Hi all. I am totally new to BFL, will get my book in the mail tomorrow. A friend just
told me about this program Friday. I am starting the diet part today. I understand
i eat a small portion of protein and a carb every 2 -3 hours. That's what I will do
until this until I get the book. I have exercised 60-90 minutes almost everyday for
nine months, have gone days and days without eating and I am at the same
weight. So I hope that BFL will be the solution. I have a treadmill and a universal
gym..hope that will work with the workout portion. Ideas for menus for the day?
Encouragement? I'm 5' and weigh 150 lbs. Help! Especially today and tomorrow
until I get the book. Should I be posting to a different group?

Curly-You might want to go over to www.leanandstrong.com. They have tons of information over there. Also, read the body for life thread on this board. We have people there that are willing to help. I have been on the plan for 10 weeks now, and feel great! You are making the right decision about doing it. My daily menu is normally the following:
1.4 hard boiled egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry then mixed to equal 1 cup)
2. Either 1 meal replacement drink or bar
3. chicken, peach, vegetable
4. cottage cheese, fruit
5. lean meat or chicken, vegetable, and potato or rice
6. cottage cheese mixed with 1/2 cup dry oatmeal.

My day starts at 3:30 AM, so breakfast is usually at 5:00 ( 1 1/2 hr. after working out). My next meal is at 9:00,1:00,4:00,7:00, then my last meal is in bed at about 9:00.

Hope this helps a little.

Thanks Shelley. Do you have to drink the shakes? Can you recommend a good tasting protein bar I can take to work with me? Do I have to exercise in the morning? I usually have time after 4 only (in afternoon). Rice: only brown? or can it be Basmanti? I will be used the fitday.com to calculate calories and protein/carbs.

Curly-No, you don't have to drink the shakes and I haven't found a decent tasting protein bar yet. Some people love them, I just have to choke them down! I tend to have the Balance Outdoor bars since I can't get the others down. They have a bit too much sugar in them, and most people on BFL would advise against them, so I wouldn't suggest you having them at the beginning.

You can exercise anytime, as long as it is 3 hrs. after eating.

Also, brown rice is best for you, although some people do have white.

Hi!~

for yummy bars -- what about Luna bars by Clif? Would they work out for BFL? I am new to BFL - but they are INCREDIBLY similiar to Myoplex lite and they are great tasting in my opinion. I like sweets so they hit the spot....

Does anyone know if this is okay???

Hunny-Sorry to say that the Luna Bars have way too much sugar for BFL. I love them, too. I don't like the Myoplex bars at all, so I try to find bars that have the lowest amount of sugar in them. Most people on the plan would say to stay away from any bars with more than a few grams of sugar, but I am trying to make this a plan that I can follow for life, so I have been having the Balance Outdoor bars. They still have too much sugar, but they are lower than many others out there.

I pretty much hate all protein bars and because they tend to be high in sugar I don't think it's a good tradeoff (no taste plus high in sugar). If you like cottage cheese (I don't but some people do), it's a good choice or make pudding with the shake mix (add jello ff/sf jello to the shake mix). I personally love the shakes so I do all kinds of them. Taking them on the road is tough. Right now I'm experimenting with freezing them and taking them. If I had an office or somewhere to put a portable blender, I would do that. (I'm a student)

The AdVantage Bars by EAS are pretty good. I can get them in some of the drug stores here so if I'm on the road and didn't pack enough food I will run in a store for one of these. I can do some myo lite bars if I freeze them and the Lean Body by Labrada seem to be pretty good.

Susan

...They can be quite good for when you can't seem to schedule a particular meal in.

During my first challenge - Meal #4 was generally the hardest to get in. I don't have a blender at work so I couldn't make a Myo Lite (as yummy as they are blended like a shake with some ice they taste like crap in a shaker - can't seem to get those lumps out!!). Besides I like to limit myself to 2 Myo Lites a day if possible. I really enjoy having my Myo Lite before bedtime!

So for a while, I used MRBs until I got sick of them...plus cottage cheese and fruit is less expensive - I get a week's worth of Knudsen for $4 and we have free fruit on Wednesdays at work. I just grab three pieces and have one on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday with my serving of cottage cheese. Voila! and actually easier to eat than MRBs, not to mention more filling and tastier IMO.

When I do use MRBs I stay AWAY from Myo Lite bars. Not only do they have a lot of sugar but they really taste awful! The best tasting ones are Worldwide Pure Protien - I like the Chocolate Covered Blueberry Cheesecake and the S'Mores flavors in particular. You have to have a fruit with it though for your carb portion...

So for emergencies or getting accustomed to having 6 meals a day, they're fine but I wouldn't rely on them!