Hi Susan.

I'm hanging in there. Just trying to get everything in line to start next week.

I got my shipment of myoplex lite in today. I actually tried one of the shakes & WOW. It was really good. I ordered one of the packages that had the shakes, betagen, & Betalean. I added on some more shakes & bars. It was cheaper to get the package than the individual shakes. I'm not taking the betalean. I will probably just throw it in the dumpster.

I am going to pick up my pictures before I go back to work. Still not looking forward to them.

The meatloaf recipe sounds good. I'm going to have to try that. I'm not a big fan of the stuff, but I'm going to need lots of ideas. I've been looking at the Yahoo Groups to get ideas and the BFL website. Boy, there are lots of recipes.

Sorry to hear about the gym. Glad to hear you are getting equipment at home. I think me going in the morning will be good because there usually aren't too many people there and most of them do cardio. Some of them are pretty serious, so I don't think I'll have a problem. I have done some dumbell work at home in the past and still do on occasion.

How do you remember which exercises to do? Do you carry a pad w/you at the gym? I just can't remember what some exercises are called & need the pictures to remember. I don't want to be walking around the gym like an idiot carrying the book going "This is what I need to be doing" LOL.

I'm going to work out tonight, even if it's just the treadmill. My body has started revolting from not working out for almost 2 weeks. Funny, I don't think my body has ever reacted this way to exercise. But now I can really tell when I need more water, or need a healthy meal, or need exercise. Right now, I think I need all three.

Have a great rest of the week!

Hi Jen,

I downloaded some of the forms from the book either from the eas site or the www.bodyforlife.com site or the www.leanandstrong.com site. Sorry I don't remember where I got them from! I pulled them into word and then filled in the exercises I want to do, changing them every 4 weeks (so I have 3 sets). I have upper body page, lower body page and cardio page (with the intensity levels on it, I'm just beginning to remember it on my own). Then I brought them to the gym for a few weeks. Now I know what order they go in, but once I pass my first phase, I'll have to bring them in again for a while. Also, I would write on them "not enough weight", watch form......etc. and check each time. I could have used one of them tonight as I kept starting out at too low a weight and not feeling especially taxed by the end (NOT the way to do BFL!!!!)

Sound like you are doing the right things!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susan

Body for life Links

http://*************.com/group/bodyforlife

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/bodyforlifeplus
(for plus women)

http://www.hussman.com/eas/

http://www.bodyforlife.com/

http://www.leanandstrong.com/

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/bodyforlifewomensclub

(for women)

http://www.eas.com

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/bodyforlife

Hi Susan.

Thanks for the links & info about the forms.

I got my picures back. UGH! If I look like this after already losing 90 pounds, I hate to think what I would have looked like in a 2 piece a year ago.

I sat down & made up my menus for the next week. I also made up my grocery list from the menus only. I just have to get in & out of the store w/o buying any extra junk. I also cleaned out my pantry & fridge from all the tempting stuff.

I still need to write down the exercise program for the next week as well. I want to have everything ready so I have no excuses for not doing it.

Have you gotten all of your exercise equipment? I would imagine that will help you stick with it.

Hope you have a great weekend.

I started posting on 3FC several months ago, but haven't been posting for a while now. I pretty much exclusivly post at the Leanandstrong.com message board.
I thought I'd take a look around 3FC, and was delighted to find this thread. I am in week 8 of my 1st challenge. Well, actually my second challenge, as I did the challenge in 1999 before I got pregnant with my 2nd baby. But I started this challenge on Feb. 21st. I am a total gung ho BFLer. I love it.
I do my 20MAS (cardio) on my elliptical that I have in my living room. I love my precious elliptical. Wouldn't have had this much success without it, since my hubby works 24 hour shifts, it allows me to work out at home on his work days.
I take Myo-lite, l-glutamine (yes, it helps with muscle recovery/soreness, and helps immune system), and Udo's oil. I was taking Betagen, but decided not to take it anymore.
At 4 weeks, I had lost 6 pounds of fat, gained 1 pound of muscle, and lost 5 scale pounds. Bodyfat % went from 36% to 33%. Week 8 results are next week. Yeah! But I have went from a very tight size 18 jeans, to a size 16 jeans a week or so ago.
My 12 week goals are...
*lose 20 pounds of fat
*gain 5 pounds of muscle (which would add up to a loss of 15 scale pounds, putting me at 185 since I started out at 200).
*get bf% down to at least 29%
*fit into a size 14 jeans comfortably
My ultimate goals are...
*be 15% bf (yes, I want to look muscular)
*fit into a size 5 jeans
*leg press 700 pounds
*go 2 miles in 20 minutes on my elliptical
I will do at least 1 more challenge, probably 2, officially. I just can't get enough!!!
Nice to meet you both!
Christy

Hi Christy!!!!

Glad you could join us. Since you are a more seasoned veteran than the rest of us, I hope you stick around! I usually post on Yahoo groups BFL and here. I have read lean and strong (lots of great info) but I have felt too intimidated to post there. I am finishing up my 3rd week or beginning my 4th (who knows it's FREE DAY!!!!)
but I have been on some kind of weight loss plan since the 2nd of January (WW before BFL) and have been working out since the 1st of February. I have gone down one pants size and can see that I am not long for this size. Body for Life is incredible!!! I have so much energy and am getting leaner EVERY DAY!

I have changed gyms and am recommitting on Monday (not changing my start date or anything but had a bad week of workouts due to the problems at my old gym) and I also have an elliptical trainer coming to my home one of these days (it's on order).

Perhaps you can share how you get the high intensity out of the elliptical.

Glad you posted here! Happy Training

Susan

Good for you for recomitting. I see so many people who get off track for a few days or a week, and feel the need to start all over again. Not a good idea in my opinion. This is for LIFE! No need to start over, just move on!
I started following the BFL eating little while before I officially entered the challenge, and lost 10 pounds. So that brings my TOTAL to about 20 scale pounds lost. I am very happy about that. I just strive to meet all of my goals for this challenge. It ends May 15th!
About the elliptical... here is how I do my 20 MAS... I follow the levels 6-9 (5 at warm-up and cooldown) and my level 10 for the last level before cooling down, just like in the book. For my elliptical (Pro-Form), it has a resistance nob on the display panel, that I use to up the resistance. For warm-up Level 5, I have it on no resistance, and just go along for 2 minutes at a moderate speed. For level 6, I just go faster at the same no resistance level. For L7, I turn the nob one click to up the resistance a notch. I do this for levels 8 & 9, upping the resistance each time. For a level 10, I use the same resistance as I did for level 9, but I just go FASTER!
Your elliptical will probably be a bit different than mine, so you'll have to play around with it for a while, to find YOUR levels. You'll love it! It sounds complicated when I type it all out, but it isn't.
My elliptical has a timer/milage/speed/laps/calories burned panel. To make the workout easy for me, I taped a chart on the panel to go along with the timer. So if I forget what level I am going to, I just look at my chart. It looks like this- (*=minutes/ L= level)

*0-2=L5
*2-3=L6
*3-4=L7
*4-5=L8
*5-6=L9

*6-7=L6
*7-8=L7
*8-9=L8
*9-10=L9

*10-11=L6
*11-12=L7
*12-13=L8
*13-14=L9

*14-15=L6
*15-16=L7
*16-17=L8
*17-18=L9
*18-19=L10!!!
*19-20=L5

This works for me great! I can just look at the timer, and if it reads 8:43 I know that I am in level 8, going up to level 9.
Well, I've taken up enough space, so I'll check back tomorrow. Have a great workout!
Christy

Hi ladies.

Well, tomorrow is D-day for me. I'm a little nervouse & excited all rolled into one. I've planned (and cooked) my meals for the week. I've also planned out the exercise.

Christy, I'm glad you've joined. It will be great for me to have someone else to ask about the program. I do have one stupid question. What is Udo's oil? I've seen it on some of the other message boards, but I have no idea what it is.

Susan, How did you enjoy your free day?

Well, I need to go take my measurements so I have a starting point. Wish me luck on the early morning workout....I'm definitely gonna need it.

I'll check in tomorrow & let you know how day one is going.

HEY JEN,

You GO with it! CONGRATS ON A GOOD AND HEALTHY START

I think that netrition.com carries UDOs. I use flax oil right now but will switch to UDOs when this runs out.

I had a very overindulged free day. two bowls of cereral for breakfast, for lunch six White Castle hamburgers, throughout the day five eskimo pies, for dinner lots of macaroni, bread and butter, roast beef and easter candy.

urp.

I'm getting up extra early to do cardio..........I can't believe how much I love waking up to free day but also love when it is over.



off to cook my meals for the week while I watch the Sopranos.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FIRST DAY JEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susan

Flaxseed oil is an Essencial Fatty Acid or EFA. EFA's are a good fat. You have heard that Peanut Butter is a "good fat", but it isn't as good as other EFA's. EFA's are found in fish, like salmon. If you consume at least 3 serving of fish a week, then you are most likely getting enough EFA's that you need.
EFA's are consisted of Omega3, 6, and 9. Flaxseed oil is consisted of Omega 3's. But Udo's Oil is a custom blend of Omega 3, 6 &9, so you get all 3 EFA's. Udo's is a blend of Flax, Sunflower, Sesame, and Evening Primrose oil.
I bought mine online at Netrition. I take 1 tbs a day, even though some take 2 tbs a day.
It took a lot of convincing for me to start taking this! At first, I was like, NO WAY am I going to ingest EXTRA FAT!!!! But is GOOD fat. It doesn't get stored in your fat cells. It actually helps release bad fat from your fat cells. AND it is AWESOME for your skin. It makes it soft and smooth.
You can't cook with it, or expose it to heat. I just take mine straight, and chase it with water, or I put it in a Myoplex shake.
Good luck starting your first day! And feel free to ask any questions. You can even email me if you need an answer right away. I can't promise that I will know an answer, but I promise to try to find one for you!
[email protected]
Christy

Hi there. I was posting a new thread over at the Exercise threads... thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

I am starting BFL today. I have had the book since last fall, read it, was excited by it.... but didn't have the desire or commitment to try it.

No matter what anyone says, this will be a dramatic lifestyle change. The good new is I am ready for it.

You see, over the past 6 years I have been gaining approx. 10 pounds per year. I have spent a ton of money on weight loss programs/ products (Jenny Craig, countless books, WW, diet drugs) with no success. In fact, I've regained more weight!

The BFL program seems to make so much sense for me, besides I enjoy the gym.

So, I look forward to posting here and getting to know you all better.

Frosty
202/ goal for 1st challenge 190

Hi ladies.

Well, I have a confession to make. I couldn't get myself out of bed this morning to go workout. I just felt so wiped out when the alarm went off.

I've promised myself that NO MATTER WHAT I will get myself out of bed tomorrow. No excuses.

I have been following the eating plan. Not too bad. Helps that I've planned the week & the shakes in between are great.

I just got my paperwork today. I was reading that pictures should be taken w/in 3 days of starting the challenge! So, I will be retaking mine tomorrow, because I took them over a week ago & they are date stamped.

Susan & Christy, Thanks for the info about the oil. I knew about flaxseed oil, but hadn't heard of Udo's.

Frosty, how did your first day go. As you can see, mine wasn't too successful.

Have a great evening. I'll let you know how tomorrow goes.

Hi Everyone!

Welcome Frosty! You are correct, BFL is a dramatic lifestyle change but the longer I do it, the more I love it. I would love to do BFL and nothing else .

Jen--is there a way to workout in the evening if you've slept through the morning? I'm sure you will get the hang of it! It is very hard to adjust to in the beginning but once you're rollling along, you are moving.

I overdid my free day bigtime and had excruciating heartburn all day today. It is such a contrast with how good I feel the other days of the week!!!!!

I also left some of my carbs home and now I had to come home and have a meal and wait 3 hours to go to the gym. My Monday is off too! But I will make adjustments.

hope everyone is doing well!
Happy Training
Susan

My first day went fine. I am using up so low carb protein powder and will go to the store tommorow to pick up some new stuff.

Can anyone tell me which protein powder they like? (Brands, flavours etc). Also, what supplements are you all taking?

Thanks for the encouragement and advice!

Hi Frosty,

I don't know much about protein powder but I use soy. You can't bake with whey so I use soy just to be sure. However, I find that a lot of BFL recipes say whey powder. If you buy it at a health food store, you might want to ask the pros and cons of each. I pick it up at my supermarket. Go for the highest amount of protein per serving that you can find (they vary a lot). Some people do vanilla or chocolate but I just use plain. I make fruit smoothies and throw in protein powder and I make oatmeal and throw it in there as well but I don't use it that much. If I make bran muffins I throw in protein powder (They are dense as rocks).

For supplements I take L-Glutamine and a multivitamin (both are MUSTS if you are weight training). I also take creatine and gugglesterones. Neither of these are necessary but I like to think they help. Because I am over 40 I take Calcium and to be a good doobie I take extra Vitamin C. There are many places on the web to order things but I tend to go to netrition.com and vitaglo.com

As far as meal replacements, I try to do shakes (Met Rx Vanilla, Myloplex Tropical, Designer Protein Berry Shakes) and not bars but I do have a box of bars and keep one or two with me at all times.


Thanks for checking in!!!
Susan
(just returned from doing cardio at my new gym...I LOVE IT!!!)