Hello 9ners!!!

Can you believe this day is already here??!!! I am so proud of myself and everyone who has done this journey with us!!!  I really could not have done it without all the support, advice and laughs from everyone!!  I seriously can't wait to start it again!!

Here are my stats:

Day 1: 158, 29% BF

Day 90: 147.5, 26%BF

Down two sizes, from sz 10 to sz 6

Last time at this size: 2006

I look and feel so much better.  I am sleeping better and feel stronger and more productive during the day.  

I havent taken my after picture because I was busy this week but I plan to take and post by next weekend!  i really cant wait to see the difference myself.  

To run4Life, Bucki, tmastero, bart, tulip, momof4, soccermom, kathyjackson, 2iron and everyone who posted: I really couldnt have done this without you guys and the daily posts!!! It really helped me stay focus.  Thank you!!!  I could only hope I was an inspiration to you as you were to me :)

I have a 5K to train for so I think that will be my active rest.  

Who will be starting the post for C2?  We are starting April 9th right :)?  My goals for the next C2 will be another 10 lbs.  137 will be my lowest weight in just about 10 years.

Congrats everyone on their major accomplishments!  I hope some post some pics.  It'd be nice to put a face to a name :)

Take care!

~Natalie

WE did it! 12 weeks! My finale was a little anti-climatic as I have been out of town since last Weds. (hence the late posting). Eating was not as clean as I would like to have ended, but I know it's not the real end! But I did get a workout everyday - who would of ever though I would be the one at a family outing to get up early every morning and go for a run!!!! (not me!)

All in all - I am down 12 lbs and 11.5 inches all together! Yay for inches gone!

I took my "after photos" and went to compare to my starting photos - and they are gone! No lie - They really got deleted somehow.  I was seriously debating if I would really post those photos. But I guess I don't have to wonder any more. Oh darn........( but I did want to see if I could tell much difference.)

Thanks guys for being here - I am like so many others, started and quit before this challenge. I really believe it was you folks that kept me in and focused all the way to the end this time! Even though the final numbers are not quite what I had hoped, I knew this would require more than one challenge to get where I want to be. But when I started - I honestly was not convinced I would see this challenge through.. let alone one or two more. But now I'm  actually excited to get started April 9th again! (is this really me writing that?) Thanks again 9'ers.

run4life -My hat is off to you - Never missed a workout! Wish I could give you a trophy! 5 belt notches is a perfect badge of honor for such hard work! Way to go! I'm so excited to have your wife join us. You have been a stalwart voice for all of us, she is lucky to have you in her corner.

Kathy - Thanks for sticking this out with us. You'll never know how much your posts meant to me. I just saw the movie "The Way". And came away from it really wishing I could do part of the Camino Trail, and you are doing it! So cool! Pleeease give us a report! We are proud of you!

Tony- It has been an honor to share some major life transitions with you. You have achieved some awesome results and brought a great spirit to this group. (Has anyone here lost more than 32lbs??!! You rock!)

Marcia - "I only lost 10 lbs" Are you serious, that is so great! Have you seen those photos online of what 1 lb of fat looks like? times that by 10! I LOVE that your husband has recognized your new "Hard Body"! You have worked HARD for it!

Bucki - Thanks for being such a strong voice of reason for us all. I have loved your posts. Even though you say you have slacked off - 25lbs is amazing! Way to go! Thank You for sharing the trials of your community with us as well. It meant a lot to me to know that my forum friends felt as deeply for those families struggling with tragedy as I did. It helped all of us appreciate what is really important here.

Ken - Thanks for the reminder that we can and should enjoy this ride! I Hope we continue to hear from you in the weeks to come!

Francine - You have been an inspiration to all! I know the first time me and my family got sick , I probably would have dropped right there. And then to keep going which ever way you can through an extended injury - and still come out with 2 sizes down! You are my hero! Way to go!

Natalie - It's been great to run this race with you! Thanks for all the smiles along the way. It's  been nice to have a cheerful voice waiting here when I was not feeling at all "cheerful" myself! I'm so excited for you being down 2 sizes! YES!!!

Frick - Where have you been? We need you to keep reminding us that this is not about the last 12 weeks or the next 12 weeks or even the next, But this is truly a way of life. A really GOOD way of life! So, is the pool done yet??

BKTuna - I Hope you have met the goals that were in your sights. Hope to hear your results.

Soccermom - You have seen some great results! Hope you are fully recovered and going to start with us again. Great to see a woman losing lbs the way we would all like to! Keep it up!

cgtexas - Hope you finished this 12 weeks strong with your Moms Triathlon training. Good luck there! Nothing feels as great getting back into clothes that we once had to give up! Awesome!

Bart - You are the one! The guy that started us all together. Thank you for taking the initiative to start a new forum and welcome us all aboard. This has been a brand new experience for me and some of the others as well. I have really enjoyed your well grounded posts. Lead us off for another round!! C2 Here we come!

Sherene

HEY NINERS!! Just wanted to send my biggest congratulations to all of you!! I have been following this thread since u started and I have to say that this has been one of the most or THE most active thread that started and the majority of you all have regularly checked in and posted till the end.. Again huge congratulations and I know come april 9th you all are gonna own the next challenge! GREAT JOB NINERS!! YOU ALL ROCK!!

To 9er Body for lifer Family....

I know i been MIA this last month I have been traveling so much for work its not even funny... And in my business its alot of big meals and drinks... HOWEVER, no excuse i tried to workout as much possible when on the road, and keep the eating to a min despite having the company budget... The most important thing for me is NOT the scale.... and I have learned this in the past... I have put on some serous muscle while loosing some inches, and have gotten very very very strong!... stamina is also up being able to run 4 miles on the reg ....

will post pics on the 9th, and result not as much as i wanted but still something...C1 was not a failure ... C2 here we go!

Now to you guys and girls -  We have all struggled - some have had significant results, some not so much - it doesnt matter ! i think the key is that people kept checking in looking at others progress/problems and reflecting on there own C1 program... tweeking it ...And hopefuly rolling what they have learned and BRINGING IT into C2 which I can NOT wait for!!!!! for example: i know that the "workout" part is easier for me but the eating part is alot harder... i now know to concetrate more on eating the BLF way.

whether its 20 lbs of weight fat lost or an increase of 10 lbs on a bench press -  its an improvement never the less... Congrads to all lets finish up strong...

What day we start C2???

all the best BKTUNA

Hello All -

Congrats to all of you for finishing up your cycle!!!!  Very motivational!!!!

I know some of you are going to start your next cycle on the the 9th of April and was hoping I could jump on the band wagon...  I will be starting my 1st challange and i know I could use all the advise and encouragement I can get!!

Anyway, congrats to you all and good luck on the next challenge!

I  AM READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAY TO GO EVERYONE!!!!

(I've also been on vaycay since last Wed., so ended my Challenge a couple of days early..)

SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!

Like many of you said, I too have started BFL in the past but have fallen off after the first month. But, because of your support and posts, through ups and downs, I was motivated to stick with it through twelve weeks, and I am SO GLAD I did.

16 pounds down and 5 inches off waist, from tight size 12s to comfortable (almost loose) size 8s. And I feel stronger and healthier than I've felt in years.. KIcking up the triathlon training now, and WANTING to eat clean.. It's a total mindset change to decide what foods are really your 'rewards'..

I may be in on the 4/9/12 challenge too.. Would love to peel off the last 10-12 pounds, so please keep me posted!

Charity

9ers...

...it is like a family reunion we are all coming home.

Everyone sounds like they have done a great job.

BK I think you posted it right on the money...some had great results some made good progress.

I know for me at times I considered it a success if I could even get out of bed the next morning after a hard workout ;-)

As for a start date...I think most are starting on/around the 9th...I will probably start on Sunday the 8th to align better with the calendar and my personal schedule of weekly work activities. My first week also will be a little bit light on the weights to give me a full two weeks of active rest with lifting. Not avoiding lifting the entirely this first week, but considering it more of a warm up lifting week if you will.

I did notice that I am already up a pound (I know it can fluctuate…but I know I am having a few too many free days in a row this week!).

I just want to ditto ssm post...you wrapped it up well with the group that posted so far. Awesome job everyone as ssm noted ...and to you as well ssm and BK and cgtexas.

Cg texas - I would love any advice you might have on doing tri-s. There is a sprint in June and I am kicking it around and then later in June and in September I will be doing some week long riding. So I am really interested in how you re incorporating the tri training with the BFL program.

I broke out my mountain bike a couple days ago and did a 10 mile ride on dirt roads with about a 3,000 foot ascent elevation climb over the ride. Today I just got done with the dirt ride and knocked off 10 minutes from my first ride of the season, which admittedly the first ride was a little easy. Felt good to be in the saddle again.

jnjmartin welcome to the group...it is a great, fun, motivating group and if necessary, a group that will kick you in the pants to keep you motivated (saying that last part with Tender Loving Care).

People are fantastic here and it is a great way to spend a sweaty 12 weeks! lol

...so welcome to the 9er madness.

Enjoy the down time 9ers...the count down begins and the start is right around the corner!

Island dude!  good to hear from you on this thread.  Lost track of you from the Q2 crew.  Hope all is well and you are still schlepping cases of Beer around hawaii.  I have just a few more days on this challenge and ready to rock on.

Cheers,

Frick

OK, I think I have caught up with all of the thread, but have had some issues with replying.  I still have 4 more days before I am officially through with this challenge, but am finishing up STRONG and ready for the next one.  I am in Atlanta again and am writing with a chicken breast (skipped the bun) a few fries and some simplex carbs and water.  A quick preview of my results that I am most proud of are as follows:

Workouts per week increased from 4.4 to 6.0

Carbs per day down from 181 to 154

Protein per day up from .82 to almost 1.0 grams per lb of lean body mass

Calories from simplex carbs down from 32% of my diet (YIKES) to a more respectable 25%.  I still have much work to get to my goal of 22%,

Simplex carbs down from 26% to <22%

Visually, I think I am seeing an 8-pack after my AbRipper workouts, but 6 are definitely visible.  Since Abs are the new Pecs, I am totally stoked.

Observations:  I am finding female friends poking me in the stomach, then poking me again to be sure they didn't just hit a rib.  Now I know what it's like to be a pregnant woman.  Strangers feel that personal body space is fair game...LOL

I hope everyone met their goals or at least felt that they are better off than they were 84 days ago and are ready for the next steps.

Cheers, Y'all

Frick

@Sherene,

thanks for the kind words.  The pool is not even close to done, but I am ready to turn it over to the pros.  I laid 64 bricks on Sunday which is 2X more than I have ever done in one day.  Felt it on Monday, but still made it to the hotel gym Monday evening, Tuesday morn and this morning.  I am in a new role and have to motivate my two travel partners to get on the bandwagon (wish me luck, both are easily 50 lbs overweight).

I hope to see all of you around for the next challenge.  Run4, have you started the thread yet or given it a name?

Like IslandDude said, we are a tight group here.  I hung with him last year in a challenge and he has some really impressive stats - check it out.

Rock on, team.

Frick

Frick Do you live in Atlanta?

Hey niners!, FRICK! My man Thanks for the shout out!! I have been through 2 more challenges since.. still progressing but not where I want to be yet *Mr 6 pack! You guys totally rocked this challenge completely beat the 5% statistic of people that finish 12 weeks after starting it.. c2 is right around the corner for you all.. If you guys did this well the last 12 weeks I can only imagine what the next 12 will bring.. Lets see some pics people! MUCH ALOHA!!

Frick well done on the abs and finishing up...

I know the pros will finish up the excellent work you have been doing then it will be on to water aerobics

As far as a new thread or name I just we would just continue to carry on here so we do not loose anyone.

Think that will work!?!

Hope the weekend is going well for everyone.

Unfortunately I think I have been carbo loading for the start of my C2

All the best for now

Hello 9ers! I hope everyone's first challenge went well.  I'm back and starting again today...this time I dragged my husband into it.  He is already in great shape but I told him he could bulk up a little :)  Already got the first workout out of the way.  Excited to start again!!

Aubree

Hey Aubreejo!! I am starting today too.  I have posted on a blog that started today as well.  Run4life is on it to.  you should come on over :)