Busted again Susan !!

Well I'm back at at again after an unexpected week off... I was called back into work for the month of June. Working 8am to 3:30 takes a bit of juggling when you're not used to it...

Food hasn't been stellar today, I'll do better tomorrow ...

great thread...lots of good info...

But I'm wondering...what is the BTFFTM stance on sugar substitues like splenda or equal? I have a problem with the idea of these being put out there as a "healthy" alternative to sugar...when someone supports them I end up questioning other things they say too...

Hey guys - was reading through some archives and found this thread. It motivated me enough that I bought BFFM today - I've heard so much about it over my past 4 years on fitness sites, and I finally took the plunge.

So, my question is, to those of you who were posting about this, are you continuing to follow Tom's advice, and if so, how has it been working for you?

Any further comments and/or suggestions? I'll be doing a lot of reading over the next few weeks!
Cindy

I took the principles of Body for LIfe, Body by God, And Bffm and tweaked them for my own body sort of a personalized guide for my body and for me I am enjoying the results.

Same here....a mix of BFFM, BFL, BodyScupting Bible, and whatever works for me.

I never really followed Venuto's plan, does he really have an actual "plan" as opposed to principles? His writing makes so much sense, I incorporated a lot of what he has to say.

Mel

I was having a sluggish period last week and found that I got relief by adding in a little more fat to my diet and loosening up a bit. Not sure how that will benefit my weight loss (!) but it did get me back to feeling normal again and the lethargy hasn't returned. Just since we're throwing out experimentations here, i thought I'd share.

And still smelling like ammonia, but not as strongly. Hmmmm...........

I think setting long and short term goals is a good idea. However, I think we have to develop the thinking that even if I don't reach my goal, I have made progress. Many times fitness and weight loss efforts fail because we become so focused on the ultimate numbers - "I have to reach my goal". For me, in the past, if I wasn't able to reach short-term goals, I was very discouraged from continuing to the end.

Sarah Ann, I too find visualization difficult. I have read that learning to meditate or slow down your mind helps with this. I however, have not developed the discipline for meditation (I always fall asleep - my sister refuses to take me to her classes again). I am finding that focus for me has to be a deliberate mental act. I have to mentally make myself focus while working out. This means that now, when it's time to workout I refuse to let any of the things that pop into my thoughts stay there. I try to focus on my breathing and exercise form (in the past, I would just go through the motions).

When it comes to "what's next", I think each person has to go with what they know has worked for them. If I achieve my weight loss goal, I'm going to continue to do the things that got me there. There are always going to be studies that promote different ways of eating or working out - why risk what works?

I agree with Mel. Venuto's principles can be applied to anyone's "own" plan. I think of it as a step further than just weight loss or basic fitness ... fine tuning for optimal fitness ???

And it took FOREVER to print on my inkjet! I'm reading it now, up to chapter 8.
I kinda skipped ahead a little to try and get the eating plan down pat.
So I take it, 5 meals a day, I believe I calculated 350 calories per meal for me. Now I need to come up with meals that match.
Anyone care to share some of their faves?
I haven't gotten to the section on training yet. I have a collection of Joyce Vedral's book, including her Eat to Trim book. I'll have to go back through to see how many of her recipes are compatible.

I just have to say that Chapter 5 has really been eye-opening! Frankly, I could kick myself for not having bought this book 2 years ago.... to think that it might have been just the push I needed to re-evaluate what I was doing and get my fat loss moving again. He often points out the obvious, but sometimes we all need those reminders - we get to the point where we think we know everything we need to know, we are "old hats" at this, and get ourselves into a rut.

I'm *loving* this book. It actually made me get my butt out of bed and onto the elliptical this morning - I was laying there making all the excuses I usually do on weekends, then I thought wait - this is exactly what Tom says I would have a tendency to do, as an endomorph. And, it's the last thing I need, since I *know*, and he reconfirmed, that w/o exercise, and specifically cardio, I can't make the progress I want to. So, I need to take responsibility and control my results. That got me on the elliptical and got me to do an extra interval!
Cindy

I think *I* should read that book again

Me too.

I gave away my hard copy and can't face reprinting it, but I really need to read it again, too!

I'll email you a page a day.

I'm on the hunt for as much as I printed off before my printer ran out of ink. I think I have most of it. But my ebook went ta-ta with my dead computer. Hmmm ... maybe it's with the weights I can't find