Hey yak, glad I came across your story, mine is almost identical!

I'm half way through my 3rd "back to back to back" on a journey to do 4 back to backs. I too had an extended "cheat day" but mine went for over 8 years!!! I did the challenge back in 1999 and got down to a ridiculously reptilian 10% body fat and 180lbs. I started my latest kick at the BFL can on August 1st when I tipped the scales at 345lbs, by the end of the August challenge I had lost 40lbs, and went right into the next 12 week go and lost 30lbs on that 12 week run. I'm not dropping much on this third challenge, but I've almost cracked 10 lbs so far. So for me in about 8 months on the BFL program I've cut 180lbs... this program really does work!

I'll keep my eye on your progress bro.

cheatday

Hey all,

Just started week 2 yesterday and I am feeling great still. I am also a slave to the scale - I weigh myself daily, but I have put it in my mind that ESPECIALLY after a hard weight training day muscles WILL retain water because the inflammation/healing process is occurring.

*A thought for anyone targetting their butt and hamstrings* :

Today is my HIIT day and I have found that I get much more sore and become much more fatigued than running with this (I did the following because my left knee hurt so bad I could absolutely NOT run)

Set the treadmill on the highest incline, then find acceptable low speed and my max speed. Leave the incline at its highest point the entire 20 minutes and do the HIIT according to how the book says to do (increase speed every minute and then reduce again and repeat).

I read via a figure competition trainer's blog that fast walking on high incline actually is BETTER for women's butts and hamstrings because jogging or running, unless you are a trained runner can actually not ever hit your butt and hamstrings. Non-Trained runners tend to have shorter strides, therefore the only muscle groups that are really affected are the calves for the most part. So I did the HIIT with fast walk highest incline and let me tell you my booty and hamstrings are SORE!!!! Which is great because those are my problem areas where I really need to firm up and tone.

Have a great week everyone!

cheatday, welcome aboard!  Thanks for sharing your story, scary how similar they are.  Congrats on such excellent progress since August!  I don't know why we let ourselves go after attaining a great level of fitness.  Unfortunately it seems to be a recurring theme on this board.  How many times have you read, "I had great success back in ____, but then lost it.  Now I'm back to try again?"  My commitment to myself this time is when I get back to the level of fitness that will allow me to lead a healthy life, I'll keep doing what I did to get me there!

4 weeks in, weigh in today at the start of free day.  22.2 lbs down!  Whoohoo!  Happy with the progress, recognizing at least 8-10 lbs of that was water.  But hey, that's still lbs I don't have to carry around.  If I can drop another 10-12 per each of the next two segments of 4 weeks, I'll be happy with this first challenge.  Long ways to go yet.  No pics will be posted until a non revolting after pic is possible.  :)

Actionyak, congrats!! 22.2 lbs is an amazing start!

Good luck with week 5 everyone!

awesome!!! great work action!

What a train wreck of a weekend!  Saturday night freeday ended at Beef's, because my wife was really craving their wings.  Two other couples met us there, and we had a great time.  The wings and beer hit the spot, and if we had stopped right there it would have been perfect.  But, we followed that up at our friends house with mixed drinks, and then shots.  Holy cow, I haven't been that sick in a long time.  Only silver lining is not many of those free day calories hung around.  Sunday was the worst, though.  Really needed to get to the gym to do my cardio, but just couldn't manage it.  Couldn't do much of anything, actually.  No workout, and the eating was less than stellar as well.  

Today's a new day, and I got up when the alarm went off at 445 and hit the gym for my LBWO.  Back on track, and I've already offered to be the DD for the St. Patrick's day festivities next weekend.  :)

I'm a foodie, so there are a lot of foods I'm tempted by. I like sweets and salty snacks, but sometimes I crave foods that aren't on the BFL plan, such as a loaded baked potato with butter and sour cream or a potato with cheddar and bacon bits. The other day, I had a craving for sushi and waited until my free day to eat it.

Finishing up week 6 and feeling great.  Good rebound from last weekend.  Only missed Sunday, and the rest of the week the workouts felt great and the eating has been right on target.  2 more weeks until another weigh in, but I just keep taking it one day at a time.  Tomorrow is free day, and I am very much looking forward to it.  Big bash planned for St. Patty's day, but I am sticking to my guns of being the DD!  

Week 7 finishing up strong.  Feeling good, eating good, enjoying the workouts.  Looking forward to free day tomorrow.  Excited to weigh in again a week from tomorrow, hopefully the scale will again confirm progress.  

I started back up in a racquetball league that I play in this past week.  Being a little lighter and committing to the cardio workouts are definitely making a difference in my ability to get to the ball.  When I drop this extra 100 lbs, I'll be unstoppable!  

Way to go! It's great to hear that you have been keeping up with the workouts and are seeing progress. I. on the other hand, have fallen off the wagon. While I have been working out and eating decently over the past 2 weeks, I admit I could be doing MUCH better. I have only completed maybe 2 workouts per week the past 2 weeks. I'm definitely ashamed to be writing this, and can't believe I've slipped, since I started off so strong. I'm not sure what happened. Back to the grind on Monday, as I always say, and this time no excuses.

Hello all. This is my first time writing in the blog, since i've never really been a blog person, but I feel like it might help me stay motivated and finish this challenge. I started on 2/6/12, so I'm a little behind the curveball in here, but I still have 4 weeks left. I have done this program before back in 2004 and it worked great. I went from 235 to 175 in 3 months, then lost 20 more lbs after I stopped going to the gym. It's like everything I ate just got eaten up by my fiery metabolism. It lasted for the next couple years, and then I got married. After that I just saw the weight pile on over the next couple years and look where it got me, back to 231. Being that i'm in the military, I finally realized it was time to change when I failed my last fitness test, which if I fail 2 more I have to get out for good. So I started on 2/6 at 231 lbs and I have to say this challenge is much more difficult than my last one. The first one I was single and pretty active at 17. Now I am a 25 y/o male, married, and with 3 kids. Time and baggage do add up but it doesn't mean you can't stay active and keep healthy. Before I started this challenge I was inactive, very tired all the time, and started to get really bad anxiety attacks. Since my mom and brother have diabetes I was sure this was to follow soon if I didn't do something. This was putting a very heavy burden on me and my family. I am now a couple days into week 8 and I am at 204 lbs, have much more energy, and haven't had an anxiety attack since a couple weeks into the challenge. I thought by doing this it would take more time away from my family but with the cooking and more energy, we have spent more time than ever. Trust me it will be worth it in the end. So anyways good luck to everyone who has started this program. Remember do not be discouraged if lbs are not dropping like you expected. I have noticed there is something about week 8 that is different and I can actually feel my body burning fat at a very rapid pace now. I am very excited to see what the next 4 weeks have to offer. Good luck to you all.

P.S. I have been using the BFL success journal and have recorded my weekly weights below. As you can see the water weight usually drops first, then the next couple weeks are slow, if any weight loss. It might not seem that drastic but I have lost around 4-5 inches on my waist so far and can't even fit into my jeans anymore. This program isn't about getting skinny, it's about getting fit. Also I am not taking any supplements with this program. I feel like the EFL cookbook gives me all the energy I need for this.

Week 1- 231

Week 2- 221.5

Week 3- 218.5

Week 4- 216.5

Week 5- 216.5

Week 6- 213

Week 7- 210.5

Week 8- 208

Currently- 204

Wow - great weight loss.  I have to not use the scale.  It showed a 7 pound loss - then after my free day went right back up - I know it's not that I gained the weight - but boy is that disappointing.  I have lost 6 inches on my waist (I'm ending my 4th week)...wish the scale would show something - but I decided not to look. Determined to stay straight. Sharon

That's great. Trust me, the day after the free day I am usually up a couple lbs, but then the day after it just disappears and sometimes even lose more than before the free day. For example, this past Sunday was my free day, and I went from 208 saturday to 210 monday, then tuesday morning I weighed in at 207 lbs. So Bill is right when he said it's what you do most of the time, not some of the time, that shows results. Stay straight and continue to the end of the 12 weeks and you will enjoy what you see.

Finished up week 8 strong, and weigh in Saturday morning put me at another 12.2 lbs down, for a total of 34.4 lost for the first 8 weeks.  I'm feeling good, and looking forward to keeping it going to lose the 85 lbs still to go.  Start of week 9 today has me mixing up my workout again for this next 4 weeks.  I won't call it the last 4 weeks, because even though that will finish my 12 weeks, it will just be the first of many.