Hey guys.  Hope everyone is doing well.

I am following my strict eating and I must say its getting easier.  Workouts are still good and I am trying to mix it up a bit.  I saw the discussion about how much people have increased weights from day 1.  I looked back to when I first started and was surprised!  I have increased by weight by 15 pounds.  For instance for leg extensions, I started week 1 with 35 pounds and now I am up to 50 pounds!  I am really proud of myself.  

@Frick: Great job on all the burning of calories.  I did some gardening this weekend and realized how you can burn a lot with out being stuck in the gym.  I was love reading your posts so keep them coming!

@warriorgoddess: its never too late to get back on the wagon :)  good luck to you :)

@chadw: welcome to the party!

@run4Life: I have noticed that sometimes i just need a break and rest.  Maybe that is the case.  try getting a couple of nights of really good sleep then hit the gym hard the next day.  Let me know how it goes.  Good Luck :)

~Natalie

Hi guys!!

I am in such a great mood today!!  This week has gone so much better than the previous 2 weeks...i have stayed on the wagon the entire time, but was extremely miserable!!  I haven't missed a workout and added another approved meal a time or two to make it through!!  I just woke up today with so much energy...I just feel so good!  Honestly, I have been lagging in the energy department...I hate feeling tired all the time..so I'm hoping this stays around a long, long time!!

I have not been on the scale in two weeks!!  Frankly...too scared because of the extra meals, but I decided this morning to check my body fat at the waist area...it is at 20!!!  I don't even know if that is percent or what...don't really care at the moment!!  I know when I had it tested at the beginning of my challenge it said 27 in that area...so what ever it is...down 7 whatever is amazing!!

I am increasing weights as much as I can and although i am mostly a treadmill uphill walker because of

rheumatoid arthritis in my knee.. I have started running to hit my 9's and 10's!!  My knee feels so great!!!

Guys...we are getting there...sometimes it's tough, but we're almost there!!  

I've got to go for now...but wanted to share my excitement with you guys!!

Marcia

can't believe week 8 is coming to an end already! I have been able to increase all my weights except for bench press, I dont know what it is but when working my chest I just cant seem to move up in weights.

I am really glad to have so many people still here. I haven't been as strict as I should be throug the program so far, but am really happy with the results I have seen so far. The other night my 9 year old said "dad, you are getting skinny", that was a good feeling.

Hang in there all, we are almost there

Well 8 weeks and I have hit a goal down 25 pounds. YAY!! This is one of the best programs I have ever done. Wish I would have started posting sooner and took my before pictures.

9-ers.

Chadw1275 - A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

Hopefully we will all be behind you soon on hitting those goals!

bartmarshall - I hear you on not being  able to move up on some of those weights with some lifts.

Mine is the standing press....I guess I just hate gravity!

Hang in there. I gotta believe that eventually your body will adjust and the weights will start moving up on that bench press.

Have a good weekend all

For me a cardio elliptical today and the end of week 8!

Tomorrow is my free day...measurements...photos and hopefully some progress being seen!

Glad many are still here...I need to companionship to help see me through to the finish + I miss you guys when it is far and in between posts!

TAKE CARE ALL!

Great to see all the progress, lots are seeing results!!  I wanted to lose 15 pounds and 4 belly inches, so far at week 9 ive lost two inches around the middle, but only a couple of pounds.  If I can lose 1+ more inch(es) by the end of the program, I'll be really happy.  Starting to feel much skinnier, two inches is lot in the mirror.  

My legs are much stronger, squats killed me at first, if I can keep progressing I may be squatting 200 by end of week 12.  I think thats why I'm not losing wieght, is my muskle gain is matching fat loss.

Everyone keep pushing through  the tough days and take time and ENJOY the progress, for those of us who began Jan 2, we're in the home stretch, KEEP IT GOING!!!!

Good Morning 9er's

I am happy to hear everyone is doing a great job, myself I kinda fell off the wagon the last week due to my injury.  I have stuck to the eating pretty good, but my workouts I stopped all together trying to get the inflamation down to where I can function pretty normal.  Starting next week I think I will just stick with cardio and omit weights altogether since everytime I pick a weight up I seem to manage to feel the pain by moving my arm wrong.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Francine

Bart, Great UNSOLICITED COMPLEMENT...especially from a 9 year old.  They are usually first to say something about vericose veins, crows feet, or the goiter on that man's neck.

I measured my BFP this morning and am down to 12.9% which means my lean body mass went UP 1.8 lbs.  My pool contractor said I needed to build another wall to tie into his landscaping plans.  All I could do is smile and think "ripped abs...ripped abs...ripped abs".  I haven't done my P90x in several weeks, but saw a 4pack and lats in the mirror this morning.

I have a huge challenge this weekend - 3 day music fest on a little island bar on a causeway - only bar food/drinks.  I will feel like the guys on survivor.  Maybe I need to hunt my own food (Spear some fish?  Eat some ghost crabs?  I can cook them in the fire pit)  Hope to get my cardio dancing to Trop Rock.

Wish me luck.

Final stretch on this challenge, folks.  You can dooooo iiiiiiiit!!!!

Cheers,

Frick

...and Tulip, trust me, diet is 70% of this thing.  Eat clean while your body heals.

Be Good,

Frick

Hi Everyone

Just about to do my LBWO and I am looking forward to it! This is my 10th workout this week. I really wanted to make an extra push this week to get through my much documented plateau!

My weight hasn't moved in the past 4-6 weeks, and my BF% has actually increased since week 4 even though I have stuck to the programme and eaten clean. I guess as people have suggested, it must be to do with portions - even though I have been weighing my portions out!

I'm not sure how frowned upon it is here, but I'm going to try a combination of BFL and Weight Watchers next week - I have been successful with Weight Watchers before, and I honestly think the carbs in the form of rice, cous cous etc aren't really ideal for me (especially if I am eating late) - I will try and emphasize my carb source as fruit and vegetables next week and see how I get on.  

- Tulip12: keep going! just stick as close as you can given your situation, I agree with Frick that eating clean is the over riding priority.

- Frick: go you with all the great results - I can see a 6 pack of abs in your not too distant future at this rate!!! Enjoy your music festival.

- bartmarshall - relish every single compliment you get! You deserve it after all your hard work.

- run4life: hope you notice some big changes in your 8 week progress photos

- mom of four: isn't it wonderful when you get a BFL "high"?

A great weekend to all!

Kathy

Time to pull out the "Women success document"..... I have only missed one workout this whole challenge, eating has been really pretty clean, even skipping most free days. Yet the changes are SO minor! And I have been so tired  the past few days! I have great hopes for these last few weeks! I'm not losing the faith, just a tiny bit of patience. Count me in for Challenge 2 (I'm gonna need it...)

Bucki - Our hearts are still with you, your family and your community at this time. Everyday when news comes from Chardon, I ache for the families involved. I really appreciated your comments on the need for moral strength and accountability in our communities.  We must be our brothers keeper. Keep posting.

Natalie - Way to go on weight increases!

Marcia - So glad to hear how your week is such an improvement. It keeps me going.

Bart - Our own kids comments are the best!

Chadw - Wow! Way to hit such a big goal! that is awesome!!

run4life - good luck on your road trip. Let us know our those 8 week picts and stats turn out. (I don't dare try it)

Mahanavich - "Muscle weighs more than fat! Muscle weighs more than fat!" is my mantra....

Francine -  Leave the arm alone, let it heal. Enjoy the respite. Focus on the food aspect. Actually, that's probably what I need to do, focus on the food aspect! There must be ways to improve on what I'm doing.

Frick - Where are you???!!! I'm stokin' wood on the fireplace and you are dancin' in the sun... I'm doin' something wrong!!  Thanks for the "diet is 70%" reminder. Saw a quote the other day that said "You can not out exercise a bad diet!" painfully true.

Kathy- 10 workouts this week! You are my hero! Thanks for being real with us, and sticking with us! I  haven't seen any weight changes since week four either. I think tweaking the program slightly to what you know about your own body is important. I'll be looking forward to hearing about your changes next week.

?Question? - Everything you read about weight control includes " don't eat for at least three hours before bedtime" But 6 meals a day makes that fairly impossible. How do we feel about that late night food? Still need a carb and protein right? What do you all choose for that evening snack??? Thanks for any ideas you have.

Have a great weekend 9'ers!  Sherene

9ers

Ssm

Hang in there as many have said it isn’t all about the weight.

I too have been a little tired (exhausted). But I feel stronger body wise. I have had some weight loss but lately I too am at a plateau. I remember crossing this weight before when I used to run a lot to lose weight so I was expecting a plateau and my body did not let me down…I am on it. For some reason my body at this weight seems to feel like it has to hang onto every ounce of weight and so I know it will take a while to punch through.

So I keep telling myself, How do I feel… How do I feel compared to how I felt 9 weeks ago…to be honest…I remember not feeling all that great 9 weeks ago, but exactly remembering how bad I felt is starting to leave my memory? I think that means that I am starting to feel stronger and it is a feeling that has been with me for a while without me sometimes realizing it. I need to get more rest (I am cheating that) and this week I am eating dirty for breakfast ( I gotta get that under control…that is my weakness).

That said..I shouldn’t comment on my last meal of the day…but I cannot resist.

I usually exercise late in the day 7 pm at the earliest…usually more often than not around 9-10 pm. I am in bed around 11:30 to midnight.

My last meal of the day is usually around 250 calories and is either cottage cheese possibly a little peanut butter or a slice of turkey or ham…

…or perhaps a protein drink about an hour before I go to sleep…trying to get some long lasting protein in me.

Like I say I have not been the purest eater with the program in the morning…others probably have a better plan …but I have done pretty well with eating once the day gets going and I have a daily limit of calories that I try not to exceed and more often than not, despite my dirty breakfast eating, I have been there as well.

I am glad you will be with us for BFL 2 the sequal.

My life in the past would have said after BFL ,1”…Done That…Checked the Box…Moving On!”

But now it feels like BFL 2 is the norm and then on as a life style change.

We can do this together!

run4life... Thank you!

smm... Thank you as well. As far as your questions go, I usually don't eat too late at all and if I do its like a few almonds. I eat 5 to 6 meals a day. Yes protein and more protein. My first meal is around 45 minutes before I workout. Then if its a weight workout I'll have a protein shake after that. If its cardio I wait about another hour before I eat again.

you can do this we all can.

When are yall looking to start another challenge??

ssm-----what I do for my last "meal" is eat a Zone bar.....aprroximately 190 cal and very tasty...satisfies my sweet tooth

Hi 9ers,

been a while, thought I’d check in – long post, but thought I’d try and comment on everyone else’s posts.  

Mom of 4 – great results, and still 4 weeks to go on the challenge..!!!  keep it up.

bartmarshall and NatalieCa- amazing how much you’ve been able to increase, I’m sure true for a lot of us.  keep pushin’…bartmarshall, for what it’s worth, think you might have mentioned going to an incline on bench press and would think that even though the same muscles, the different angle certainly could be causing the difference in strength.  go at it for a couple of more weeks and see where you are

chadw1275 – great job – down 25 is incentive for all of us to keep going, great to hear..

run4life – agree with the standing press, actually do sitting down due to low ceilings so I guess they're not technically standing presses, agree that it’s an area where I’ve probably seen the least amount of increase in weight lifted.

mahanavich – 200 lbs. on squats..that would be impressive..!!  personally my knees can’t handle that, but I agree, your weight might not be going down due to muscle increase….

tulip12 – too bad about the arm, but I’ve actually changed up the routine myself the last couple of weeks, doing 4 days of cardio now and 1 UBWO and 1 LBWO a week.  if you can really push yourself on the cardio, think you might surprise yourself in weight loss, until you can get back to WOs (with some good results doing just cardio, you might realize you don’t really need the WOs).  take advantage of the cardios and see what happens.  Not looking to mess up your diet, but with less lifting, maybe you can eat more carbs to make up for the cal burn going on during your cardios.  think the protein is more to help build muscle for those lifting, but I am no expert.  just know that runners are into the carbs to help give them the energy for the longer runs.

frick – I think your landscaping is making up for any missed p90x wo you’ve had over the last couple of weeks (so your doing this and the P90X  now that’s a man on a mission).….i’d be amazed if you had any body fat left by the time we’re done with the 12 weeks.  Although I’m sure there is something around the house that could get me to work out like that, it’s amazing how when you’re motivated to doing something (getting ready for a pool and when’s the party?) the side benefits that you get (the shape that you’re getting in to without even realizing it.)

Kathy – inspiration for us all – keep it up.  don’t think this is a one size fits all plan (food or lifiting), so tweaking by all of us could probably increase the benefits.  

ssm – stay with it.  congrats that you’ve come this far and glad to hear that you’re in for C2.  now that the brain knows your serious, hopefully some positive feedback in results will occur.  know that when I hit the low energy period, it wasn’t long after that I saw and felt a difference, so stay with it.

personally, I changed up the routine a little bit this past week.  routine was a cardio, UBWO, 2 cardio days, LBWO, and another cardio.  I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I also had gone back down in weight but increased the reps (still feeling good about that as I know that the form is right) and have always liked to run.  will let you know after next week if I notice a difference in results.  with the more running, also increased carbs and reduced protein.  my own little experiment.  will also share results after next week.  did 6 miles yesterday (double cardio) and treadmill says I burned 1000 + cals and  320 + fat cals.  legs are sore today (but a good sore)…

long enough post, don’t even know if the site will take, but thought I’d share and commend everyone on their results and efforts.  keep it up 9ers….