Fran (or someone), out of curiosity - what are the main ways that Women's BFL differs from the regular version? I am doing the regular, pretty much by the book although occasionally I'll add an extra LISS cardio session on here or there - but wonder whether I should "tweak" a little b/c I am female?

Susan, it's VIRAL!! What did you end up doing? I was due for 1/2 cardio this morning, but since we all know that more than 1/2 the battle is getting dressed and ON the treadmill, I started it over for another 30 after the first was done. 1 hour of cardio checked off the list.....CHECK!

SuBee, for me it was just easier to understand. You won't go wrong following the original, not to worry. There are a slew of ladies here who started this forum on the original and did well. The women's book didn't come out until last year. Bill's plan was overwhelming to me and for some reason, hard to understand. When I read the W book, it just seemed to all make sense, short and sweet. She is also not trying to push the supplements, which I think was a big mental block for me. She knows that as women, we all have multiple jobs (work, kids, household, community) and that we are not always going to go by the book and the plan is forgiving for that instead of an all or nothing mentality - I liked that too. I do more cardio than she calls for, but I have a signif. amount of fat to lose. The pics also seemed easier for me to follow and make a plan from, in the workout section, but that might have just been me. Personally, I think it was layed out and formatted better for a woman's brain to process!

Abs, barbell curls, lying triceps extentions and hammer curls ... and the sun is coming out so I might go for a walk yet!

Thanks, Fran. Yeah, I don't do the supplements, either - I occasionally do a protein powder shake, but I really do think it's possible to have a healthy diet and get everything you need without resorting to supplements. And of COURSE we have lives - but I have tried to take what Bill says about it being a commitment, plan for it, schedule it in, seriously, so if I know my schedule is different somehow (having an evening commitment, travelling for work, leaving the house early to go to a meeting, or whatever), I really try to think in advance, ok, when am I going to work out that day? And it's worked so far, but if one day I do goof up, I'm not going to let it make me feel like all is lost. And the food has already slipped MANY times, but even Bill says, yes, sometimes we eat off plan. And then we just start right back up eating ON plan (that I'm having more trouble with - esp. now with Xmas parties every other day!).

I have been able to go up SO MUCH on my weights in just 3 weeks! My 6-rep on leg press started out at 210 & is now at 240 (and will be 260 next time I do legs). I started with a 6-rep of 90 on calves and am at 120 now. Of course, some of that is learning that what I thought was my max, WASN'T - but it feels good to get stronger, even if my body isn't visibly changing yet.

Good for you Su-Bee, and when will you weigh in to see if all the food eating is messing you up? I think you were worried earlier about all the food and how that would work out or mess up your plan.

I think the thing that made Bill's plan unrealistic for me was the thought of packing up a little mini-Igloo cooler to take with me for the day. Maybe one day I'll be there but that's just not something I can handle doing right now. Maybe when I'm not packing 2 lunches, running spelling words in the morning, and getting 2 little ones off to school, then I can pack an igloo for me!

Fran, you just gave me a flashback! I used to pack DH's lunch back in the day, and he got to wanting more and more, finally bought himself one of those mini-igloos - and I invited him to pack his own stuff! He's done it ever since.

It's cardio day! And shopping day and cleaning cuz we're having people after church tomorrow day ...

I think I'll have a shot at dance aerobics and a walk outside.

Yesterday I started to question the two day split. If there is 48 hours between lifting days anyway ... why shouldn't I do a full body workout once in a while? Maybe the last lifting day before my rest day? That sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

I know 48 hours is what they say, but now that I'm using free weights and working to my max, it's just not enough for me. Today's 48 hrs on my ubwo and it's NOT ready yet. I seem to really need 4 days before I'm ready again. You should try to scrunch things up and see how it feels. You might see great results faster. As long as you're not still sore from the previous workout (like I am today from Thurs), you should be fine.

I agree Susan - I don't see why we can't do a full body workout once in a while. It makes sense - there 48 hours between the workouts - the muscles are not going to be over worked.

I was so excited this week - I am starting to see a difference in my arms. It was sooo cool! It was just what I needed - plus I got on the scale today - and it moved!

That was enough to definitely recharge my ambition!!! Today I am doing cardio and working my upperbody........

Have a great day everyone!

Hi ladies. Thanks for the input. Ya know I used to go by the "if it still hurts" rule ... funny what ya forget.

My walk was great. An ear and cheek nipper but lovely! It certainly is more butt work to walk in snow!

Shopping is so tiring and I have to admit that I still mostly think cardio is yucky ptewy. So here's my secret mp3 recipe

Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
Rave On - John Cougar
Let's Dance - David Bowie
Alone - BeeGees
You Win Again - BeeGees
Brick House - Commodores
I'm a Believer - Smash Mouth
You Really Got Me - is that the Kinks?
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

I double dog dare ya to sit still through that!

Good Morning!

I did not get my protein pancakes made yesterday. In fact I have nothing to take to work but ff cottage cheese. I'll have to do some correcting at supper and beyond!

So today is work, lbwo and I'll do some cardio. It really does seem to be helping me get slimmer if I do some 6 days a week.

And I'd better get to a grocer!

Have a good day Susan! Get thee to the grocer!

Oh, I've been weighing. And it's not pretty. . .I mean, basically I'm fluctuating up & down between 146 and 148, although I hit 150 one day & just about cried. I am definitely NOT losing, inches or lbs. And admittedly it's the holiday season, so I am not eating as clean as I should, so. . .I am just keeping going & seeing what happens. I like the workouts, although I still feel weird about so little cardio (which my brain reads "calorie-burning").

Today was yucky, though - last time I did upper body, I was able to do 30-lb dumbbells for my 6-reps on chest, and today I swear to you, I COULD NOT lift them! So I did 25, sigh, but that was weird - the first time I have simply NOT been able to lift a weight that I'd previously lifted.

I'm also developing some grip strength issues - particularly with lat pulldowns, my back can do them but my HANDS hurt so bad! So I need to figure out what to do there.

Ok more later ladies!!

Su, go up to cardio 6x/wk and you will see those numbers go the right way. I think all of us in this forum are in agreement that if you are trying to lose, the 3x cardio requirement in the book is just not enough for us to see fat loss at the rate we want.

I've gone back to my protein smoothie shakes this week. I had great success with them last winter; I basically use them as meal replacements 2x/day. I'm just going to try this for a week and see if I can break my little mini-plauteau.