I realize that website is a page from the site you gave us earlier Suzanne - just wanted to point it out for the calorie counters in case you hadn't found it yet.
I did make the Greek pinwheels yesterday and I recommend them. I think they'll be even better the second day. While I was at it I doubled the recipe - with the thought that they'll be easy to take to work.
Amaranth - I am a southern girl and I MISS cornbread. I searched your regular site but couldn't find the recipe so if you are so inclined would you post it here or send me the link.
This whole thing is about losing weight, but then it is about more than that too. I am trying not to focus on that to the point I get myself all worked up about it. On the other hand I had a good weigh-in this morning so I want to share. Down 3 lbs. since starting a week and a half ago. I am going to keep track from Friday weigh-ins.
On workouts - well, I am going to rely on the 20 minute cardios 3 times a week. I do the weights a bit differently though. I have been lifting for a little over a year about 85% of the time and I am doing one body part a week.
I'm still holding out on the extra cardio thing.... I'm testing out to see if just really pushing the intensity of the 20MAS will do it for me. I've just graduated to Spinning for my cardio, so I'll let you know how that goes. Everytime I've switched equipment, I've seen my body fat% drop. I started walking, then went to recumbent bike, then switched to the elliptical, but have been using it for months. I'm one of those people who will never run, unfortunately, because I believe that to be the ultimate cardio for fat loss... But my joints just can't take it
Cindy
See the March 30th issue - it's the cover story "Pig Out Every Weekend and Lose 5# a Week!" Inside it features a few of the BFL champions and has a one-week menu plan.
The story does mention that although the diet allows for eating anything you want on the 7th day, that eventually people will find their "free days" not so free - you just stop wanting all the junk. Personally, I feel pretty crappy if I eat a lot of sugary stuff, so my free days/meals tend to just revolve around bread and/or cheese - my favorites! Oh, and wine or cocktails!
Cindy
I glimpsed through that article, but didn't read it all (didn't buy it) I noticed that they did a good job making it sound like a fad diet, and I thought they twisted things around. If I recall correctly, they said you could do BFL without any exercise and they stressed that you could pig out on donuts and pizza. They left out a lot of details. Oh well, I guess if anyone is interested in the plan, they'll buy the book and then get the whole story
I agree about the free days. I guess if I were starting this plan as a beginning dieter, then I would be tempted to take advantage of the free days at first. I'm used to a healthy way of eating, though, and the idea of pigging out doesn't appeal to me at all. However, I'll enjoy knowing that I don't have to worry so much whenever we have family birthday dinners (every month) or other occasions where the choices aren't always as good. Another thing I like about this program would be the nutrition shakes, as they satisfy my sweet tooth
Hi folks. I got my vitaglo shipment yesterday and tried the Cappucino Ice for breakfast. I liked it. And, I will make greek pinwheels again - the appetizer, dip type recipes are appealing to me. I plan to try the tuna dip one and the salsa dip one. I was at a yoga/meditation workshop all day. I am trying to incorporate some of those things into my lifestyle and I think I can make it work, it's my goal anyway. One of the requirements for today was to eat light - I was able to do that and get in everything though it wasn't exactly a normal eating day.
I am looking for that BFL journal but wasn't able to find it locally. I will have to look it up at Amazon.
Hey girls - I want muscles! Don't forget to set your clocks forward.
Eeek! I had hoped to have everything read and be ready to go by tomorrow, but I don't think I am going to make it. Suzanne, I need to get my BF% again at your house, too.
Why is there never enough time in the day? I am trying to read the links posted here, and also the body building links that MrsJim and a few others posted on this weeks LWL thread, but I keep getting side tracked with emails and trivial things, like dinner and sleep! Maybe I should print it all, unplug the computer, and spend the night on the couch reading.
Welcome to BFL/EFL Jennifer. I hear you on the busy days. I remember when I first started BFL the learning curve seemed so high. It will come though. I have to be honest. I have read BFL several times but I bought EFL for the recipes. I do intend to read the rest of it very soon though.
This has been a good weekend. I took a free meal Friday morning but that has been all this week. I may need another mid-week as I will be involved in some travel and disrupted days, but hope to just have what I need to keep those free meals at bay.
Good luck to everyone as you prepare for a new week. I have some cooking, blending, preparing to do myself before I can call it a day.
Yo, all! This thread is very interesting. My computer crashed and I had several consecutive "free" days because I couldn't post on 3FC and just kind of gave up and ate, proving the value of this site!!!! Anyhow, I had an "official" free day today as a test and ate a bunch of junk (posted on the CCRRMM food/exercise thread) and find myself looking forward to not eating anymore junk food for the rest of the week!!! I think I'm committed!!!! Yay! Next Sunday, I don't think the free day will be as extensive!!!
Ledom, I can't find the recipe either. I stored some of those in the computer but it crashed. I basically took a corn muffin recipe from my mother's old cookbook and used half whole wheat flour, half self rising flour, baking powder, cornmeal, frozen corn kernals, fat free cottage cheese, Eggbeaters, protein powder, a little canola oil and probably a few other things. I wasn't officially doing EFL then but now realize that's what I was going for ... a healthy balanced delicious muffin mini meal to take with me on the job ... I've been experimenting with a lot of muffin recipes that fit BFL. If I make the corn muffins again, I'd replace all the white flour with whole wheat and use more baking powder.
Suzanne, I refrigerate the bars but it's all too easy to zap 'em in the microwave! I'm probably not going to buy anymore for awhile after this box is gone. I do better when I actually cook! I'll just make my own bars!
And, yes, the personal trainer has made all the difference to me this past year! I can't believe how helpful it's been, especially with the weight training, but also the cardio and yoga.
BFL Cat: Is spinning fun? They don't have a class in my gym but I'd love to try it. Sometimes I try to replicate it on the recumbent bike, but it's just not cool!
Jennifer: Sometimes I think that if I actually exercised and cooked for as much time as I spend reading about exercising and cooking healthy, I'd be a lot further along than I am ...
I'm calling this Day One again (it was an official free day)!
Had an all-fruit smoothie tonight (frozen berries, water, blended) because I was craving something healthy ... but usually I blend cottage cheese with the frozen fruit (any kind) and it fits the BFL eating style ... planning on this for breakfast!
Amaranth, glad you're back. I'll repeat once again one of my favorite BFL sayings, you are only 2 hrs. away from your next clean meal and being back on the diet.
I think I ordered the wrong kind of bars. They are EAS, but they have 300 cal., I was interested in the ones w/ something closer to 200 cal. I'll just have to spread them out and learn better what to order in the future.
Did a little short yoga session already and am headed to the basement for my back workout. Hope everyone's day goes well.
Ledom, I love the cappucino ice, too! I haven't tried it plain yet, but am following one of MrsJim's suggestions to add a little bit of sugar free butterscotch pudding mix to it. It's yummy! I took a few packages of SF pudding mix and put them in an unused spice jar, so I can easily spoon it out. I used 1 1/2 tsp of the mix in one packet of myoplex.
The pinwheels sound good! I'll make them one day when Jennifer is coming for lunch. I love that most of the recipes are designed for only one or two servings.
Quote:
My computer crashed and I had several consecutive "free" days because I couldn't post on 3FC and just kind of gave up and ate, proving the value of this site!!!!
Maybe that should be added as one of the Rules of Dieting: Calories don't count if you can't get online to report them
Amarantha, contratulations on a brand new Day One! I like what ledom said, that you are only 2 hours away from being back on diet. That should be stressed in all weight loss diets. About the bars, have you ever tried making your own? I've searched the net looking for energy bar recipes, there aren't many out there that sound well balanced. The general idea seems to be that chocolate chips are an excellent source of energy
This is going to be a good week for us all, I just have a feeling about it
I still don't know what I am supposed to be eating, but this morning I had some bran (its a requirement!) and 1 percent milk before working out and a 1 egg, 2 white spinach omelet afterward. I have no clue what to do for the rest of the day. I'll just have to take it one meal at a time! (Will keep reading on lunch break!)
Suzanne - I am with you, I think it is going to be a great week for us all. I think it is going to be a great 12 week challenge. Jennifer - did you figure out what to eat yesterday? Thought I'd list my meals, I won't do it daily but it was a pretty good day I think.
Breakfast - 1/2 c. steel cut oats w/ 1 scoop choc. protein powder, 1/2 c. cottage cheese and 1/2 cup fresh strawberries w/ splenda all mixed together - would never think to eat this pre BFL but now it's a favorite
Snack - vanilla EAS shake w/ 1 T UDOs
Lunch - Greek pinwheel (more of a wrap since I didn't slice it)
Snack - nutrition bar, had about 220 cals.
Supper - BFL chili -I'd be happy to share it here if anyone wants it, 1 T parmesan cheese
meal 6 - 1 c oatmeal, 2 scoops protein powder, 1/4 c. skim milk
I had a long stretched out day yesterday so my meals were a little further apart. I was really ready to eat at each meal but went to bed satisfied. I was ravenous this a.m. but breakfast took care of that. Frequent meals are a good thing.
Jennifer I haven't tried this but it does have 5 stars on the L&S healthy recipe list.
You'll need to add more protein to you meals when you start lifting - that is what I see from looking at your menu. Generally when I have eggs I have 6 whites and 1 yolk for example.
Lasagne
Sauce:
1 lb. Ground Turkey
1 large (16-18oz) can tomato sauce
1 8 oz. Can diced tomatoes
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Cheese Mixture:
2 eggs, beaten (eggbeaters)
15 oz. Low Fat Ricotta cheese
14 oz. Fat Free Cottage Cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 T. chopped parsley
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
Veggie Mixture:
Total of ~4 cups finely chopped raw veggies. Try the following:
Spinach Mushrooms
Carrots Zucchini
Broccoli Etc.
1 8 oz. Pkg. Whole wheat Lasagna noodles (uncooked)
~½ lb. Mozzarella cheese
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Brown and drain the meat, add the rest of the sauce ingredients and simmer on med-low heat while preparing other ingredients, stirring occasionally.
3. Combine cheese mixture ingredients and set aside.
4. Chop and combine veggies.
5. Assemble as follows in a 9 x 13 pan:
1) 1/5 sauce
2) ½ pasta
3) 1/5 sauce
4) ½ cheese mix
5) ½ veggies
6) ½ mozzarella
7) 1/5 sauce
½ pasta
9) 1/5 sauce
10) ½ cheese mix
11) ½ veggies
12) ½ mozzarella
13) 1/5 sauce
** Note: Break uncooked noodles to fit pan. Make noodles 1-2 inches shorter than the pan as they will expand as they cook.
6. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 20 min. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Cut into squares and serve with grated Parmesan cheese. 12 Servings.
That sounds really good! I will try this one day soon. I need to start using FitDay so I know where I'm at. I had wanted to start lifting today, but when I was shopping for equipment it occurred to me that I am going ot have a hard time with lower body. I have bad knees and I don't think lunges or squats will be good for me. I'm not sure what to buy! I was going to do standard dumb/barbells but now maybe I should rethink the regimen and do weights another way.
and they stressed that you could pig out on donuts and pizza. They left out a lot of details. Oh well, I guess if anyone is interested in the plan, they'll buy the book and then get the whole story 
Yo!
Maybe that should be added as one of the Rules of Dieting: Calories don't count if you can't get online to report them 
