Contemplating BFL

[Abby]

Hey Everyone! I am thinking about starting the Body for Life program but am kinda scared as it seems so time consuming! I just wanted to get a better feel for who on this board has tried it and been successful with it and those who haven't and why. If you weren't successful, what stood in your way? I'm a new mom (have a 15 week old baby girl) and barely have enough time to eat three meals, let alone six! Am I kidding myself by thinking I might be able to manage this program? I have about eleven pounds to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy size, which would be around the top of my "ideal" weight range, but I would actually like to be in the low to middle range. So, I guess I'd like to lose about 20 pounds.

Please share your results! I've looked at some of the other BFL threads already and just wanted to get a better feel for everyone's successes and failures.

Thanks!

[sneezles]

I was on the BFL program for awhile and liked it but then moved on to another program Physique Transformation because I got a better idea of what to eat as far as %'s of P/C/Fs at their website but I will say that this is more time consuming than BFL. While it calls for 6 meals really half of those are basicly snacks but considered a meal as long as it contains some protein and some carbs (ie cottage cheese with fruit).

[Molli526]

I did BFL, and my only advice is to not let yourself go totally crazy on your off days. The first few weeks I didn't see any results b/c I was literally eating any loss I had made over the week. I started training for a marathon and it wasn't working out with the lifting/ cardio of the plan, so I quit BFL.

[greysangel]

Abbey;

I am on week 9 of my first challenge. While I was moaning that the first 8 weeks did not produce a lot of results for me, I have to say that this week I am starting to see muscles emerge :D I'm hoping that the measurements will start decreasing as well.

A few things:

1)You will lose fat and gain muscle so while you may not decrease your "number", you will look much better in your clothes and a lot of successful BFLers drop sizes.

2)It may take more than 1 challenge. If you already eat well and exercise well, you may not see as much of a transformation as someone who is not.

3)I find the eating easy, but you have to plan...seriously. And you have to eat 6 meals a day. 5 meals vs 6 means you are already lacking 17% of your nutrition. As you start to develop muscle, you'll find that you are ready to eat every few hours :)

4)It is time consuming as far as planning and exercising. For me it is actually less time in the gym because I was putting in far more hours than what BFL requires. And I'm having better results in my appearance than when I was on a cardio machine every day and lifting weights.

Basically BFL is like any other program you commit to. Commit to the program, you will see results (even though it may not be fast enough ;) ) My advice is if you decide to do a challenge, than 1)commit to 12 weeks as it's the only way of determining whether it works...it's a 12 week challenge, not a 4 week challenge and 2)don't try to "tweak" it. Do it by the book as closely as you can for those 12 weeks.

JeAnne

[greysangel]

oops i hope i didn't kill this thread!

tlee, laura, leightx?

j

[MaryH]

Originally posted by greysangel
oops i hope i didn't kill this thread!

tlee, laura, leightx?

j

Nope....

I agree with Jeanne 100% about giving it the full 12 weeks. I started this last July 1. I was very strict the first time and planned and then recorded the exercise and the food. I went from about a size 12 (almost a 14) to a small 10 (couldn't quite hit an 8.) I have kept it up since then, and although I am not as strict on the food as I was the first time (Terry knows what I'm talking about) I have continued with it continuously since then. Although I have seriously lapsed in recording my food intake, I do know what I should and should not eat. (Doesn't mean I always follow the program but I definitely eat a LOT more protein now than before.) I am currently a size 8 and am very happy with that. (One of the reasons I probably don't monitor my food as much.) I still keep daily track of my strength workouts because I want to keep increasing the weight, if possible.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and both the nurse and the doctor commented on how much weight I had lost. When the nurse asked how, I said I was convinced it was because of lots of exercise (specifically weight lifting) and eating more protein.

I have two small children, ages 6 and 3. I started the program because I just had those extra pounds from the pregnancy that were not coming off. (I kid myself and say it was 10 extra, it was more like 20-25.)

This program CAN be done and really the time consuming part is in the planning, NOT the execution. Give it the 12 weeks, they are going to go by whether you do the plan or not. You can PM me (or post here) if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to help.

:cool: :D

[greysangel]

Mary I knew there was someone else! :D :D

JeAnne

[TLee4]

Abby mentioned that she had read other threads, which I was sure I had posted on, so I was being quiet so as not to be TOO rah-rah! BUT, since Jeanne and Mary INVITED me...:D

I also agree with what they said. I was incredibly compliant with the program and had great results. It has been several years, and I am no longer so compliant, but like Mary said, certain things stick with you. I still do the exercise. Even when I'm not eating on plan, I make much better (higher protein) choices than I ever would on my own. I go on and off "challenges" (planning to start a new one June 30, to get my $150 in EAS products! :) ) but I have continued to lose weight (or at least stay stabilized, at other times) over the past several years. The big differences for me are the increased protein, decreased simple carbs, and weight training.

Ask as many questions as you like--they re-motivate me as well!

Terri

[Abby]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences. I think I'm going to start the program on Monday. I'm going to try and follow it as closely as possible, but there's no way I'm going to be able to do the aerobics first thing in the morning with a 15 week old! I'll just have to do it when I can. I bought some vanilla soy protein powder and tried a scoop of it this morning in my yogurt and thought it was ok. I'm sure it would be better as a shake, which brings up another question...where does skim milk fit in to this whole thing? Can I drink some without worrying about messing up my program, or do I just make sure it fits into the 40/40/20 scheme?

Thanks again for your posts!

Abby

[greysangel]

milk doesn't technically fit at all though I know a lot of people that do skim milk and I wouldn't think it's a major issue. The reasoning (I think) behind it is that it acts as both a protein and a carb and doesn't have enough substance to "count" as a portion of either...does this make sense? It also contains lactose which is easily absorbed..ie no satisfaction. If you are going to use skim milk with your protein powder, maybe add a half a carb? I'm really not sure because I've been sticking to water and fruit mixed with my protein powder..even coffee sometimes. Chocolate protein powder, coffee and a banana tastes really good :D For calcium sources, I go with leafy greens, cottage cheese, plain ff yogurt (no added sugars) and a good ole multivitamin :)

Congrats on your first challenge!

JeAnne

[Abby]

Originally posted by greysangel
milk doesn't technically fit at all though I know a lot of people that do skim milk and I wouldn't think it's a major issue. The reasoning (I think) behind it is that it acts as both a protein and a carb and doesn't have enough substance to "count" as a portion of either...does this make sense? It also contains lactose which is easily absorbed..ie no satisfaction. If you are going to use skim milk with your protein powder, maybe add a half a carb? I'm really not sure because I've been sticking to water and fruit mixed with my protein powder..even coffee sometimes. Chocolate protein powder, coffee and a banana tastes really good :D For calcium sources, I go with leafy greens, cottage cheese, plain ff yogurt (no added sugars) and a good ole multivitamin :)

Congrats on your first challenge!

JeAnne

The chocolate protein powder/coffee/banana shake sounds awesome! You have great ideas!

[TLee4]

She DOES have great ideas. Make sure you try that pudding/cottage cheese shake thing posted on the recipes thread! I am totally addicted!

Terri

[greysangel]

actually coffee makes a pretty good substitute for water. I use coffee with raspberries too with vanilla pp...its almost like frozen flavored coffee :D

BTW I want to plug Udo's Oil (flax). I'm really noticing a difference with 1)regularity and 2)soft skin and hair!

Also the shannycakes I posted I on the recipes are great protein pancakes. I was skeptical, but I really like the pancakes now. I was going to use brummel and brown to spread but it has transfats :mad: :mad: now I just either eat plain or spread a teeny bit of pb.

JeAnne

[jena]

Here's a question. Do you all think a person could do a sort of half-a**ed version of BFL and still see some results, even if they are not as dramatic? Over the past several months I have been gearing up for a trip to the beach (only 2.5 more weeks to go!) I am now at the very top of my 'ideal range' but was hoping to get down to middle-low. My concerns aren't so much numbers, though, as symmetry and tone. I am at least two sizes bigger on the bottom than the top, and would really like to tone my bottom half - something I have never been able to do. I already eat pretty well and excercise, but could do better in both areas. I'm planning to up the intensity of weight training and excercise in general by going to these aerobics classes that use weights and rubber bands and what not.

I have become very intrigued by what I have read on these boards about BFL. So I am wondering if I just sort of endeavored to increase protein, and couple protein with carbs at all meals and snacks (I already eat like 6 times a day if you count snacks!) would I see improvements do you think? I was also hoping maybe that perhaps easing into some of the strategies might make going whole-hog seem less intimidating. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jena

[greysangel]

Jena -

My thought is don't shoot for half @ssed...shoot for 100% effort. The higher you shoot for, the better your results. I shot for 100% on my first effort and ended up with about 85% effort because life happens. :) But I did get results and the feeling of accomplishment is awesome. I think eating clean will help your metabolism and digestion and think upping your weights will help with strength and "toning". You gain muscle strength when your muscles are repairing. The only way they repair is to be torn in the first place!

See how far you can go!

JeAnne

[jena]

Thanks, JeAnne. I have been surfing all sorts of BFL sites today and I'm starting to think the same thing. I shall try for 100%! :)

[greysangel]

Here are my site recommendations:

Yahoo groups:
BFL101
BFLWomensClub

(both get a lot of email, so you may want to just click on the read web only option)

sites:
leanandstrong.com (BFL and BodyRX)
abcbodybuilding.com (not BFL per se, but a lot of good training info/inspiration etc.)

JeAnne

[ChristieinMB]

Jena, I want to add that I've been doing BFL for three years next month. I got a little bored for a while, tried to do both upper and lower combined 2-3 times a week. It didn't work for me, I lost muscle, gained fat. Doing the exact exercises, 110% effort gives you the workout to gain muscle and lose weight. It really works and is the greatest program for combining real exercise and good eating. I'm back doing the full effort to get back my muscles (and lose 8 lbs).

Jeanne, do you read the yahoo group womensclub2 with crazy Renee? I've been reading that one for several years, but for a while it got so big it was too much to read! Now I think it is more manageable.
Christie

[greysangel]

Christie-
That's the one!!! She's a riot!!! As far as strict BFL information I really like leanandstrong and BFL101 on yahoo. The women's club gets a little neurotic with "tweaking" and calorie counting, but I stick around because there's good information every so often and the women there are pretty funny...most with food issues. I found that group through Renee's site and her blog which is hilarious. At least she totally knows she's insane :D :D

J

[jena]

Thanks for the site and yahoo group recommendations. I'll go check these out now. I went to Border's after work and was reading the book. I wanted to buy it very much, but thought I should try to find a cheaper or used copy first.

And Christie thanks for your comments as well. Three years is very encouraging!

[ChristieinMB]

Originally posted by greysangel
Christie-
That's the one!!! She's a riot!!! As far as strict BFL information I really like leanandstrong and BFL101 on yahoo. The women's club gets a little neurotic with "tweaking" and calorie counting, but I stick around because there's good information every so often and the women there are pretty funny...most with food issues. I found that group through Renee's site and her blog which is hilarious. At least she totally knows she's insane :D :D

J
I agree I got a lot of good info from that board, but all the whining and excuses was wasting my time. I don't visit often now, but without it in my early BFL life, I wouldn't have made it. I still eat the pancakes and Raylene's jello, but I guess Raylene is gone now.
Geee, I gotta go back and visit my old BFL BB friends.
Christie