General Diet Plans and Questions - Body for Life #25

BODY FOR LIFE THREAD TWENTY FIVE!!!!

Everyone is doing so well!!! Keep up the good work!

Happy TDay everyone!!!! I'm not doing Turkey today. We're doing roast beef. We're not big turkey fans but we really hate all the work involved for only 3 of us (I miss my boys!!! They're too far away at Thanksgivining!) So I plan to try to eat as cleanly as possible but not going to whack myself over the head if it doesn't happen.

Welcome to Sean and welcome back to CarrieJ!!!!

Lisa, I did the too much pudding in the myoplex for a while, then I just sprinkled it.

MrsJ: How's the puddie? My cats (I think all cats) are nocturnal creatures. I'm not sure it ever gets better. The push arm on my Litter Maid cat box broke TODAY (the one day no stores are open). As soon as Target is open, hubby has his orders. :lol:

Sil and Lisa: did not get to the po this week but will mail the myo tomorrow.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

I'm really looking forward to my free meal today...Jeremy has me on a Free Day/Free meal rotation for this challenge as follows:

Weeks 1 - 4: One 'free day' a week (just like regular BFL)
Week 5: One single free meal (that's this week)
Week 6: A full free day
Week 7: One free meal
Week 8: Full Free Day
Weeks 9 - 12: Two Free Meals each week - this is what I'm steering towards - rather than a Free Day every week, although of course it would depend on the circumstances of each week. There may very well be weeks where a full Free Day would be more appropriate.

Didn't go to the gym today since it's closed (the first year that 24 Hr Fitness has been closed on Thanksgiving morning). I'm going to make up for it by working out on Sunday (my usual rest day).

Of course as far as Thanksgiving dinner is concerned there's always the temptation to go way overboard...I'm just going to enjoy myself because I've found since C2 that my capacity for overeating just is not that great anymore. I'll be willing to bet that I'll just be having one helping of dinner along with a small wedge of pumpkin pie.

Hey Susanje, what kind of litter do you use? We bought Tidy Cat 3 but one of my coworkers said he buys a flushable litter. Kitty poos are so stinky that I think I might go that route. The best kitty product we've bought so far is a cat scratcher from Worldwise - just a cardboard box filled with corrugated cardboard and fresh catnip - got it at Target for $5. Sparky just loves it and it's really reduced his attraction towards our brand-new sofa and chair! It is such a neat product - check it out here: http://www.worldwise.com/catscratcher.html

Actually Target IS open today - the one near us is anyway! I couldn't bear seeing people having to work on Thanksgiving, esp since the gym is closed. KMart, Target, Good Guys, Tower, they are all open today, trying to get the holiday shoppers in early. I am probably going to do most of my shopping on the Internet this year, just to avoid going through the busy mall. Actually I enjoy Christmas shopping - it's the PARKING I despise!

We got one of those covered litter boxes but now I wish we'd gotten the Litter Maid, it's such a drag using the scoop to hunt for 'buried treasure' :lol: Jim put so much litter in the box that the Sparkmeister probably thinks he's in an Arabian sand dune!

Last week we were going through stuff to bring to Goodwill, I was going through a pile of my books and found "Diary of A Fat Housewife" by Rosemary Green. I couldn't help reading it again. When I first read it I found it a pretty good book, but now as I become fitter through BFL and bodybuilding, I just want to shake her, get Rosemary out of her depression. It IS a facinating read, even though she spends most of her time in her incredibly messy house, eating, or going to the drive-thru restaurant or convenience store, to get more candy and junk to eat. Actually at the end of the paperback she had gotten down to her goal weight by doing a medically supervised liquid fast, (this was in '96) and said she was working on her new book "Thin Again". Since it never came out, nor have I seen anything about her since '97, I'm willing to bet that she put the weight back on. Sad! Maybe one day she'll find out about BFL - THAT would be a great story...

Gotta go clean up and get ready for today's festivities!

Hi Mrs Jim:

I use arm and hammer cat litter. The Litter Maid (I sent hubby out for a new one this morning and he returned with the regular sized one and I had the deluxe one before...men...!) requires scoopable but I find that I can flush it when need be (if they all go one right after the other, the sweeper jams up and you have to manually scoop it...so I just scoop it into the toliet) Unless I go crazy and scoop too much, it flushes just fine but there is litter that says flushable on it.

TDay for me: I ate pretty clean but did have some potatoes and a piece of pie for dessert. I'm going to finish the leftovers tonight for free meal 2 and then tomorrow it's back to my game plan.

I am getting a cold...yuck...just in time for finals. Oh joy.

Happy Post Thanksgiving EVERYONE!!!!

Susan

Please can someone help me?

I have been trying to log on to the L&S site for almost two weeks now...is there something that I don't know?? I cannot make a connection.

I have been typing www.leanandstrong.com .........HELP before I go nuts!:dizzy: What am I doing wrong??

Thanks for your help in advance.
Yvonne

Yvonne,

When I clicked on www.leanandstrong.com in your reply it worked perfectly for me. Is it your server? try clicking on it through here! good luck!

Thanks for your reply...must be my server at work....maybe someone is trying to tell me something there!?! LOL Wonder what the problem is at work...I am able to get into allmy other normal sites that I frequent?

It worked fine at home.

Thanks again for your time!

Yvonne

Sounds like your firewall at work is not letting you into certain sites...Hmm.

I had a great T'giving, we didn't have dinner until around 5:15 or so (late for our family). It was really great - I was starving and so I loaded up on everything, well it was my Free Meal after all..and I won't get another one until a week from Sunday! But it was worth it. :)

I had such a busy day today, slept in a bit cos the gym didn't reopen till 7 a.m. Then had my 10:00 riding lesson, rushed to pick up the kids to see "Monsters Inc." which was VERY FUNNY! Now I have to guzzle down a bunch of water - I'm WAY behind today 'cos I've been running around doing stuff all day. Tonight I felt like making some soup, so I made up kind of a chicken barley veggie soup. Yummy! Tonight I'm going to mix some pumpkin in a Vanilla Myo Lite. does that sound yummy or what? Hopefully like a pumpkin pie ice cream! I'm going to add pumpkin pie spice.

Our kitty finally slept through the night, I feed him a tablespoon of wet food (the rest of the day he gets dry) as a bedtime snack and I think it helps him - he has also appropriated a white afghan or throw my Mom crocheted for us as a wedding gift. He just loves sleeping on it and will lie on it whereever it happens to be! What a luvbug!

and never got here. Mrs. Jim thanks for asking Jeremy about the Great Cheese Question. BP himself actually suggests heating full-fat cheese in the microwave until the grease runs off, at which point it becomes acceptable. YUCK! I like Jeremy's advice better. I do consider cheese a healthy food, but I'm used to enjoying it in tiny portions. So I'll limit it to once or twice a week.

I made dinner for a friend last night and took my mom out to breakfast today without shifting gears. I couldn't get enough eggbeaters to make up my protein grams but that's why we eat six times a day!

I bought the latest issue of Muscle and Fitness. It has some great information but there is one article that cracked me up. This great looking woman with glutes that would stop traffic, and in the interview she says that her whole family is famous for their "butts." Then someone asks what people notice about her first and she says "my smile!"

Actually I enjoy being at work, and it keeps me eating CLEAN and on schedule!

This past week I got a Palm Pilot Vx, and I'm just learning how to use it. These little PDAs are so great - actually I'm going to use it to track my workouts. My BFL binder is full to bursting because I have a progress report for each day of workouts. Instead of all that paper, think how much simpler and neater it would be to have the info on a PDA. There are a lot of different fitness tracker programs on the market right now (including one in the www.leanandstrong.com Utility Library) but I'm going to give the Vivonic Fitness Tracker a try and see how I like it. The one in the Utilities Library at L&S is exclusively BFL and I'd like the option to change my workout patterns when I feel like it. The one I'm going to try is at http://www.vivonic.com and I'll let you all know how it works out!

Yesterday I also bought a weight-lifting belt since I'm squatting 150-170, I thought it would be a good idea to protect my lower back. The guy at the store recommended NOT purchasing the leather ones, since they cut into your skin. The one I purchased is made by Schiek. Used it today for my quads/hams workout and it DEFINITELY makes a difference!

Wow...this is the first Sunday since starting the program that I'm not having a Free Day. I'm planning on staying super busy, doing a bit of Christmas shopping at the mall, cleaning house, drinking lots of water...BTW, DO try the pumpkin Myo Lite, it's my current favorite flavor. Mmm! Just make sure you use the regular canned pumpkin rather than the one labeled "pumpkin pie filling".

Take care all!

Mrs. Jim- We are going to get both of our girls Palm Pilots for Xmas. What is the difference between the VX and the M105 besides price??? The VX is going for $199.00 here, and the M105 is 149.00. Since we have to buy 2 of them, we are being a bit more cautious. Any help would be great!

Last year the Vx was going for around $400, I bought mine off the Internet for $185 plus shipping.

You can go to the Palm website at www.palm.com and check the differences. Actually the M105 is probably okay for your daughters depending on what they're using it for - I'd suggest shopping for deals because if the suggested retail is $149 you may be able to find it for less. Try www.mysimon.com or www.half.com. I usually prefer shopping via the Net because there are a lot of e-commerce places offering free shipping right now and I usually don't have to pay the 8.25% California sales tax!

Actually my employer bought my Palm for me, but I didn't think they would object to me using it for tracking my workouts, as long as I don't lose it! I decided not to try out the Vivonic Fitness Tracker, instead I'm giving a program called WorkoutTracker 3.0 which I found on www.tucows.com a whirl. The Vivonic program is $40 (with only a 5-day demo) and the Workout Tracker is $20 (with a 30 day free demo). If it doesn't work out, well there are a lot of fitness programs out there for the Palm at http://palmcomputing.palmgear.com/palm/searchresults.cfm and at Tucows.

Hi everyone,

I had my first full upper body workout with the Power Blocks today. They are sensational. I even got a bonus! I always have trouble with bicep curls because of my carpel tunnel (my wrists give out before I get to really work the bi's)...with the power blocks the design allows me to rest my wrist on the frame and I get to use higher weights and really target the biceps.

My bench has not come yet so I did my incline flyes in the recliner :lol: Doing incline flyes in the recliner while watching TV is very cool. I did my dumbbell row using the coffee table. That worked well except I need to use less furniture polish to reduce sliding. Again...:lol:

I am now eating my FlaxOMeal. Flax o meal is a good high fiber Udos substitute if you miss hot cereal. It's flaxseed and wheat germ I think. It's 12 carbs but 10 are fiber so it's 2 carbs with 11 protein and 7 fat but the 7 fat is the good flaxseed kind of fat. I buy it at Netrition and use splenda for sweetening.

well, I'm nursing a cold but wanted to start my post Tday week with some vim and vigor.

off to school
Susan

I have the HP Jornada. I paid close to 500 for it and now I never use it. I would forget to upload my notes every week (I have the keyboard with it) and that is just not a cool thing to do.

I should sell it on Ebay but that's another thing I keep forgetting to do Anyway, the Palms are great if you use them!

I did a similar workout in my living room last Friday! But the vision of you in your recliner is, as the ad says, PRICELESS!

Did my Lower Body Workout today. Mostly on the Swiss ball and lunges and squats with the powerblocks. I also did some HIIT cardio afterwards and then I did something called Callenetics. It's a good stretchy thing. I've had the video forever and never looked at it but someone suggested it to me and I really liked it. Staying in a stretched position for 75 count is HARD. A lot harder than it looks!!!

If it warms up in California soon I'll resume my morning walk. In New England I used to walk in 0 degree weather on ice and snow (wearing something called Polar Bear Wear...THE BEST COLD WEATHER CLOTHING)...now I can't walk on dry sidewalks in 40 degree weather! I'm so spoiled by this weather!!


How is everyone?????????? MrsJ: how's da puddy?

I couldn't get on the 'net yesterday at work for more than a few minutes because of server probs (hopefully that'll be worked out today - their connection is much faster than our cheap dialup here at home).

Susanje - Kitty is doing very well indeed! :) He has stopped meowing in the morning when I wake up. Actually he softly mews because he knows now that Jim doesn't want to wake up at 4:30 am like I do. Then after I leave he goes back to sleep with Jim on the bed. Kitty (that's what we call him now, original huh?) has also become very playful, so we play with him after work. He loves those 'cat ticklers' - the plastic sticks with feathers and a jingle bell at the end. We had thought about getting him a kitty buddy but I really think he's used to being the lone cat in the house, besides our place is really small.

HEY I want some PowerBlocks too!!! When I tried them out, one of the things I liked about them was what you remarked on - the wrist support. Maybe I'll get one of the smaller sets (that goes up to 60#) one of these days (just don't know where I'd put them).

Finally figured out which fitness program I'm going to use in my Palm Pilot - it's one I found on Tucows called "LiftLog". LiftLog is freeware but the neat thing is the optional software (which costs $10) called "Exercise Genie" which is a database that has around 250 different exercises (with detailed execution instructions, purpose of exercise, etc.) You can note which exercises are favorites and it keeps track of your reps and weight progress. MUCH better than having to type in each exercise on my own!

Didja see on L&S that Pam B has 'thrown down the gauntlet' and announced a five week mini-Challenge (to the end of the new year)? Check it out - I'm doing it too. We all know that extra motivation is required to get through the holidays!

Whew! Time to wake up Jim. More later gals!!!

Mrs Jim:

I find the PBs fit just about anywhere. Right now I have them stashed behind my recliner which is in a corner.

My kitties always liked those over the door toys, where you hang it and it has an elastic string with a toy on the end they can play with it. They all went crazy for them. But the big one is so strong (he's a 25 lb Maine Coon) that he can destroy one in no time (like a few tugs). But they love them while they last.

The other thing I do is something for their scratching behavior which is buy some remnant rug pieces and turn them upside down. I don't know what it is about the backing of rugs that they love. To entice them to scratch I sprinkle some catnip on it. They go crazy but they will scratch even after the catnip is gone. I have two remnants in my office that come from my house back east because they just love to roll around on the old familiar pieces even though they are scratched to pieces....I rejuvenate the catnip now and again...but they love their old torn up rugs. Of course I put them away when company comes. :lol:

I didn't see Pam's challenge. I will have to check it out!!!

Susanje - The PB's would have to be about the size of a thimble at this point, because my darling Jim ordered (without telling me!) KEYBOARDS as part of his studio equipment. I had no idea until UPS arrived last night. Jim has never even played keyboards before (he's a bassist and guitarist) but wants to give it a whirl. I have no doubt that within a few weeks he'll be playing pretty well (compared to yours truly who took piano lessons for 12 years - I can pick out notes but haven't played in years...however Jim has an innate ear and feeling for music).

Kitty loves that Worldwise Cat Scratcher, he sleeps on it, claws it and rubs against it all the time! I didn't even think about rug remnants.

Did anyone else see Biography on A&E last night with Carnie Wilson? I posted about it at L&S a little while ago.

Pam B actually called the mini-challenge a "five-week sprint". If memory serves, she posted the initial thread on the Main Board at L&S on Monday. Check it out - she's been posting a LOT lately! I've already ordered the mouse pad that has her inspriational words on it through the L&S Gear store.

Back to work, y'all!

thanks again! I have enough MRPs to get through my first two challenges. I used to eat in front of the television but now I know I have my Myo or whatever to look forward to.

The carpet scraps are a great idea. I just need to figure out where to get some.

I'd love to join the PB sprint but since I'm in C1 I'm hanging in with the basics. I'm looking ahead to the day when I can go back to the way I used to train (two or three parts per day) but I'm dead serious about going "by the book" this time. The only change I've made is to add warm-up time because of the recent research showing that "exercise migraines" can be triggered by jumping into cardio. I've had this problem for years.

It's certainly inspiring to hear that everyone's doing so well.

C1,D11 (already!)

Hi Lisa!

Glad you rec'd the MRPs. :D When I was writing out the address label, I thought "Oh I know where that it!!!" I used to do long motorcycle runs and go through there. Pretty country.

Also glad you're going by the book. I found in C1 it was very helpful to me. I didn't have to think about it. I was one of those people who didn't see any loss until Week 7 but all along I felt so good that I just knew it was working. Also Lean and Strong folk were very very supportive when I was flipping out that I wasn't losing inches. They kept saying "It will happen!" and it did!
BFL is good stuff.

Right now I'm trying to get into that regimented way of thinking with CKD. CKD is one of those low carb/carb up plans that is used by body builders (like NHE). I did not think it was as tough as it is. You do low carb for 5 days and then carb up for 2 days but the number of carb/protein/fat grams are very much in sync with heavy duty workouts. For me I haven't hit the right amounts YET (like BFL in the beginning, I feel like I'm eating way too much. CKD is six frequent meals as well but the 5 low carb days are a lot of protein and fat and the 2 carb days are a lot of carb!). I don't think I'm working out hard enough to warrant this much food.
I use the MuscleHeadz journal that I got with some order from netrition because it's broken into six meals. I really like that journal.

Anyway, I really LOVE the simplicity of BFL now that I think back on it and try to adjust to something with lower carbs. I found the MRPS to be CRUCIAL to my success so I hope that they help you!!! You get into a rhythm with BFL that is so cool. I truly love the program and if my hormones ever straighten out and I can add more carbs to my diet, I'll be back on the BASIC BFL plan because I loved it so much and had good progress with it.

as for me: STORM IN CALIFORNIA!!! MY neck (arthritis from an old injury) feels it!!! :eek: I always forget why I moved here since I go for months and months without aches and pains (in the east I was in agony ALL THE TIME). Today is an upper body workout so I'll have to take it SLOW and take LOTS of glutamine.

Time to get the kid to school (and later on myself). See you all later.

Today I can see SNOW in the Marin hills from my office window! Gorgeous...

Lisa - I have no doubt in my mind that with your attitude and advance planning - you will do WONDERFULLY on BFL. Like Susanje and all the L&S gang will tell you, it's a terrific idea to go by the book on your first Challenge. That makes everything pretty much a no-brainer. During my first Challenge I also used the Team EAS site at http://www.eas.com/sportsspecific/bfl.asp?F=BF which has a weight-workout schedule using the exercises in the book, switching them around every four weeks. After your first Challenge, you can get creative and find different exercises from books, magazines, etc to try - keeps your muscles growing and prevents boredom from setting in!

I'm still trying to figure out the Exercise Genie, just haven't had a lot of spare time to do it. But it's really great - with over 240 strength training exercises, including detailed instructions. Sometimes when I try a new exercise I have a tendency to draw a blank on how to do it (I will bring a copy or draw a diagram once in awhile) so being able to whip out the ol' PDA and find the instructions would be a great, great thing. Exercise Genie is set up in a database format, so you can set the filter to look at certain muscle groups only, and within that, look at just free-weight exercises, machine exercises, Barbell, Dumbbell, etc.

Well, on the Kitty front, he has really become a member of our household! Sparky already knows my schedule - this morning I was in semi-deep REM and felt a little wet nose in my ear and purrrring. Looked up and saw Kitty there looking at me (usually he's asleep on his afghan at the foot of our bed). I looked beyond him at the clock...and the time was...4:28 am. I am CONVINCED that he knew it was time for me to get up and go to the gym! As soon as I got out of bed, Kitty mewed softly and snuggled against Jim and went back to sleep. He had given me my wake-up call for the morning! What a sweetie.

Later everyone!

PS - doing a mini-survey here. Am I always the LAST person to get his/her Muscle Media mag?? Mine just came yesterday but I swear on L&S people have been discussing the new issue for over a week! Great issue though - focusing on ABS. :D

I'm as excited about the day to day experience of BFL as I am about the results (not that I'm not looking forward to the results...) because all the parts of it are appealing to me. The physical work, the mental work, the nutrition.

Mrs. Jim I'm so glad you and Sparky found each other! I wake each morning to both of my "bunnies" sitting on the bed. What a different world it would be without them and the love they bring with them.

Mrs Jim : Yes, I got MM about a week ago. What is up with your delivery?

Lisa: I had incredible stamina during my first challenge and none of the highs and lows energy wise. I felt terrific. You're gonna love it.

Whew! Really tough to get out of the habit of clicking 3FC on my favorites list...and waiting. Not to worry, I had plenty to do today!

I have been getting so many compilments lately. "Hey, you're losing weight!" "Looking good!" etc. I definitely feel...well, lean and strong! :) I really feel like I have been making **MAJOR** progress and I'm only 1/2 way through this third challenge...this has been a tough week though eating wise, because it's been over a week since Thanksgiving (my free meal). Thank goodness there's only one day until my full-fledged Free Day. I hear a Filet O'Fish (I know, yuk) calling my name!

You all just HAVE to check out this website that was mentioned today on L&S. I've been reading it and it is great! Krista (the web mistress) has packed her website with well-written, terrific advice for beginners AND experienced strength training alike...
http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html

I'm telling ya, check it out - you won't regret it!

I LOVE that Palm Pilot program I've got! I don't actually bring the Palm with me to the gym (too risky IMO) but I write down on a little scrap of paper what exercises I did, reps/weight/sets. Then I record in the LiftLog my highest weight for each exercise, with a date. This way I can track how my progress is going! LiftLog is free but there's another program called Exercise Genie that's $10 that lists about 240 strength-training exercises, yes including instructions. Wouldn't that be great to have on hand at the gym when you 'blank out' on the technique of a new exercise? Jeez - this is beginning to sound like an ad. It's just that when I like something I let people know about it. Plus I sent an email to the guy Craig who developed the software and he very quickly answered. Seemed like a cool dude :D :)

Anyway, time for dinner - ahi tuna, salad, and cous-cous! MMmm.