It's a little bit o' both actually. I think I have bronchitis - but I'm also busting my hump for my big offsite meeting next week! I have 40 people flying in from all over the world...aackk...

Peggy - I actually started following GetLean this week after 16 weeks on Pam B's program. Pam's program is great but after 16 weeks, I felt I needed a change - GetLean is higher carb. It's a great book - Laurie at L&S loaned it to me. If you want to get into competition shape it's a must-read! Lotsa good tips!

Before you spend $$ on a trainer at the Y - do some research. It's important to get a trainer who has experience getting folks in competition shape if that's what you're going for. Around these parts, it's pretty tough to find someone with those qualifications (all the competitors seem to live in the East Bay).

Thunderheart - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'll be celebrating my 40th this year too!

Yes, spelt, quinoa, etc are all grains and authorized carbs IMO.

Gotta run - BTW I just posted my Lift for the Cure stuff at work yesterday and I've already received $120 in checks! Woo hoo!

Hi-
I am preparing to start C1 on Monday! I have ordered the BFL book, but don't expect it to be here by then...I have been able to glean enough from various sources to feel okay starting before I get the book, but I have a couple of questions.

1. I am a vegetarian, though not strict, since I eat occasional seafood, and may do more of that now. I wonder if tofu is high enough in protein to be "Approved"? How many grams of protein is supposed to be in the palm/fist size serving? If I knew that, I could judge what veggie proteins are appropriate.

2. I am on a pretty slim budget, so in terms of supplements, what do folks consider most important, and what do the different supplements do? For instance, on either the bfl or the eas site, I saw a "starter pack" (or something like that) of Myoplex lite, Beta Gen, and Beta Lean. What do thesedo? What advice would y'all give me?

I am so very impressed with all the transformations that I have seen with bfl, and I am really excited to begin. My husband has been lifting weights for ages, and has been trying to get me to do more of it, and now I am ready.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice!

Feel free to post here anytime you have a question!

Now - my personal opinion on starting the program before actually reading the book - I feel that reading the book is SO crucial. Does your local library have it available? There is a lot of important 'mental stuff' that is in the book that I feel is so critical to real success on BFL. No harm in eating better and exercising before starting your actual Challenge though. Just my opinion tho

1) I know that at www.leanandstrong.com (the majority of us lurk and/or post there as well as here - a TERRIFIC community with LOTS of knowledgable folks) there are several vegetarian BFLers. I'm sure they use tofu as a protein.

My opinion is that people who are weight training should eat 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight per day. So if you weigh 150 pounds - that's 150g daily, or 25g per meal in 6 meals. I think carbs are about the same. I wouldn't even bother counting nutrients in vegetables - you can eat as many veggies as you want - just remember it's six meals a day - no snacks. Some people are in the habit of eating those baby carrots all day during work or what have you. Not a good idea on BFL - just six planned meals, so you're eating every 2-3 hours when you're awake.

2) First off, ya don't need all those supps. Go back to the beginning of this thread and read the information - it's pretty basic. And if you're gonna buy products, EAS is far from the best value...L&S has a link to Netrition that you can access from their website and the prices are WAY better! I buy Myoplex Lite (the shakes, NOT the bars which should not be relied upon - I only use them in dire emergencies) because I love Cappuchino Ice flavor. BetaGen and CytoVol are basically overpriced mixtures of creatine and glutamine with some Kool-Aid added. I just go to L&S/Netrition and get the cheapest glutamine powder - usually Labrada - it lasts me MONTHS. BetaLean is a so-called 'fat burner' which contains ma huang/ephedrine, which can be pretty dangerous stuff - and generally ineffective IMO.

BTW - if you wanna see some GREAT transformations, check out the "Transformation Gallery" at Lean & Strong...you will be SO motivated! I've said this before, but I consider BFL kind of a 'Bodybuilding 101'. I'd been on diets since I was 7 years old...and I'll be 40 this year I am having the best time ever in my entire life! You have no idea how GREAT it feels if you haven't been there before. I really feel like a 20-year-old. My teens and 20's were not exactly terrific, mostly because I was such a fat slug I hope this doesn't sound braggy - but there's scarcely a day that goes by at the gym where someone doesn't come up to me and say something like "I've been watching you...you have improved SO MUCH! You're lookin' SO GOOD!!! What have you been doing?!?" Both guys and gals do this...it happened today as a matter of fact... It's an INCREDIBLE feeling and I want all of you to feel it too...The days where I scarcely left the house except to work or shop are still embedded strongly in my memory. I NEVER want to feel like that again. I want ALWAYS to feel the way I feel now - or better if that's possible!

And I wish the same for everyone who is struggling with the monster of obesity, of food addiction...

Hope everyone's doing well! Thunderheart...Susanje...haven't heard from you in awhile...hope you're kickin' butt!

Thanks for the welcome and help. I am excited to begin. My library doesn't have a copy of the book (that's where I looked first), but I expect my book to arrive in the next couple of days. From here, lean and strong, and the BFL site, I think I have a lot of the basics, enough to start. I don't want to wait another week. I looked through a copy of the book at the local bookstore, so I got some idea of it.

I have been over to leanandstrong, mostly to look at the pictures. Wow is all I can say. I'll look into connecting over there.

Thanks for the help on the protein and the supplements. My husband has used creatine, but not glutamine. And I wondered if any of them had the ephedrine in it. So that was just what I wanted to know.

You and the others are such an inspiration! I have a 4 year old daughter and a 18 mo. old son, and i want to be lean and strong for me and for them. I especially want my daughter to see her mama as healthy and strong, not neurotic about my body. I am trying really hard not to pass that on to her. And the best way is by taking care of myself, right? Right!

thanks again!

Hi ALL

I had a good 3 days of workouts. My workout schedule these days is
Mon-Off(walk)
Tues,Wed-Cardio & Weights
Thurs-Off(walk)
Fri, Sat, Sun-Cardio & Weights

Right now I am doing 5 sets of 12 reps so 60 reps total.
So the other day I did 60 pushups- that rocks!!!

Feeling thinner this week, looking forward to measuring at the end of 4 weeks, then I'll be changing the routine again.

I am also changing free day to free meal. I got a little carried away on free day the last two weeks so decided free meal would be better. It feels more in control to me.

Looking forward to a good clean eating week and great workouts.

Yeah...I know, I LIVE in the Bay Area...but I have a VERY high-level meeting that I'm in charge of organzing, etc.

We are at the Omni San Francisco Hotel -- a new five-star hotel right near the Transamerica Pyramid - and I'm telling ya, this place is SET UP. No spa but a nice fitness room that's open 24/7 - with all new equipment - Precor ellipticals, Cybex treadmills and recumbant bikes. I did legs this morning before I left (I usually don't do weights on Sundays but I didn't think they'd have a squat rack!). As far as weights, they have a few Cybex stations and a pretty decent set of dumbbells (two adjustable benches). Also some Swiss balls and medicine balls. PLUS free Evian water and fruit!

YOU SHOULD SEE MY ROOM!!! Since I am the contact/organizer, I am in a deluxe suite!!! TWO TVs, DVD player, 2 CD's, sitting room, HUGE shower, etc etc. I feel like a queen There's also Nintendo, Web TV, etc. (Actually right now I'm on my work laptop). Of course the FOOD is going to be the problem. Today my colleage and I went to the restaurant downstairs - a highly-regarded steak house - for lunch. I had my fallback - a Caesar salad, dressing on the side. Instead of chicken though I had grilled shrimp. YUM! Delectable.

This is the biggest, highest-level meeting I've been in charge of yet - 40 attendees from all around the world. All very nice folks.

I just got back from working out - time to take a nice hot shower and go to bed. I'm here alone tonight - but after Jim got a load of this room he decided he's going to come up on Tuesday after work and spend the night. The cable car runs right by the front of the hotel so we're going to hop on it for a little ride and then have dinner.

Did I mention I LOVE my job??

Anyway - hottie - sounds like you're on the right track! Keep up the good work!

Tomorrow I'm going to start another thread, right now it's 9:20 pm and bedtime! 'Night all!

but I'm back - yes Carps is here again.

My temporary job finished last wednesday (Thank heaven for that!) and I am starting to feel normal again. Working 60 hours a week and trying to be a mum, a wife, a musician, and a person! just did not work very well. I haven't been to the gym since I finished challenge 1, and don't even ask how many pies I've eaten in the last month.

Anyway, I'm starting challenge two on Monday - using this week, to re read the book, transition my eating back to bfl and cross the abyss one more time!

I've missed you guys heaps, and really missed the bfl lifestyle. DH and I can be heard to comment at least twice a day "Man I feel disgusting, can't wait to get back on BFL" (He is still recovering from a Hernia operation)

Have to run, have a voice student arriving in a couple of minutes - catch you all later

Carly