[susanje]

Hi Everyone!!!

One more day to go on my paper but I am definitely hitting the gym this morning and spending some time there.

Mel: NICE PIX on L&S!!!! CONGRATS ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!


MrsJim: Are you back home yet? The weather is Gorgeous here right now!!!

Well everyone I am prepping for my 7 week sprint starting Monday until I leave for the east coast. In preparation I was looking at the nice strawberries and blueberries in the grocery store and thought I would like to add them to an MRP. On this challenge I have tried to steer clear of MRPs and do real food but that is not always feasible. So I went on netrition looking at MRPs and I really want to make sure that I have balanced meals with precisely the right amount of protein/carb. My avg is between 20 and 25 per meal. This is what I found
Protein/Carbs/ Fat /Calories
Next Nutrition Designer Protein Smoothie Abs Berry Sundae
27/13/2.5/180 (add cup of strawberries to make it 27/23/2.5/225
MetRx Berry Blast
37/22/2/250
Isopure Protein Strawberry
1 scoop
50/0/0/200 (cut in half and add a cup of strawberries and half a cup of blueberries to make it 25/20/0/170)
MyoLite Strawberry
25/20/1.5/190 (nice numbers but no room for fresh fruit)
Myo Low Carb Strawberry
50/9/6/290 (cut in half and add cup of strawberries to make it 25/15/3/226)
Myoplex regular strawberry and orange jubilee
42/24/2/280 (cut this in half and add cup of strawberries or 1/2 cup of blue berries to make it 21/24/2/185)
Labrada Lean Body Strawberry
45/24/1.5/290 (cut in half and add cup of strawberries to make it 22.5/22/1.5/225)
Optimum Nutrition Protein Powder Strawberry 1 scoop
22/2/1.5/110 (add cup of strawberries and 1/2 cup of blueberries to make it 22/22/1.5/185

So it seems like the best choices are protein powder 1/2 scoop with fresh fruit and Absberry sundae. The thing is that if you do price comparison, the protein also seems like the best buy. If you look at most tubs of PP it says 40 servings, doubled if you cut the scoop in half to make 80 servings and most of them are the same price or slightly higher than the MRPs that give you 20 in a box.

I don't know if this helps anyone but it helped me as I was making food lists this morning and trying to come up with good choices for the next 7 weeks.

Check in everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY EASTER
Susan

[lhendricks]

I returned from North Carolina to a stomach virus, so Challenge 2 begins on April Fools Day. I've been living on small servings of complex carbs, water, tea, and s/f popsicles.

I'm finally catching up on the many threads here, and browsing a little at L&S. Everyone seems to be doing well. I was on Free Time in NC. I certainly ate non-BFL foods but in much smaller amounts than I would have previously. This is a very "body conscious" area with gyms everywhere (right next to all the fried food all-you-can-eat buffets!) I got a week's membership to World Gym and spent some time there. I can't wait to move south when I retire in a few years.

MRS.JIM what are the details on the Lean & Strong Challenge? I simply don't have time to sift through all the 4800 messages I missed to find them. I loved southern FLA when I was there, and can't wait to go back.

SUSANJE I'm glad your ordeal is ending and I hope we might get a chance to meet when you're here in the Insurance state.

Have a great holiday, everyone.

[carps]

how is everyone - doing well I hope

yesterday (good friday here) was very hard food wise so ended up making it a free day - I just couldn't eat right? and I didn't have any energy in the gym either - although I did try the quad press for the first time and managed 150lbs so I was pretty happy with that.

I know the scales are the but I have been trying to break this 100kg barrier and I really, really want to do it this week. I have been building so much muscle thats it taking ages - but I know that is all good in the long run.

Happy Easter to everyone - please take time to remember that easter is the rememberance of Christ death and ressurection for the forgiveness of our sins.

see ya later!
Carly

[MrsJim]

JUST got in the door about 15 minutes ago and have been giving Sparky lots of love I'm sure he was convinced that we were NEVER coming back home! He is NOT letting us out of his sight and it's been nonstop purring since we walked thru the door.

Right now I'm making a couple of boneless chicken breasts. TIme to get back on program - I have definintely **NOT** been eating Pam B style, much less BFL style this past week. Miami has soo many good restaurants around - but I'm happy to say that I DID work out every day - so it wasn't a total loss.

We were thinking about driving to Key Largo yesterday but in Florida the traffic, quite frankly, sux big time - so we went to Miami Beach during the day instead. Jim took a few snaps of me in my Florida gear - I bought some surf shorts that are so cute and wore them with my bikini top...got a nice tan...there was a Fitness Expo in progress right on South Beach that we walked to - I bought a cute workout outfit. Miami fashions are so nice - so different from what we get here in the Bay Area. Love that tropicool style! I highly recommend Miami Beach to anyone!

Last night we drove to Coconut Grove again and had dinner. Man - it was still 80 degrees at 9:00 pm. Love it! There is JUST SO MUCH SHOPPING in Miami. I just wish I had more $$ and time to spend...we are definitely planning on going back.

My sister and neighbors did such a good job of taking care of our little Sparky - just got off the phone with Sis. She said around Thursday he really started missing us...but was always ready to play with her and the kids when they dropped by!

Whew! More later...we LOVED Miami like I said, but I am so glad to be back home with my kitty, my George Foreman Grill, my boneless chicken breasts, my Osterizer blender, and my 24 Hour Fitness right down the street...

[susanje]

Welcome home MrsJim!!! Glad you liked Miami (I've never been). I bet your puddy tat is very happy to see you! I will be gone 12 weeks this summer. I have no idea how my overly spoiled kitties will handle it. I completely dote on them when I'm home and they follow me around when it's just me and them at home. When I go into study at night (bring my books to bed), they all climb on the bed and get comfy until Michael comes to bed hours later and then they all skedaddle (he moves around too much for their liking).

One question about measuring pasta: My pasta box says 2/3 dry = (protein/carbs/cals). I'm curious about our fist measurements. Is that a dry measurement or a wet measurement? Do we measure before we cook or afterwards? I'm thinking afterwards which is what I always do but I am curious about it. I've been tracking all my protein, carbs and cals (cals just because I'm curious) because I think that sometimes I get a bit liberal with measurements on the carbs and less liberal on the protein. I think it's best to weigh and measure for my 7 week sprint. I've been doing it a couple of days (and did it at the end of my last Challenge) and find I feel more in control. If anyone knows the pasta answer, please let me know. Thanks.

Susan

[carps]

I did it!, I did it!! I hit 100kgs this morning!!! yayyyy!
I know 100kgs in itself is not really anything to celebrate - but its reaching the goal that is significant! I'm so relieved. Taking 8 week photo's today - hopefully it will reveal more of the transformation as others see it.

Yesterday I had a hard day. I went to the supermarket and someone that knows me came up behind me and said - Are you losing weight - your bum is disappearing! - That was really cool, and gave me quite a boost, and then (in the same supermarket) I was looking at Easter eggs for the kids, when two young people (I am only 28) walked past and he commented "Thats why your Fat" to which she giggled and they carried on there merry way leaving me with a tornado of emotions raging under my unchanged facial expression. No matter how often it happens I still cannot believe it - and every time it devastates me.

Once I was in K-Mart when two guys headed towards me - looked me up and down, looked at each other and burst out laughing, and yet another time some guys howled like dogs when I walked past a restaurant window. Even as I say this the pain nags in the pit of my stomach. Why, Why, Why?? do people think it is okay to be rude to fat people.

I must also note here that I am NOT one of those fat ladies who wears flowey skirts that are up a foot at the back over their butts, and always look terrible - I wear the latest bootleg Jeans, and trendy clothing, I always do my hair, makeup and nails etc, and I just don't know how to deal with the insults.

The only purpose it serves is that it fuels my drive to succeed and stick to the plan - That is, if I can make it through the first desire to drown my pain by eating everything in sight. (that addiction is a hard one to break!)

Sorry to be so long winded - I'm just hurting right now, and I know some of you will understand.

Thanks for caring
Carly

[MrsJim]

Hey Susan - with pasta (which I don't normally eat during the week with the occasional exception of cous-cous) I would go by the grams of carbs IMO. Otherwise I believe it's a cooked measurement. Kind of hard to measure spaghetti with your fist! IMO, go for a pasta serving of 25g of carbs. I recommend the whole-wheat couscous that you can buy at Trader Joe's (I'm sure other places have it but TJ's seems to have absolutely everything).

Carly - I know exactly how you feel...I used to get the same comments myself...the best thing you can do is either just ignore those comments or use them to your advantage...to drive yourself to a higher intensity. Like I said I used to get those same sorts of comments - since I was in grade school - either outright rude remarks or just stares - now it's totally different - last week I got honked and whistled at, waved to by all sorts of guys - of course Miami is a really friendly town but still!

In fact every morning at just before 6 am I would walk to the gym, there was a skyscraper being built next door and all the construction workers would be just getting started and they were ALL very friendly, saying good morning and waving...you have no idea what an ego stroke that is (especially when you're pushing 40!). and you know what? You keep doing BFL, eating clean, hitting your 10's and it's gonna happen to you too! I know it!!!

I downloaded some photos from Miami to the L&S Playspace if you want to check them out...

[carps]

Thank you for the boost - I know I can do it, I just want it now!

you look amazing! and certainly not like you are nearly 40! You've worked so hard and really deserve every comment you get now.

Had a horrendous free day - but I know it will be fine. four weeks to go till challenge 1 is done! Now THAT is amazing!

catch you later
Carly

[Sweater Girl]

Hi All,

I just bought the body for life book. I am really into weight training since my body builds muscle easily (I am fairly muscular naturally too which helps so are my dad and 2 of my bros, I am sure its genetic) and I am thinking of starting a challenge this week. I have a few questions though.

What brands of shakes do you guys use?

Can I make my free day day 6 (Saturday) and then make day 7 a workout day eat sensibly day?

I love cardio and do that 6 days a week, can I still continue doing that on top of the 3 days of weight training I do?

If possible can I avoid the shakes all together some days and just have a small serving of something like peant butter with an apple? Sorry to sound sorta clueless, I haven't read the book completely yet either (I just bought it).

My dad has just been diagnosed diabetic and even though I think I'll still count WW points while doing this, WW still encourages high carbs eating and the fact remains I am a bit of a carb addict right now and this seems like a plan that includes carbs, but will get me to consume more protien. I am just scared I am consuming way too many so this would be a good plan to help me reduce it. Plus I need more motivation to lose the about 8 lbs I gained this winter.

Thanks in advanced!

Ali

[susanje]

Thanks Mrs Jim: I got a very nice package of spinach and tomato whole wheat rotini (YUM) at a food discount place of all places and I couldn't figure out exactly how much of this stuff I was supposed to eat. I was trying to go by carb amount but it had a measurement of 2/3 dry so that was very confusing. I'm thinking okay it gets BIGGER when I cook it so how much is THAT?
I was standing there with the box in my hand, perplexed.

I'm going to run over to L&S to see your pix! Thanks for the inspiration.

Carly,

I have to admit that I have never much been overweight until I quit smoking. OH, I lived in the Northeast USA and put on winter weight during the holidays every single year and pudged out a bit (my pants would be tight and occasionally I would move up a size during Jan/Feb) but I would go out in the spring, do gardening a few weekends in May and lose it. I would see overweight people and think "Why don't you go on a diet?" When I quit smoking, stopped working and went back to school and sat in a chair and in front a computer screen 16 hours a day, and turned 40, I gained 60 lbs in a few months. A FEW MONTHS. I went from a size 10 (which to me is a very normal size) to a size 18 in a few months. That was five years ago and I have struggled to lose it and to not gain any more. I have never ever realized what a heartbreak it can be. I know now that when I cut back on my exercise because of my school schedule, I have a hard time maintaining my weight even eating very clean -- low fat, no sugar etc. which is why I never take a Free Day unless I"m hitting my 10s during the week. My hormones and various illnesses have added to the difficulties. It's become SO HARD and I hate it!

As someone noted in our last thread (you?), I feel like an athlete on the inside but when I pass a mirror, it's unsettling, like I can't STILL look like that. Progress is so slow that it's very frustrating a lot of the time. People are not only cruel but until they know what it's like, they will continue to not understand.

Just hang in there. What they think of you is none of your business and whatever is wrong with them, be it insecurity or something, is WRONG with them that leads them to make these comments. It's EASY to make fun of overweight people. No brainer usually done by people wiht no brains. Be true to yourself and keep going! We're here for you!!! BFL will have you lean and strong! Keep going!

Susan
(off to playspace to check out MrsJ)

[susanje]

Welcome Ali!

I posted about the protein/carb count of most of the fruit MRPs in the first post of this thread. Out of those my favs are MetRx Berry Blast and Designer Protein Absberry Sundae. I also like vanilla MetRx (both the class and the Protein Plus) and Myloplex Lite vanilla and LeanBody Soft Vanilla Icecream. I'm not a big chocolate MRP fan. MrsJim likes MyoLite Cappuncino. I tend to make my own with a half cup of real coffee in MetRx Classic Vanilla with a pinch of cinnamon.

As someone who came to BFL from WW, I can tell you that WW is much higher carbs than BFL. BFL is balanced protein/carbs. As a fellow carb addict, I have to really watch myself when preparing my food otherwise I skimp on the protein and increase the carbs.
It will take a while to adjust to this. Plus BFL encourages low glycemic carbs so not all carbs are created equal. Brown rice and whole wheat pasta are better than white. Etc. BFL encourages more vegetables too. It's not really possible to count points on BFL. I tried. You get more food on BFL because the exercise is more rigorous. Plus we get a free day where everything goes out the window. You can make any day you like a free day as long as you do it one day a week.

Cardio six days a week is NOT recommended because you are trying to buildi muscle. Cardio will eat the new muscle. You're going to have to cut back. Some people find this hard to do. Not me. I hate cardio because I have allergies and shinsplints and it's painful for me, but once upon a time I could see me overdoing it.
Do the 20 MAS three days a week and leave it at that.

Again, welcome!
Susan

[MrsJim]

Of course I'm not taking this as a Free Day since I was so 'free' in Miami. We're going to my sister's house for Easter dinner and I'm bringing asparagus...

What a nice surprise today at my gym! While I was gone they got SIX brand-spankin' new Precor elliptical machines, they newest ones with the arm movers and stuff, you know where you can pump your arms at the same time? Of course I jumped right on and loved it!

Then did back/biceps and felt MUCH stronger than I did in Miami. Maybe it was from being back home and less stressed - maybe because I didn't use creatine the whole time I was out there (I forgot to pack it). Who knows? All the regulars came by and said hi! Good to be home!

Ali - I definitely concur with Susan here - I would not try to count points. Just go strictly by the book for the best results - don't tweak by adding more cardio at this stage. You want to build muscle - and if you add cardio it is going to really impede on your fat-burning results - because muscle does a FAR more effective job at burning fat than cardio. I would encourage you to also visit www.leanandstrong.com for tons of info (even if you don't post, feel free to lurk!).

You don't HAVE to do shakes at all on BFL if you don't wanna. Many folks at L&S don't use them at all and have gotten great results. However, peanut butter is not a protein - it's a FAT. There is FAR more fat in peanut butter than protein - that generally goes for all nuts. However, for some reason people think that nuts are this great protein source. Nope, they're a fat source with a little protein. Now, you should have some healthy fats - and peanut butter is considered a good fat (not the best but good). Personally I stay away from peanut butter because I can't just eat a teaspoonful - more like a few tablespoons. I'm much better off using flax or Udos personally, because I get the effects of the healthiest fats and I don't go bananas eating it.

Basically, it's a decision you have to make for yourself - what do you want to do? BFL or WW? IMO they can't work together. WW is very carb heavy, doesn't encourage more than light exercise (it has been several years since I've been to WW so this might have changed), and focuses WAY too much on the scale for my taste. One of the great things about BFL (along with the Free Day) is the fact that the scale doesn't matter. As Bill Murray said in "Meatballs" it just doesn't matter. I stopped weighing myself in January. I figure I'm about 150 or maybe under. But the only number I care about is my clothes size and that be an HONEST SIZE FOUR right now (by 'honest' I mean comfortable or loose). Why should I let the scale dictate how I feel about myself?

Anyway, enough of my lecture! Happy Easter

[susanje]

Love the pix in playspace MrsJim--are there MORE? Your entire shape has changed!!! My goodness you are looking so beautiful!!! I can't wait to see more! I looked at them and was so inspired I rushed over to the gym. I was planning to go for 10 am Pilates but left shortly after I cruised the Playspace and Transformation Gallery at L&S.

I did a lower body workout that was a KILLER. I did reverse crunches for abs -- killed again -- and 5 mins of very intense HITT. This isn't cardio day HIIT but burn off the lactic acid HIIT. I couldn't walk coming off the machine. I did my stretches and noticed the Pilates room was NOT filling up. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Turns out it was canceled today. I was bumming but maybe my mat will finally be here next week. I ordered one some time ago and they backordered it because it was not the COLOR I wanted. When I inquired they told me this. I said I'd take another COLOR, just give me my yoga mat!!! Anyway, I came home from the gym and had MetRx Protein Plus with Udos and Blueberries and took a ton of glutamine. I know this is going to hurt.

Well, Michael and Gina (my daughter) are off to SF for Easter. They're going to drop me at the law library in Berkeley. My life is so much fun. I packed my food and am ready to go!!

Tomorrow we start the 7 week sprint. For the 7 week sprint I've decided to have one free meal one week and two the next week. I do believe what BP says, that your body needs to know you're not starving and give it a rest but I'm not doing Free Day Pig Out (I'm so over that). HAPPY SPRING!
Susan

[carps]

hi there, welcome to our group. The advice you've had so far is really good, and I just wanted to add a couple of things.

Firstly, everyone here would recommend that you at least give BFL a go following it to a 'T' for the whole 12 weeks, and if (for some strange reason) you haven't achieved what you wanted - then you can look at changing it, I do however believe that 12 weeks on BFL will change forever the way you eat, workout and view your body in general. This programme takes a certain amount of faith (you just have to 'believe') and a lot of hard work - but as you've seen the results are incredible.

On the cardio front, not only will you not need to do it six days a week, but you wont WANT to do it more than three days if you are doing it as described in the book. I was a cardio lover - and still enjoy aerobics classes - but now I do them as a treat but the 20 Minute Aerobic Solution is the hardest cardio I've ever done - and it is definately enough!!!

The thousands who have transformed their bodies on BFL did it without combining it with WW or anything else - you simply don't need to - BFL is a very complete programme, and will work! Give it a go! We would love to journey it with you!

Carly

[pcosmom]

yoohoo. thats right, i am still around...our internet service here on the island was out for the last month. at least our isp that is. i had to go to internet cafes to access my email, and so therefore i didnt keep in touch with you all. but here is the good news. i just ended my 8th week or so, and though i haven't been totally faithful to the BFL program (still waiting on the book-will buy it when i am out visiting sister in santa cruz in the summer) but i am officially down 2 inches in the hips, 3 in the gut and 2 in the waist. more little numbers in arm and legs, but i tell you, i dont have as much jiggle in the thighs and gut anymore!

i am really thrilled, as i am seeing that this really works. my arms are gettting stronger, and i can see the muscle poking through. yeah for me, and all of us that are seeing improvements, be they ever so slow! I am determined like i have said before to hit my 30th bday in the best shape of my life, and it is really happening!

the only thing i have come up against is that my sis wants me to run this 10k race with her when i am up in the states this summer. so, i want to train for that too, as i have always been a runner, jogger but, is this gonna put a crimp in my training for BFL? My latest thing is i do my aerobics in the morning, and interval run it most of the time. i do it at high intensity but i can only do about 5k in that 20 minutes. so, to train for the 10k that means my cardio session s will be a bit longer. could i do what hussman says and run them a bit slower, say jog it, and do it on my off days, say maybe only 2 times a week? help...i really want to do this with my sister.

also, thanks for the heads up on the peanut butter. i refrained from it for 5 years thanks to almond butter, but they dont have such things here in venezuela, and i got hooked on my tablespoon of peanut butter in the afternoon. -my tablespoon often was a serving spoon, i am horrible about that! i think it was the sugar factor anyway, since that stuff is wretchedly sweet...fat and suger, what a combo!

anyway, thanks guys for all your inspiration. i will try and keep you all updated on further progress....
=^..^=