lifestyle habits, so, the way I see it, I need about 29 1/2 more years of "The Challenge" to balance out my first half of life indiscretions.

While I'll complete this one (12 week photos, essay and submission) As for day 85 and beyond, I'll be continuing to journal in my notebook, and post to my FB group (for a 2nd level of accountability) and if you guys want, we can keep this thread alive and use it for continued support.

I suggest we keep it going for those who want to stay accountable, who knows, we can have an online celebration at our 6 month and 12 month anniversary.

What do you ladies think?

-R

g..g..g..g..g..g... done!

Hi Everyone--sorry for being quiet this past week, just been so busy.  It's Week 11, Day 4 for me.  I had a bit too much on my free day and then ended up so out of it Sunday and skipped my cardio.  I've already skipped 2 days this--Sun from my hangover, and then yesterday because there was just too much to do...and I have to admit, in part I was lazy too.

Lisa--I think Spartanman summed it best.  You can keep doing what you are doing and make it a lifestyle.  For me though, I would like to set it at 84 days each time because it doesn't feel so long and drawn out...and I can set shorter goals which are probably more easier to achieve if I put a deadline on it.

lstephen--I think you've done so well and however you choose to proceed, you will be great at it.  I have learned that BFL is all about making the program work for you long-term but yet the short-term basics and foundation is there to help you.  It has taught me to truly pay attention to my body, and find out what will work for me and what won't.

I feel like I have not been running at the momentum I have been since Week 10 and I need to really stay focused and get through each day.   Perhaps in part, I have not seen the huge changes I would have hoped to have seen by now...which was a driving factor in the beginning--I really wanted to see HUGE changes and it never came....so the motivation has tapered off it seems.  And also, in part the food is quite zzzzzz, and it's just so much easier to skip the workouts, and not keep pushing when there are so many responsibilities that I have to take care of first. Nonetheless, I will be back at the gym tonite to resume since I have a few more sessions with my PT before they run out.  

C2 will start on 10/23 for me and I will use the week prior to look back and plan out what goals I hope to achieve this time around.  I'll also be more diligent in writing down what I eat, since I stopped when I felt it became routine for me.  In addition, will be taking more measurements so I have a definitive basis to benchmark vs using how my clothes fit.  I don't plan to weigh myself, except maybe once a month in the next challenge, but do want to know if my body fat and inch numbers will change.

Keep up the last few days of your week fellow BFL'ers!  You are doing great and I really do applaud you for sticking with it til the end.  

Wow- last day of our challenge!! I am so excited and proud! I can't wait for tomorrow to weigh in, take measurements & body fat percentage to see how far I've come. And of course take the AFTER picture- which is what has been driving me this whole time. Thanks to ALL of you who posted on this forum and kept me company through this challenge. I seriously couldn't have completed this if I had to go it on my own. I will definitely check back here and post to keep in touch. Spartanman I think I will choose door number 3 and probably door number 2 also ( I could use some new exercise pants).....I really have changed my life already. I like the 12 week plan though....I think I will break the lifestyle thing down to every 12 weeks to make new goals, re-evaluate and gauge my fitness levels. Definitely will keep the FREE day.....I love the FREE day and have used it and taken advantage of it every week and have still seen good results. plus I'm scared to stop and take a break.....I've got the momentum going already and I'm just so afraid I'm going to get lazy with 2 weeks of break. So I will post tomorrow my final stats and picture!!!! Hope all of you will too :)

Tracing....MAKE THIS LAST WEEK A GOOD ONE!!! :)

OK everyone here is what 12 weeks of BFL and all your support has done for me.....(my pics are also on my profile page)

DAY 1                                         12 WEEKS LATER

140lbs/5' 3                                  127 lbs/5'3

shoulders: 39 1/2                        38

bust: 34                                        33

Waist: 38                                     33

Hips: 39                                       36.5

Thighs: 22 1/2                              21

Body Fat: 38.37%                       31.16

Congrats on completing your 12 week challenge - have lurked around your thread for inspiration.

Fantastic results Diane - you look awesome & 5" from your waist alone is amazing, great job!

Diane--your results are absolutely amazing!!  Dang girl--Great job and that smile says it all!!  You should be so proud of yourself.  I can definitely see the huge difference in your pics.  Wow, wow, wow!   Congrats to completing the 12 weeks and making way for a healthier lifestyle.  Thank you for posting and keeping me inspired!!!     =)

Diane!

Not only do you look phenomonal but you look 10 years younger!  Congratulations on sticking to it even with all your travels.  I am seriously so in awe girl.  Proud of you!

Well for me, this lower back thing really took me out of the "kill yourself" workouts.

However, I am happy to say that this program although supplement & shake wise not right for me, did stoke a fire with in me to be as healthy and energetic and glowing as I possibly can be!  It showed me I COULD get through a day without 5 servings of chocolate.

I am now on a cleanse for 3 weeks using an amazing nutritionist and my back is now 50% better!!!!  Yeehaw!

As soon as I started the supplements, (and stopped exercising for a week), I lost 4 lbs.

And I'm still losing. It just goes to show ONE size does not fit all.  :  )

I think it's about customizing it for you, beecause obviously my body responded MORE when I gave it what it needed nutritionally and physically.  

I wanted to say thank you to everyone in this forum.  You all were a great source of inspiration and support to me.

I will be checking in from time to time to let you know of my continued progress, and I hope you check in to share yours.

Congrats to the 7/18 family!

xxAng

Fantastic Dianne. Way to go. You did it.

I got back from Champions weekend in Nashville, and met both 2010 champions Laurie Deemer and Matthew McClelland (slides 6 and 7 on the BFL homepage). And, WOW, am I fired up!

Not only did their testimonies ring true with what we all go through on the challenge, but what I got most from it was, "If they can do it, I can do it."

There were other past champions there too, one, Michelle Simpson (2009 champion), said she completed 8 back to back challenges before she won. She said she was going to do it "no matter what."

Talk about looking at yourself in the mirror! While I was pretty "gung ho" for this challenge, it was just a fraction of the determination that those champions had.

So the big take-away for me.....Keep on the Challenge! A 180 turn around from what I thought I would be doing with "lifestyle" living.

So, today is Day 1 for my C3. With that, day 84 will be Jan 1, 2012 [what a coincidence!] My day 84 ended with meeting past champions, and my next day 84 will bring in the new year.

You may want to have a firm plan for the holiday season. A challenge just might be the solution to keep the Halloween to New Years Day, weight from jumping back on. Just saying.

The last thing for me (and I hope for you) is to take the after photos, complete the essay and submit the packet.

All the champions say, "if you don't send in the packet, you didn't do the challenge."

My next post will be my after shots.

Have a great Monday all!

-R

g..g..g..g..g..done! finally!

Diane,

You look fantastic - you should be so very proud of yourself.  Congratulations - you are a true inspiration!

Kristin

Diane!  You look so beautiful!  Look at your tiny waist!  Wow, amazing results!  I am so proud of everybody for sticking with it and getting it done.  Ang I am glad your back is getting better.  It is true what they say--this is about 85% nutrition/diet!  Sman-you are such an inspiration!  I will be doing another challenge after this with the main goal of keeping off what I have lost and not gaining over the holidays. Tracing, we will finish this thing strong, OK?  

I still have a few days, will be done Friday Oct 21.  Food is getting a little boring, but that is ok.  Still hitting it hard at the gym.  Cardio done today.  I upped it to 35 minutes and almost passed out, but got it done!  Started a new whey powder, Gold Standard vanilla.  It has no artificial sweeteners, which is really important to me, and it tastes good which is important too!  

Lets see some more pix, yall!!

Final stats:

Start: 7/18/2011 || End: 10/09/2011

Weight: Start 239, down 15, end 224

Waist: Start 43.5, down 4, end 39.5

Chest: Start 45, up 1, end 46

Thigh: Start 25, down 1.5, end 23.5

Biceps: Start 14, up .25, end 14.25

Pant size: Start 38, down 2, end 36

I have since began C3, with a start date of 10/10/2011.

Progress, not perfection!

Hey SpartanMan!!! COngrats!!! I'm so happy for you! It seemed like you went up and down in inches in all the right places. And 15 lbs lost!!! WOOO HOO! Hey I found a new thread of people, seems like they are all starting their second challenge and ending on 1/1/12......Fearless something or other- look for it- I'd love to go the 2nd challenge with you there. This was your second challenge.....how much did you weigh at the beginning of your first? Awesome.....post back on here every once in awhile cause I'd love to hear how the new "lifestyle" is going. :)

Spartanman - you look awsome!  Way to go!  You are such a great motivator - challenge 3 started already - you are unstopable!