General Diet Plans and Questions - Body for Life #36

Hi everyone!

I want you to know that you guys inspire me when I'm doing my thing. Today I had off and all I really wanted to do was sleep (I'll be in school all weekend) but I took TWO walks (one for about 2 miles at 7, came home, had oatmeal and egg whites, waited about an hour and went for another 2 mile walk), took a nap and woke up to do a killer UBWO. I feel great. When I do my LBWO I'm going to try those swiss ball squats that mrsjim talked about. The only problem with working out at home is the lack of good leg exercises without the leg press and extensions. I need to get one of those (one or the other) but right now I'm pretty well broke. I think the swiss ball squats will be great.

Thank you all for posting and plugging away. I need to hear it. I think of you guys when I'm out on my walks. There was something Pam posted a while ago (and I don't know if I read it on L&S or MrsJim reposted here) about how the part where you're grimacing is where the changes happen. I think about that now when I'm struggling to push through. It helps!!!

Off to bed...long weekend ahead.
Susan

Looks like you all are doing great! I'm off to Tae Kwon Do classes for my son and myself, but wanted to post a little first.

Roseanne -- As everyone else is saying -- you're doing fine. Speaking as someone who is a size 12 now after 22 weeks on BFL, a size 12 is nothing to sneeze at! All those inches lost, too! My husband Brian and I use a circumference method to determine our body fat (not perfect, but probably better than bioimpedance), and using our method you would show a lot of fat loss and muscle gain, which is our goal in BFL. Also, if you haven't already, compare pictures -- I bet you'll see progress!

Quadzilla -- Great to see you here. My husband Brian and I post as TeamTigger on leanandstrong, and your site has helped us immensely!

Have a great day!

Carrie

First I had my workout - shoulders/abs/calves - then my riding lesson - got to ride the new horse who is a chestnut (red) Irish Throughbred - 17 hands high and that is one TALL boy! but so gentle. I just have to get used to his big stride - felt like I was on Secretariat compared to riding Butch (the old grey TB that I usually ride - they're getting ready to retire him soon though - he's been a good worker all his life and it's almost time for his vacation!).

After that I drove to Stanford Shopping Center, haven't been there in AGES and wow has it changed! I bought a couple of books that looked interesting - the sequel to "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (if you enjoyed Bridget Jones' Diary, I recommend it!) and another book called "Slightly Single" that looked like a fun read. What I do is after I read them, I loan them to sister Jen, who reads them and then sends them on to her twin Amy. So it's a little family book club we have here!

I'm cleaning the house right now but wanted to take a mo and write. I have been feeling so great - and getting compliments again from so many people - during Free Week I tend to bloat up a bit - not as diligent in the nutrition or water. I'm sure most of the bloating is gone now. I am just feeling so great - and the weather is finally starting to warm up from the arctic freeze we were having these past weeks.

Sounds like everyone is kicking butt...I just had my meal #3 - a bit late due to the bustle of running errands - a green salad and the new L&S fave, hot cinnamon apples and cottage cheese! YUMMY. I just bought about 5 pounds of Fuji apples which were on sale and TWO large tubs of cottage cheese. I am looking forward to Free Day tomorrow - Jim and I are going to Red Robin for hamburgers, fries and real milk shakes. I have a feeling, tho', that I'll be having some CC and hot apples tomorrow even with Free Day! Later all!

My cable connection was out all day and I felt cut off from the world! Had another PT session today, but I was so wiped out from yesterday that today's was more "instructional" than a workout. Did a couple of sets of hanging crunches- never saw those before, a lot tougher than the floor variety! I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow. He took me through a complete back workout, and I remembered why I flunked 7th grade gym class- the dreaded pull-up:( My new goal for the end of this challenge is to do 2 unassisted. Sounds so pathetic!

Carriej- nice to know who TeamTigger is!

Susanje-How far along are you in law school? That was one of my dreams that I put off way too long and now will never happen. Good for you!

MrsJim- Your L$S post about your father and aspertame brought back memories for me. My father was a chemist also, in polymer research at DuPont. Like you, families were the guinea pigs but not always of such good stuff. I remember when I was about 6 or 7, we got a set of really cool plastic cups from his lab. My brother and I used to fight over who got the red one, cause our milk would turn pink! Better living through Chemistry! LOL We thought it was great then, but I shudder at what I must have ingested. Obviously, that plastic and/or dye never made it to market.

Hi Quadzilla- You gonna hang out with us now and be chatty?

Kelster- You sound pumped! Good for you getting out of the mall.

sleep time,

mel

Hi Mel,

I am officially halfway through since I am halfway through my second year and it's 3 years all together. When I turned 40 I realized that there were a few things I really wanted to do (learn Italian, get a degree in English literature from a good school and go onto a good law school). Believe it or not, I've done all those things in the past few years. Well, I'm still working on the law school part. I wish I had had the time/money when I was younger but I did not. I had my kids young and was divorced when I was 30 so I spent my 30s supporting them and working in the high tech field. While there I got a Masters in Psychology at night and worked in that field for a few years (while working in high tech, I had a fulltime techie job during the day and would do psych emergency services at night). I also worked as a private therapist for a while. I spent so much time encouraging people (especially women) to follow their dreams and do what they really wanted to do that I had to be honest that I wasn't taking my own advice. While the dual career (tech/psych) was great in that I never got too burned out on one or the other, I knew I wanted to do many other things. I traveled to Italy the year before I went back to school and had studied a little Italian. I fell in love with the language and really wanted to learn it. I went back to school to take some Italian courses and then I met my husband who encouraged me to quit working and go to school fulltime to get a B.A. in English (yes, post Masters) I originally was going to teach English (something I always wanted to do) and Italian but we had plans to move to California. After realizing what it would take to certify in Massachusetts (where I lived before) and then transfer/recertify in California, it would be 3 extra years. In 3 years I could be through law school so I applied to law school and was amazed and thrilled when I got into one of the best law schools in the country (and one of the hardest to get into). So here I am.... Sorry to have gone on so long! anyway, another year and a half for me. We're totally broke (since I've been out of work for almost 6 years) and I'm exhausted but the end is in sight.
:)

Mel - I know how you feel about being cut off due to no Net connection - we had that same problem with cable internet back early last year. That's why we switched to dialup but now we're on DSL and so far it has been great - so fast!

When I was growing up (along with my three sisters) Dad used to bring home all sorts of great stuff. We were not the only guinea pigs - all the neighborhood kids were as well. Anytime he was working on a new flavor all of us would try it. Most of the time the flavor would end up morphing into something else or become a 'regional' drink (sold only in one part of the country). Our house was VERY popular at Halloween - instead of candy we gave out cans of pop. But I could never understand why kids preferred getting sodapop over candy! Guess it was the novelty of it all.

Well today is Free Day, and we are planning on going to Red Robin for burgers and shakes. We aren't football fans but our upstairs neighbor Billy is going to have a Super Bowl party and we will probably toddle up for a spell...at least for the halftime show anyway! I'm one of those people who enjoys watching the commercials.

Yesterday we got a surprise - a big box from Neiman-Marcus. In it were six HUGE Egyptian Cotton towels - monogrammed - a gift from my mother-in-law! They are so nice and fluffy. I washed them straight away and used one last night after my bath. Jim and I have always been crazy about good quality towels!

I have to take Sparky to the vet tomorrow :( he has something on his chin - like a bare spot - and keeps scratching at it. My boss - whose sister breeds cats - says it sounds like it could be ringworm...hoping it's not but whatever it is it doesn't cost too much to treat!

Hope everyone else is doing well!

MrsJim --

My last male cat (he lived to 18!) had exactly what you describe. I took him to a feline allergist and he had -- acne! She gave him medication for it and he could finally get a prom date! :lol:

Hope Sparky isn't itchy with whatever he has. I know he'll be better in no time after the vet fixes him up!

Hey all just checking in to say hi.

Susan - I bow to you woman! You did it, doing it and didn't take the easy road to get anywhere. I don't even know you and I'm proud of you. I too was a late bloomer, I didn't go back to the University until I got married at 35.. I sat in night classes pregnant at 38. Continued on. I now work in the IT field by choice. No it wasn't easy being broke all the time, tired, breaking down in tears when the code wouldn't work... (it had to be the computer!!!)... screamed in delight when the code ran.

My son is now 7, we bought our 1st home 4 years ago and now I'm working on me (all those late night eats, cheap food, and cheap beer took its toll) which is why I started BFL. I quite happy that I did.

Well I just had to tell you I admire you for your determination to finish what you started. And especially for doing what you wanted to do. We all dream but seldom "do".

Just a quick note to let you all know I finished week 1 and had no major mess-ups! :D

I can feel my muscles start to get a little firmer under the flab, my body likes the leaner food, and my moods are improving thanks to the "heavy breathing" on the exercises :lol:

On into week 2! Had a great LBWO this morning.

Hope everyone is well and happy!

It was party town here last night! (Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady hails from my home town!) I'm not a football fan by any stretch of the imagination but after finding out that we had a local boy playing just HAD to watch.

Consequently, the gym was pretty empty this morning...except for us diehards!

Free Day was pretty quiet for me - Jim and I had burgers and shakes at Red Robin which was packed.

Susan - all that AND BFL too??? You go gal! ;)

I had a really great chest/tris workout with a little bit of abs tossed in for good measure. Tonight I have another workout with Theresa - we're doing back and bis tonight.

Waterbaby - After reading some cat health websites I'm hoping it's acne too... I'm hoping Sparky doesn't have to wear one of those collars to keep from scratching. It's not like he spends hours scratching at it but I've seen him get his little back claw and just pick pick pick at it. Jim is not coming with me because he didn't feel it was necessary for BOTH of us to take time off work. Fortunately our vet is only 1/2 mile from our house - I'm dreading having to put him in his carrier. He doesn't like it much.

Oh, well, got some work to do before I split so gotta run! Later gals!

I sprinkle a little catnip in the bottom of Rusty's carrier and he is more than happy to go for a ride...

They didn't put a collar on Buster when he had acne. The told me to be sure to wipe his chin after he ate because he was getting food stuck in the fur and the oil from it was causing his zits. It was good quality food; even with short hair, he was still getting crumbs in his chin...the vet also gave me a liquid to dab on with a cotton ball and it cleared it right up.

I decided after 7 months of clean eating, to take a real free day yesterday. I used to love cinnabon, and the smell still makes me drool. So I was going to treat myself to a BIG one at the mall, but old habits die hard, and I had a big salad first. Then I was too full, so I went shopping for a while, hit the dreaded bathings suits, and just couldn't bring myself to eat a cinnabon after that experience! I just kept hearing that Pam B. phrase "Is this bringing me closer to my goal?" Obviously not!

So my free day treat was 2 glasses of wine at a Superbowl party, and some shrimp. LOL- can't cheat bad when I try. I'm kinda disappointed tho, I really did want one. Maybe next weekend.

Couldn't sleep because of the wine, and ended up gettin up at 4 am and doing a weight workout. I know that's normal for some of you, but NOT me:dizzy: . I hit 10's on much lighter weights, and got stuck under the bar again, luckily was able to ease it off me instead of yelling for hubby who would not have been amused:D So now I'm a zombie, hardly remember my UBWO (does it count if you can't remember it?) and need to go to bed.

bye for now,

mel

Waterbabe - you were right - it WAS acne!

We had started him with a plastic bowl for his food and a ceramic dish for his water...well if they're bad for cats why do they sell 'em?? Anyway it's strictly glass for this kitty from now on.

So for the next week or so, we have a gel to clean his chin with and some cream to put on once or twice a day. Dr. says it should heal up right quick - the fur might take awhile to grow back.

Just now having meal #4 (cottage cheese and hot apples) then I gotta run to my PT appointment...busy busy!

Hi everyone!

Thank you for the compliments...yes the body is the last frontier. :lol: I think about that a lot....how I have knocked down goal after goal and even though I'm struggling a lot with this one, I can do it. I quit smoking and that slowed my metabolism way down but that was a big feat that did NOT happen overnight and I plan to keep plugging away at this one.

I didn't take free day on Sunday and that was tough. Hubby is Boston born and bred (in fact we met in Boston b/c I lived in MA for 10 years) and was doing a lot of nervous eating during the game. He is a long suffering Patriots fan and everyone on his job (Raiders fans) have been giving him crap since the call in the Raiders game. He watched the game alone while I did school work but I came down now and again to sit with him and see how his boys were doing. His nervousness was contagious and he was chomping on potato chips the whole time. I was tempted but I didn't indulge because I had a dinner planned for Monday night and wanted that to be my free meal of the week.

I've never been a big Pats fan but I was happy for Michael to be able to see his team do it and they were pretty lovable. I was very happy for him and I'm still not sure he believes it happened.

I ate clean yesterday but went with a bunch of bedraggled law students (all of us older students) to chinese food in Berkeley and the heartburn hit me almost immediately. eyuk!!! It bothered me all night and I start an internship this morning. Sometimes those free meals are just not worth it. :(

Off to a new adventure,
Susan

Well it has been a few days since I have posted......I have just been trying to enjoy my week off......and wouldn't you know it......I get a call from the office Monday and have to go in......get a call today.......again.........what good are holidays if people keep calling you at home........ aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh .........thankfully I have stuck to the workouts boy do they help in the stress relieving department........

I must say I am learning more each day.......especially.....I AM READING THE LABEL......laffs.........I just really really want to eat right.......I have noticed a big difference in the way a feel......from doing the body for life program......

I keep thinking to myself........if I only knew then what I know now.......but as in everything in life.......it is a learning experience......and maybe I just wasn't ready before.......

I find myself telling everyone about this program......my b/f is even going to ready the book.......we will see what happens there.......my daughter loves the food I cook.......she is eating just like me...........well the meals I cook anyways........she has asked alot of questions about it as well.......

anyhow.........I popped in to see how everyone was doing.....and it seems that all are moving along nicely.......that is GREAT....

Have a wonderful evening.......

Hope everyone's doing well! I know I've been quieter than usual here at 3FC...spending lots of time at L&S though...there's been a lot of newbies with lots of questions there this week...

I had another great PT session on Monday night. We worked on back and bis. The back is actually one of my weak points - it takes a lot of effort for me to train it. Theresa has been really helping me on my form and showing me some new exercises as well. For bis, I highly recommend '21s'. If you have never done them they are killers. What you do is get a barbell - the EZ type - and do seven half curls from the bottom position to the halfway mark (what i mean is that your arm starts out straight then you curl up to where your arm is bent at a 90-degree angle); then seven from the halfway point up to the top (from 90-degree curling up to your chest); THEN seven more reps doing complete curls (from fully extended straight arms to all the way to your chest). Make sure you do them slowly and with strict form (keep your elbows at your waist and don't 'cheat' with your back - in fact I do these leaning back against a wall or backboard). Believe me you will feel it! OW - hurts so good!

One of the other exercises we worked on was concentration curls. I discovered my form was really bad on these before :o First off we did them sitting on the swiss ball (the big blue one). Spread your legs wide (like you're a guy watching the Super Bowl :dizzy: ) and place your free hand on one knee, the arm that will be doing the curling in the little pocket on the inside of your other knee. When you curl, go slowly and with strict form, making sure your knuckles are facing the other knee (get it? I'm so terrible at explaining this...) Keep that elbow in the pocket of the knee at all times (mine tends to travel up the thigh if I let it!).

Whew! Anyway...hope that helps. Eating's been going very well this week - how are you all doing?

Well --


MrsJim, sounds like you have an excellent PT! I could feel how those muscles would work by the way you described them. Concentration curls were one of my faves until I got so fat I couldn't bend over far enough...oh, well. I'll be back there soon!

Did cardio today. I didn't want to get up at 4 am to make it to the gym, and as I was putting my gym bag in the car, I was making all kinds of excuses to myself. Well, I went and did my cardio anyway, and am amazed at the negativity in the "tapes" that play in my head. When I begin having success at something, those nasty critical voices chime in and try to derail my efforts. Well, not this time! :D

I sure wish they'd post who won Grand Champion. Sure hoping it's Pam B.

Well, back to the salt mines :lol: How is everyone?

Hi Claire :wave:
Don't let those nasty "negative tapes" get to you. I've been keeping up with the thread here and you have been doing great. You've stayed focused and motivated and your hard work will pay off in the end (literally, LOL :D )

So, keep up the good work. You can do it. :spin:
~~~Sil

Sil --

Thanks so much for your kind words and taking an interest. We newbies are treated so well!!

I made up my mind before I started this (and after I finished "crossing the abyss") that NOTHING would get in my way.

Amazingly, the only person who has tried to get in my way was...me!

Your message helped my self-esteem. Thank you!

Been a busy, busy day for me today...even though I took 1/2 a day off...because our new mattress set was delivered this afternoon! Can't wait to sleep on it tonight. I might even go to bed earlier than usual.

I've seen a lot of us posting on L&S the past few days. I just got my copy of Muscle Media in the mail today - they're having a cover model contest...entries must be in by 1 June 2002 to qualify. Now, personally, I think that I'm way older than the 'typical' MM cover gal (most seem to be in their 20's) but I might just give it a shot...since I'm already working to get into competition shape anyway...

While I was cleaning the house today I had the TV on and a woman's pro BB contest was on Fox Sports. These gals have a lot of muscle and definition - made me realize I still have a ways to go, but then I look at Pam B's C3 after photo...then at her BB contest pix...and I know if she could get down from 25% BF to 4% in four months, then I can do it in five or seven if I work HARD and eat clean...and I'm doing that!

I'll write more later...Seinfeld is starting (priorities, huh?). I have some thoughts that are sticking in my brain and I want to share them with all of you! See ya in a bit!

Hi- Sorry I've been away so long, just kinda lurking here and on L&S. I've had a really tough BFL week- the workouts are going great, I get stronger every day, but found out on Wednesday that since starting 5 weeks ago, my BF% has gone UP 3% (measured by same person on 9 sites), and I finally did measurements since week 1, and my waist is 1" bigger. I don't mind that my calves are bigger or my biceps, but a fatter waist is not the Body for Life I had in mind. Not sure what to do, since I'm eating clean. I know if I post this on L&S I'll just get flamed again. I think the amount of startchy carbs are just too much for my borderline-diabetic body. Or something- I don't know. I was resigned to the actual scale gain finally, but when I found out it was an actual fat gain as well, it put me over the mental edge!

Sorry to vent and complain, I just don't know where to go from here. I've lifted for about 6 years and have a good amount of muscle- did anyone start BFL already a lifter?

Baffled, mel

Hey Mel - don't worry 'bout it... as Hussman said "you really do change from the inside out". Here's my theory on how the whole process works (this keeps me motivated for some reason!) if you follow BFL to a "T" (especially if you haven't lifted heavy weights regularly before - I'm not counting those little pink 1 pound DBs here :D ):

1) Your muscles tear and rebuild, making them bigger.

2) Your measurements go up (this is why it's a good idea NOT to measure yourself more than, say, once every 4-6 weeks at most IMO) temporarily due to new muscle growth. If you can, take front and back progress pix every 4-6 weeks as well. And need I say to "STAY OFF THE SCALE"???

3) Your muscles start burning fat - in layers like an onion. Of course your muscles will reach for the fuel that's closest to them - the fat marbled within the muscle itself - then it will start burning the fat that you CAN see - in sheets. If you are following the eating and training plan your muscles will be doing this 24/7 - like the Body Solutions ad says "burning fat while you sleep!".

4) First on last off...the fat that's been sticking around the longest on your bod will be the last fat to come off. A lot of folks at L&S have noticed a phenomenon they call "jiggly fat" - the fat becomes very loose and jello like - just before it burns off. This might be the reason your BF% measured higher - and your waistline went up - stay on course though because this is a temporary thing! For me personally, the fat on my thighs/hip/bellypooch has been the stubbornest of all...but I know it's coming off. In fact yesterday I washed my size 4 DKNY's in HOT water and dried them in high heat - and I still got in them easily this morning!

What am I trying to say here anyway?!? Basically, don't fret - give it the 12 weeks...we've all been there. Just ask Susanje - she didn't see results until, I believe, week 9?

As far as myself, I did some weight lifting but not heavy, usually not free weights and not often. Most of the time it was as a footnote to cardio if I had 10-15 minutes to spare after my hour-plus on the elliptical and before my Spinning class - back in my cardio bunny daze :dizzy:

Take care and keep us posted!

Thanks for the upbeat reply. Actually I've been lifting heavy for the last 2 years. Just never ate right until last July, or lifted to failure. I started BFL to get the workouts under control, since the hour of cardio daily, plus dog walks, plus tennis, plus lifting 4-5 times a week was totally ridiculous.

And I definitly have seen results- I'm not complaining that nothing's going on! My calves, quads, shoulders, arms and chest are more defined. Unfortunately I now have pecs instead of breasts, so changes there too! I just feel like all the fat is migrating to the middle and multiplying.

Anyway, feel much better about it all after an awesome arm workout this afternoon where I actually saw striations in my shoulders and upper chest. So this week's piss and moan session is over. Thanks for listening, everyone. Hope you are all doing great.

mel

Well it's Saturday morning.......and I am gettin geared up to go grocery shopping.......yeeeeeaaaa............ya right.........I hate grocery shopping......laffs..........but muddle through it every week.......because we do have to eat.........so I thought I would go rather early........doesn't look too nice out though.....

my workouts have been going wonderfully.........I find myself trying to push harder and harder..........I soooooooo want this.......to be healthy...............to really know what that is like.........I have pretty much had a weight issue my whole life.......I finally just want to be healthy......and this time I am going to do it.........tomorrow is my free day.......then I head into C1W4.............I have never gotten this far on anything I have tried in the past.........I am just happy....S

Well I need to get to the grocery store..........have a great day all......