Happy Birthday Mrs. Jim!!!
 

And good to see the "size 6 jeans" photo on your posts.

Hi everybody! You have some great sources on nutrition info on this board and on Lean & Strong, but in case you're ever not quite sure of your portions you can check out the labels on the food. My portions are usually around 20 grams of protein or carbs, but taller or more muscular people might have more like 30.

The last cardio workout of Challenge 1 is now complete -- Yay!!!! I still haven't learned to love the 20 MAS as much as other parts of the program, so one goal for next challenge will be to work on my cardio attitude (maybe HIIT would be more "fun").

Have a great weekend!!!

Carrie

Thanks!!
 

I just got back from babysitting my nephew and niece...I will celebrate my birthday tomorrow on Free Day!

Actually I did get a great pair of ankle boots at the mall today.

I thought that it being my b-day and all it was a good time to change the photo to something a bit more recent. Of course you need a magnifying glass to see it! :dizzy:

Carrie - you may want to try alternating HIIT and 20 MAS cardio sessions (that's what I've been doing - I do HIIT on the treadmill and 20 MAS on the elliptical). Basically a 20 minute HIIT session properly done is hitting a "10" 10 times. I do a minute at a brisk walk, then a minute as all-out as I can do for 60 seconds, then back to a brisk walk, then all-out, etc. until the 20 minutes is over. And I do recommend changing cardio machines - I actually enjoy the elliptical a lot more than the treadmill, but I have also tried the Step Mill. now THAT's a worker!! OW!

Well, time for my bedtime MyoLite! Night all!

Yee haw Free Day!!!
 

Hope everyone is having a good one today!

Jim and I spent this morning cleaning house (BADLY needed around here, I can tell ya!), then went to McDonald's for Free Day lunch.

BTW, on another forum on the Web (I don't go to many others other than L&S and this one though) someone accused me of being 'against' any fitness program that isn't BFL, and then used the old argument that BFL costs a ton of moolah to do (which of course is untrue - the book even states you don't NEED to use Myoplex, Betagen, etc. - but so many people who have not even cracked open the book assume it's a huge marketing ploy for EAS). I had already replied but afterwards read a post by George Roberts on L&S' main board. I wanted to quote it here 'cos I wish I had said it this eloquently! Here goes:

Originally Posted by :
Nobody was a bigger skeptic than I. The first time I logged onto the BFL site and saw the transformations, I said out loud, "There's no way those people did that in 12 weeks!"

What you come to realize is that those are the champions out of thousands of entries. After 8 months, I still don't look like a transformation champion, but I have transformed myself for the better, and I continue to push forward, and that's what the program's really about.

There's no denying that the book serves as an incredible marketing vehicle for EAS. But there's also no denying that it's still a very good book. Don't make the mistake of confusing all the sales bull with the validity of the program.

By the way, I don't use any EAS products as a rule, but the ones I've tried (primarily the Myoplex shakes and various bars) I thought were pretty good. In fact, I think there are a lot of good products on the market by various companies.

Is this the right program for you? I'm convinced anyone--anyone--could get great results with it.

Have a fantastic Sunday y'all!

Mrs. Jim, you are so right...

I saw your post at L&S and read the Anorex debate on the other web site...it really makes you crazy, doesn't it? Everyone is looking for that "magic pill" that's going to make them lean, strong and healthy. Speaking as someone who's been there, who used to wash down their Phen-Fen with Slim Fast :eek: and ended up a whole lot fatter from the experience -

The secret to getting in shape is...there is no secret! You've got to believe you can, you've got to use a technology that works (proper nutrition, moderate aerobic exercise, and a concern for muscle), and you've got to follow through. Is it easy? No! But for me, it's a lot easier to live with myself now that I'm actually sticking to a program, seeing progress, feeling my energy increase daily, fitting back into the clothes that have been gathering dust in the back of my closet...I'll take that over "easy" any day!

As for BFL being a marketing ploy for EAS...oh, really? I did my entire first challenge without using a single EAS product. (I just started using MyoLite and Udo's - not an EAS product, by the way - when I began Challenge 2, and I don't use any supplements.) I don't recall any chapters of the Body for Life book saying that you have to use any of the EAS products to have success with the program.

OK! I'll get down from the soapbox now. It's hard to stay off of it, since I've struggled with being unfit most of my life. Now that I've found an answer that works for me, I want to share it with everyone. And Mrs. Jim, please don't let those negative people get you down - you have been a great inspiration to so many of us - and we appreciate it so much!

Marci

Thanks for the support!!!
 

Even before I started on my BFL journey, I would get so angry reading threads and posts on this and other forums about the latest can't-fail diet pill, exercise gadget, infomercial gimmick, etc. and see desparate people (mostly women) running after them in the hopes that THIS WILL BE THE ONE THAT WORKS.

In fact, that's why it took me a little 'convincing' to give BFL a try.

But once I read the book and saw Susanje's posts, it came together for me in my mind...I crossed my abyss and have been going full steam ever since.

Now, without a doubt as George said in his post (quoted in my previous post) BFL has been a tremendous boon for EAS. But...I really don't think that was Bill Phillips' primary goal. From what I've read and seen about him, he is someone who truly feels he's been blessed and wants to share some of that blessing with others. Anyone who has seen the video "Body of Work" will remember a key scene, where Bill P was referring to the spectators and fans he would come across, who were so out of shape. His vision was/is to bring the benefits of bodybuilding to the general public (most of whom had the same view of bodybuilders as I did - big steroid freakish overly muscled types). He does not strike me as a selfish person in the least - a prime example is the book itself - all profits go to Make-a-Wish Foundation - undoubtedly millions that could have gone into his pocket - instead helping others.

Anyway, sorry to ramble on. Thanks SO MUCH for your support - I just get so fed up with the 'diet industry' sometimes...