General Diet Plans and Questions - Body for Life #41

BODY FOR LIFE NUMBER 41!!!!!!! :strong:

I had GOOD cardio yesterday and no palpitations yesterday or today!!!! YEAH!!! Ate clean and felt really good last night. I am really tightening up my program right now. Thanks to my little notebook I'm feeling very disciplined. I can SEE exactly what I'm doing between my stars and smiley faces. I have a medium sized 3 subject notebook and I do a weekly chart in the front of it with my exercise column and wide food column. Then the next 3 pages are my expanded food journals (2 days on each page). Then the second part of the book is my expanded exercise diary. Then the third part is my head diary (I think it should be called body and head for life because my brain is where I have the most problems :lol: ). How I feel, what I want, my keeping self-promises/crossing the abyss type of psychological "stuff". Yesterday I got a cardio star and SIX smiley faces for perfect BFL food. I'm so thrilled. When you're a law student, it doesn't take much. :D

Continuing on...from number40:

Thunderheart: re: maintenance -- I am sure that the folks at L&S have some thoughts on maintenance. I have wondered it myself.

I remember reading on Jennifer Baird's website that she thought that when you are maintaining it's more exact but I don't know what she meant.
(have you seen Jennifer's site? It's at http://www.bodyforlifediaries.com)

I believe Jennifer is in her 5th or 6th challenge and she meticulously charts her measurements, diaries etc. Great site. She tries different things in different challenges (cutting carbs/increasing cardio) and then reports at the end of the challenge what impact she thought those changes had. A good reference tool as well as inspirational.

However, I digress :D I think that folks on L&S can also answer the maintenance question.

Mrs. Jim: are swiss ball leg lifts the exercise where you are face down on the ball and you lift one leg as high as you can?

Susan

It seems that most of the active posters at L&S are still on the journey. I would think that discovering the balance between weight loss, weight gain, BF%, muscle development, etc. could be touchy. Keeping accurate details as Susanje mentioned is vital...even for a program like WW, people seem to go up and down.

My own plan is to stay with lifting weights, doing that cardio, and maybe adding a few more calories to my daily portions if I ever need to. My ultimate goal is to drop from 28% BF to 15%. And not to fluctuate much from that. My metabolism appears to be frozen so that's an ambitious plan.
For someone younger, or with better genetic potential, that might be their starting point!

First off, let me just answer Thunderheart's question regarding maintenance.

Like Lisa said, that's a really tough one for me, because I can't just sit - I always have to challenge myself to be more, do more... Ray Kroc (McDonald's chairman) said something that has stuck with me...except I don't have the book "Behind the Arches" with me so I'll have to paraphrase as best I can: "Never stop growing, because when you stop growing you ripen, and when you ripen, you rot."

Of course I don't intend to live on Pam B's competition diet for the rest of my life - but the BFL diet as set out in the book - now THERE'S something I can easily live with - very balanced and simple to follow...and yes, I can easily see myself lifting weights, challenging myself, well into my golden years - after all, my Dad is going to be 70 this year and he's still hitting the gym every day - lifting weights :strong: , doing cardio...and he looks a good 10 years younger than his actual age! :cool: My mother is an avid gymgoer as well - however, since her double masectomy and reconstuctive surgeries a few years back, she has focused on swimming laps and lighter weight training. I couldn't imagine being one of those seniors who just sit in front of the telly all day waiting to die! Besides I've already been there, done that (not the senior part - the sitting in front of the TV eating half-gallons of ice cream and pizzas part - believe me it is NOT fun).

So as far as the journey...for me, it will probably stop when my heart stops beating - hopefully that's quite some time down the road (and Jim will still be at my side :love: God willing)

Now about those leg lifts!!! Here's how I do 'em. Get the smaller swiss ball (the 45 cm) and lying on your back, put your legs straight up in the air. Grip the ball between your ankles and lift your pelvis, hold for 1 sec, and down. Oh, your hands should be at your sides (not behind your neck)!

Theresa also showed me those other side leg lifts where you lie on your side on the ball and lift the top leg up. Ow!

Saw your post over at L&S before I checked it out over here. Thanks for your response. I agree with everyone that responded over there as well as your post here. I fully intend on making this a lifelong way of life as well.

What I should have been a little more specific about is - what if you don't want all the bulk that the competitor type bodies have? What if you like the "softer cut" look. Oh heck! I don't know how to explain it - I don't want to offend the ladies that do compete because I really admire the discipline and hard work that goes along with that. I just may want to do the same thing someday! I just wondered if there was a way to maintain a certain look.

Thunderheart - what it sounds like you don't want is for your bodyfat to get down below 10-12%. Relax - unless you go on a VERY DRASTIC bodybuilder's competition diet and workout routine...that ain't a-gonna happen.

Stick to BFL and you'll get what you want...then take it from there...you can keep doing BFL (remember, it's FOR LIFE) and feeling great - looking great - your whole life...or you can take it up a notch...

As an example - take me...I'm on a competition diet right now...here is today's menu (please note that this is a low-carb week for me!):

Meal #1 - 12 eggwhites and 2 tablespoons salsa
Meal #2 - Protein shake (made with 4 scoops Simply Protein = 50 grams protein) and 1/2 cup blueberries
Meal #3 - 2 tomatoes and 7 oz tunafish (canned)
Meal #4 - Asparagus (8 spears), 2 cups mushrooms and 6.5 oz round steak
Meal #5 - Another protein shake (I use MetRx Protein Plus at night - it's a casein/whey mix rather than straight whey).

Plus doing 30-40 minutes HIIT and MAS cardio 5 days a week...plus weights 6 days a week...(I don't do cardio on leg days).

Needless to say, I don't intend to do the above for the rest of my life...after my competition (May if possible - otherwise July) I intend to go back to BFL eating and 3 20 MAS cardio sessions a week. The weights - well, I like doing the 4 split...so I'll keep that up.

has done demanding physical labor most of her life, walks every day, stays on an excellent diet, and goes to yoga twice a week. She is planning to START weight-training (at the Senior Center) and perhaps do some pool aerobics in the next few months.

I'll be a retired librarian at 55, at which point I intend to begin certification programs to be a massage therapist and a personal trainer. No more academics!

:smoking: :smoking: :smoking: I am soooo impressed! I know that must take alot of determination and discipline. You go girl!! I know you're gonna do it - cause I can hear it (read it) when you post!

Like I said, I have a long long way to go yet, but I'm in no hurry - it's for life. In my dreams I can be down to a 20%BF (half of what I am now) but what the heck - while I'm dreamin I might as well shoot for the stars at ... dare I say 15%. Who knows what the future will bring - only time and hard work will tell.

Thanks for your response!

I've just started on the BFL program and I have a question. I'm making out my grocery list right now and was wondering what all of you buy? What are your staples?

Stephanie,

If you use the Eating for Life List of Authorized foods, you can pick out your favorites and make a grocery list. However, I know what you mean in that you'd like to hear what other people get. My list is a bit whacked but here it is:

I am a picky eater so I eat chicken almost every meal. I know that beef is technically authorized but I try to stay away from it. I sometimes make turkey meat loaf with eggs, oatmeal and spices but mostly my meat is chicken. I use eggs sometimes so I always buy egg beaters. I like to cook up Irish Oatmeal (steel cut oats) and add egg beaters and protein powder, cinnamon and Splenda and then bake but I usually get my Irish Oats from Netrition. I always buy plenty of Splenda!!!! I sometimes do regular oatmeal with protein powder, splenda and cinnamon...the consistency is like PASTE but sometimes I want to eat it anyway. :lol:

I always buy brown rice, potatoes and sweet potatoes (or yams).
I nuke the potatoes most days. For the sweet potatoes I cook them up then I throw in a blender with splenda and cinnamon.
Yum.

I always buy some fruit both fresh and frozen (I like to throw frozen fruit in MRPs that are protein heavy). I buy broccoli, green beans, peas and sometimes cucumber for my veggies (I'm not big on veggies but I eat chicken, brown rice and some veggie at least twice a day. Typically meals 3 and 5 is this combo.) I buy lettuce and tomatoes sometimes for salad but I have to be in the mood.

I know MrsJim does something with barley but I wouldn't know what I would do with it. I know Bill P doesn't like it much and I think I'm in his camp. People also buy cottage cheese and yogurt and mix it. I did this for a while but not anymore. I'm not a big fan.

Finally there is the sugar free, fat free jello to make MRPs thicker and perhaps other uses as well. I always buy some of that and to round things off, I buy Pam.

I can't think of anything else at the moment.

Check out the Eating for Life list and buy a good combo of things on that list that you like.

Keep checking in!
Susan

Just adding to Susan's tips for shopping...

Now, as far as carbs, you are NOT limited to what the list says. Of course to be on the safe side, you might want to stick strictly to the list in the book. I think Bill was just trying to keep things simple!!!

There are so many good fruits that aren't on the list that would work VERY well and a lot of people at www.leanandstrong.com add to their menus. Like - berries - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries...Peaches...nectarines...etc. Bananas are okay but I wouldn't eat them all the time personally.

I tend to stay away from fat-free yogurt as a carb - love it, but it doesn't fill me up as well as the other carbs like potatoes, rice, etc do.

You might want to go to www.leanandstrong.com and check out the Cooking Library for yummy ideas. Right now the popular meal there is to get an apple (like a Fuji or Granny Smith type), cut it in chunks, add cinnamon and Splenda, and nuke for a few minutes. Then when it's all nice and hot and gooey, add your cottage cheese. This is SO GOOD!! Really tastes like a hot apple pie.

I have a couple of recipes up in the Cooking Library - one for Joe's Special BFL style and another for rice pilaf and chicken (which I actually got from the Minute Brown Rice box).

Barley - I just cook it like rice. Actually I use low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth when I cook grains...tastes really yummy!

I also buy the Jello fatfree sugar free pudding mix to add to my Myoplex Lite in the evenings (well, that's what I WAS doing prior to a week and a half ago :lol: ). Another good thing to have if you're using vanilla flavored Myo Lite or protein powder is Butter Buds and cinnamon. Makes a terrific 'cinnamon roll' taste!

hello all,

thunderheart - I think its cool that we are on the same week of our first challenge, - AFter a rough start to week four, I have it under control and am working the programme with heaps of enthusiasm. I know I'm supposed to give up the scales, but I think it was not losing anything last week that threw me. Its a hard habit to break.

stephanie -
I spent quite a bit of time planning a menu before I started and I am really enjoying the food so far.

I buy chicken breasts, sirloin steak, tinned salmon, fresh fish, lean mince (I think you guys call it hamburger or ground beef), eggs, and low fat cottage cheese with chives for my proteins.
For Carbs I love baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes, whole grain bread, and wholemeal pasta. I also use myoplex lite bars and simply protein whey powder which I make with low fat milk and a banana for a balanced meal.
As accessories I buy tinned tomatoes, Salsa, low fat sour cream, hummus and veges of course

Typical meals for me include:
Chicken Burrittos.
baked potatoes with cottage cheese and chives (love the stuff)
egg white omelet on toast
lean ham and salad sandwich
spaghetti bolognaise
protein shake, or myoplex lite bar (when I'm out)
steak burger
salmon and potato or low fat crackers

It is all very tasty and making egg white omelets has been a real eye opener for me - I really enjoy them.

I hope that helps a little bit (sorry for being so long winded)

now - about the goal setting...
I know what I would like to weigh, and what size I want to wear, but I don't really know how to set fitness goals. Like what weights I'd like to be lifting or how fast I want to bike etc, because I have no idea what people can actually do.

Would love to hear what your goals are.

Thanks heaps for the input on Week Four - it really helped to know it wasn't just me - and especially with my time of the month and not having energy to do workouts properly. I made it through and now I'm moving on with force!
see ya - have a great day.
Carly:sheep:
(the sheep is because I live in New Zealand and we are famous for having more sheep than people here!) :)

:wave: When I first started I just copied the authorized food list from the book and bought stuff that I liked. The first week I ate alot of cottage cheese and yogurt for meals 2 & 4 but that passed fairly quickly. I still like it but I seem to go in spurts of something I really like and then try something different.

I surfed around alot to the various BFL sites and got ideas from recipe files to try different things. But I basically stuck to the list in the book. In case your curious...my latest addiction is oatmeal and cottage cheese with cinnamon, splenda and vanilla. I know - I thought it sounded pretty gross when I first read about it - but it is now one of my favourite meals!! Go figure.

Oh yeh and another favourite for my last meal of the day is SteveL's recipe from L&S. Chop an apple and sprinkle with cinnamon and Splenda - nuke it until the apple starts to sweat - mix in your cottage cheese. I swear it tastes like apple pie with a slice of cheese.

Carps - you're buying the Myo Lite bars??? I'd stay away from them - they are 'sugar bombs' big time...I have a Myo Lite bar right here (it's been in my desk for almost a year) - there are a mere 15 grams of protein (not enough - most women should have 20 grams) and of the 26 grams of carbs, 15 are sugar! Also, check the ingredients list - most of the first ingredients are sugar in one form or another - high fructose corn syrup, sugar, polydextrose, high maltose corn syrup, dextrose...

Most people who begin BFL think that everything that is sold by EAS is okay for BFL. That's what they'd LIKE you to think but it really isn't...even in those 'BFL kits' they sell.

Right now the only EAS products I purchase are Myoplex Lite shake (MRPs). Cappuchino Ice mostly.

Remember that Bill Phillips (author of BFL) sold the company a few years ago...the new owners then proceeded to come out with dozens of products, many with the "Myoplex" name on them. The Myoplex Lite bars are one of those products.

Bars in particular are not a good staple at all. They are ALL filled with sugar, yes even the 'low-carb' ones - check the label for glycerin (sugar alcohol). The FDA is trying to crack down on the supplement companies to start calling glycerin a carb as it should be - so you'll be seeing a change in the labeling in the future.

Anyway, bars are okay for emergencies (like if you're on a plane and can't get a BFL meal for instance) but definintely NOT everyday fare.

Same with those ready-to-drink shakes...plus they taste gross!

Off my soapbox now...

Thought I'd throw in my food 2 cents also:
-tons of egg white and spinach omelettes with salsa.
-tuna on mixed greens with a spritz of balsamic vinegar and a slice of whole kernal rye bread
-lots of the cottage cheese and apple mixture (but
NO SPLENDA - the stuff has a gross aftertaste for me and the apple seems sweet)
-chicken breasts cooked every way imaginable, current favorite is curry with brown rice and broccoli
-salmon with salad and brown rice
-sweet potato and cottage cheese
-protein powder with frzoen fruit smoothies (usually vanilla with peaches and blueberries)
-very lean london broil sliced very thin
-and my new favorite food, steel cut oatmeal

I stay away from all artificial sweeteners, they make me sick, so it's just not worth it. I've found a protein powder at GNC that is sweetened with stevia (I know, buy from netrition, but they don't sell anything I can use), and occaisionally put a few drops of agave syrup in herbal teas for a very slight sweet taste.

I did a huge leg workout yesterday and can feel it everywhere and have been starving ever since. Also TOM hit with a vengeance, so maybe that's why.

Thunderheat- I've been puzzling about an answer to your maintenance question since you asked it because I can't fathom ever being at that place. I guess everyone on L&S said basically what I was going to. I'm now in smaller size clothes than I ever believed possible and within 2 pounds of the target scale weight I set for myself last July when I started working on transforming my body, but now I just see how much more work there is to do and how unhappy I am with it still. I don't know if this is psychotic and just another manifestation of the eating disorders I've struggled with since my teens, but I sure want to keep working, whittle down the BF and keep adding more steel.

BTW- anybody know what is the point of doing pull-ups facing away from the hoist? I know they feel different, but I can't remember what the trainer told me, and it sure is awkward to get on and off!

mel

I just have to post. I am now down to (I know we are not suppose to look at the scale, but it does not hinder my desire to do BFL) 189. I know not so light. :) But Hey The week I started BFL I was 198 and I am on the 2nd day of my 3rd week (C1) It made me even more pumped. I am planning a C2 as well. :)
I WILL be down 3 to 4 sizes by May 8th!!
You know I had NO idea cottage cheese melted the same as regular cheese...mixed with some salsa..Yum! Boiled or baked potatoes with that stuff on them is WONDERFUL!
Happy Thoughts!!
Pixie

Really? You can heat cottage cheese? Well, I guess so since WW uses it in their lasagna. Does it really taste like real cheese melted on a baked potato? I bet if you sliced up chicken and stuffed a baked potato with chicken, cc and broccoli, you'd have a perfect BFL meal.

Wow. Learn something new every day.

I agree with MrsJim on the bars and RTDs. Yucch. Not only are they horrid tasting but they aren't even nutritional. Whoever came up with that idea had a great marketing idea but not such a great nutritional idea. I do remember last year being famished and about 5 hours from my last meal. I had a dr appt and she was running late. It would be another hour and I didn't live close by so I ran to a drug store and got some EAS bar that was "okay" and that held me over. Definitely only in an emergency. I do have some in my freezer at home for now and again if I'm going to be in the car a long time or something....but I don't use them hardly ever.

Mel: I had a huge leg workout today and I've been starving all day. What's up with that? I'm not having TOM (part of my hormonal issues.) so I think it could be the leg workout. I wonder what THAT correlation would be!!! interesting!

I'm exhausted but racking up the stars and smiley faces. :smug:

:lol:

Susan

I have been SOOOOO busy at work today...got a kajillion things to do...so haven't had time to post or even lurk much!

Hey Susan, didja get it?? You know what I'm talking about hon. ;)

And I HAVE used cottage cheese in lasagna recipes. I'm just not a ricotta fan but it's been ages since I've made lasagna so it slipped my mind! Actually I prefer using cold CC on my hot apples -- cools them down a bit.

If I HAVE to use a meal replacement bar, I usually go for Worldwide Pure Protein - they've got good flavors and I think they're better than most out there. MetRx Protein Plus is a good one too, just not as tasty. BTW, if you're looking for a great pure protein powder, try the MetRx Protein Plus - it's MUCH better than EAS Simply Protein (more expensive though).

Had a great workout today. I'm really starting to get the hang of the Pam B competition diet...in fact, gotta run to the store and get some cooked turkey breast - my lunch is 8 oz of the stuff. Fortunately I can run to Safeway - their deli department has the real stuff (not those processed cold cuts - well they DO have those too but that's not what I want).

Then back to work... :eek: and tonight I have to pick up our GIRL SCOUT COOKIES...which Jim is going to hide from me (he's a good hider). I'll probably have a few with my Free Meal on Sunday though...

well I have to admit that I am quite disapointed to hear about the bars. I did think that they would be fine for BFL simply because they were brought out by EAS. :cry:
I must also say that I only use them for times when I need a meal and it is impossible to take a bfl meal.
e.g I am a singer and when I'm at a gig from 7pm - midnight I need a meal in there somewhere and I can't exactly sit down to chicken and potatoes, so thats when i eat a bar.

but yes - they do taste gross and I only eat them when I have to.

There is one other thing I'm dissapointed about from EAS.
Did anyone get the calender with the muscle media magazine?

I was looking through it just soaking up inspiration but also looking for someone who started at the same size I am. Finally I saw Pam Brown (although I didn't know it was her at the time) I was so excited when I saw her pictures and was so inspired to see what I could achieve in one challenge.
However, as I now know those pictures are from her first and third challenges, not what she did in one challenge. I am not in any way trying to take away from what she did as I think it is a huge achievement, I am just feeling a little let down, as I had thought it was from one challenge. Anyway I'm still a believer and going strong.

As at this morning I have lost 5 kgs (11lbs) in four weeks, and am noticing a lot of muscle development - so I'm pretty happy.

catch you later - have a great day
Carly

:wave: Great job so far!!! You must be happy. Yes its cool to have someone posting who's at the same point in the challenge - but - it's even more cool to talk to someone from down under. That is a first for me!! Just wish they had a moose or a beaver icon that I could type in to represent my country.

I'm going to wait until after W6 to take measurements and another picture. Haven't decided if I'm going to weigh myself or not yet - maybe just to figure out BF%.

Feeling 100% better today than I did mid week - although I did something to my neck again - yesterday was upper body. I must have bad form with something because I did this in the first week with upper body too! Going to look over the book and surf on the weekend to decide how to change my weight lifting routines to get ready for W5!!!! I can't believe I'm this far already.

Just want to thank all of you ladies for your inspiration, knowledge and support that you've shared.

Carly - PLEASE don't blame Pam for those calendar pix. If you go to L&S and read her profile and see her pix (and read her document in the L&S Training Library) she has NEVER represented herself as going from flab to fab in one challenge...she has entered four official Challenges (that I know of) and used new B&A photos each time. If you have the Jan/Feb issue of Energy for Women (still on newsstands) go to page 19 and you'll see the before and after pix from her first three Challenges - or you can go here for C1:

http://66.34.72.178/cgi-bin/filelib/library.cgi?forum=open&read=000046-000000.msg&session=3c7ffc181e8c8aef&use_last_read=on&last_read=0

Here's her C2 Before and afters:

http://66.34.72.178/cgi-bin/filelib/library.cgi?forum=open&read=000147-000000.msg&session=3c7ffc5c1ec66a4c&use_last_read=on&last_read=0

And C3 (includes past photos):

http://66.34.72.178/cgi-bin/filelib/library.cgi?forum=open&read=000399-000000.msg&session=3c7ffc921ed0858a&use_last_read=on&last_read=0

Gotta run, will write more later!

I gotta admit that I also thought a lot of those pics were the result of 1 12 week challenge, which is why I was so sceptical about BFL at the outset. And why I was so peeved when I didn't see anything major going on in the first 4 weeks. As it is, I'm still waiting for that 8 week magic- I've still got 1 day in week 8 so maybe I'll wake up with an entirely new body and outlook:lol: But I am learning a bit more patience....

Did a big arm workout today, really trying to push for results now. Tomorrow I've got a session with Robert, the torture master, to do shoulders and back, my weakest area both physically and knowledge wise. I sure wish I could afford him more!

MrsJim- on your low-carb days do you notice an energy drop? Just wondering about the trade-off between fat loss and muscle building.

Carps- Holy smoke! 11 pounds in 4 weeks? and you are building muscle! WTG- I haven't checked lately, but I think my total scale loss has been 2 pounds in 8 weeks :( Again, not really my expectation from the book. But I have great shoulders and quads if I must say so myself! And they'll only get better. Now, where did my abs go?

See y'all later,
mel

Yes, Pam has always had all her challenge pix available on L&S. In fact, I did a "Pam collage" last year when her precontest pix were released going back from challenge 1. If you look in the Transformation Gallery around June of last year you will see Pam B4 and After pix done by SJ (me!).

I don't know why EAS would make it seem like you could go from 0-60 in one challenge. It leads to a lot of disappointment. They might want people to see how you can lose a lot of fat weight like Pam (and also Mina who had a fabulous transformation and I don't have her website anymore with the pix but another true transformation story) without showing all 3 or 4 pix. I don't know but i agree it's misleading.

Thunderheart: Yes you have come this far!!! Congrats!

Neckproblems: I once hurt myself with lat pulldowns. Watch the weight and be sure to support the head on anything where you are raising the weight above. By support i mean make sure you are standing straight and not slouching (slouching puts a strain on the neck). I have arthritic back and neck so I am very aware of what aggravates it. Watch form always (a big problem of mine! my head drifts around). Another thing I have to be careful about is bouncing the weights. That can jar the neck.

MrsJim: Yes, I rec'd it and I am thrilled to death! You have no idea! Thank you Thank you Thank you.

I too am having some GS cookies this weekend. My house is full of them. I just shipped some off to the boys back east and my hubby has been polishing off about a box a night (lovely, eh?) but I am holding off for Sunday. I have been holding myself to one free meal a week (meal plus dessert, usually a big burrito and an ice cream cone) and was going to have an icecream cone this sunday but I'm going to do the GS cookies instead. I don't do an all day pigout on Sundays anymore like I did in my first challenge. I do about 2 hours on Sunday night. Gee, how many GS cookies can I eat in 2 hours? :lol:

I did a good cardio this morning and between my new shoes (Saucony Courageous...brand new style for them for overpronators...AWESOME SHOE...I cannot say enough about them. I am still mad at Saucony for discontinuing their classic jazz but these shoes truly rock) and no palpitations I am MOVING.

what else? Oh yeah, I'm drowning in school work that should be doing right now.

take care everyone!
Susan

Mina's beginning C1 and end C4 pix are in Feb 2001 of the Transformation Gallery on L&S. I believe the before pix on the MM calendar (she's on February) really is her pre C4 pix. It's obviously not her C1 one. So I don't think they misled on that one. If you look at her pix in the transformation gallery, it is truly amazing she did that in a year even!!! There is a website somewhere that chronicles her whole journey (I Printed it out when I first started last year) but I can't find it now. I think it might be on one of the Yahoo BFL club sites.

I can't find the Pam collage I did last year on L&S. Maybe Erik took it down or I put it in Playspace. I don't know. I'll look for it again.

please don't think I'm blaming Pam, she is a true inspiration, I was just expressing how I felt a little misled by the calender pics. I would still be incredibly happy to transform my body like that in the space of a year.

In regards to my weight loss - in probably needs to be said that I started at 235lbs, (my heaviest ever was 248lbs) so it comes off a lot faster when you're as big as I am.
Also this style of eating is COMPLETELY different for me, I was a full blown foodaholic with an addiction that was raging out of control. To eat this way is a revelation, and I'm loving it!:T

I would love to hear from anyone who is feeding their children the body for life way. I am trying to figure out how to transition my girls to it (they are only 5, 4, & 1). and how to make it work at school etc.

Thanks to everyone for the support and feedback
Carly

Hi Carly,

My daughter (age 8) eats the BLF protein/carb/veggie dinner that I do and she loves it. I de-emphasize sugars and fats in her diet overall but I don't think she'd be able to eat every 3 hours with her school schedule. I also feed her typical 8 year old breakfast and lunches because that is what conforms best to her school day. I do try to guide her on good choices and good portion sizes for her age. I also try to emphasize food as fuel concept although that is very tough in this society with the emphasis on food as everything. I'm sure my daughter needs more milk than I use on BFL and probably some other things. I try to push the concepts of balance, portion and healthy choices but overall, I'm not sure this would work well all day for a kid. She eats a BFL dinner and I try to push BFL style lunches on the weekend and that's about it. Right now she's learning to eat more fruits and veggies and for me, that's a miracle. :D

Maybe others have more scientific answers...

dunno
Susan

It is SO gorgeous outside here in the Bay Area! Can't wait for my riding lesson in about 1 1/2 hours... :cool:

Last night I babysat until 10:30 for my sister. Did you guys watch the 20/20 feature last night on fitness frauds? I must say the guy who runs the company that markets the Ab Energizer has no shame whatsoever. He said he has studies, but when asked to see them, he said that they were 'proprietary' and refused to let the reporter see them. Then he was asked if HE used the product and he said yes, but refused to show his abs because he was 'shy'. Sheesh. Talk about chutzpah...of course he has made millions on this shoddy product, and will continue to do so because even if the FTC bans him from marketing it here in the States, he still has the rest of the world to sell it to!

Here's the story link: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/DailyNews/2020_dietads_010301.html

There was a similar story on KRON 4 last night: http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=686832

The night before KRON did a story on Body Solutions:
http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=686758

Carly - I don't have kids myself, but if I did - I sure as heck wouldn't keep cookies, ice cream, Lunchables, etc around the house as staples, the way I see so many parents do...instead I'd keep stuff like fresh fruit, fat-free fruit flavored yogurt (such as Dannon Lite N Fit or Yoplait Light), FF/SF Jello Pudding, etc around for treats. Here's a quote from The Fat of the Land by Michael Fumento: ...Families were never meant to be democracies. It is the duty of parents to continually exert pressure to bring up their children to be intelligent, well behaved, responsible, thrifty, and compassionate. And, yes, healthy. Rosemary Green, author of Diary of a Fat Housewife, told me that parents are always saying to her that their children won't eat healthy food. Her reply? "I advise them to hold out a hand to their child and say, 'Put your hand next to mine. Now, whose is bigger? Mommy is going to tell you what to eat because Mommy is bigger.' "

It would be one thing for me to just sigh when I see my super-sized neighbor lying next to the pool with a super-sized bag of potato chips next to him and a super-sized soda balanced on his belly. It would be quite another to do the same with my son or daughter. We are sacrificing our children in the names of such fads as self-esteem and overveneration of personal freedom. A 1996 poll showed that a teenager's likelihood of using drugs was directly related to how resigned the parent was that the child was going to go ahead and use them, no matter what. "What is infuriating," said Joseph Califano, director of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, "is the resignation of so many parents to the present mess." I hear you, guy. And it's the same with obesity.

How ludicrous it is that the director of nutrition for a school district in Southern California says one of her "biggest" problems is that high school kids want their French fries fried, when baked ones are so much healthier. Lady, you tell them that baked fries are all that's on the menu. Problem solved. Now the schools can concentrate on the "little" problems, like violence and teenage pregnancies.

Whew! Time to get dressed and cut up carrots for my equine buddies. More later!