This has probably been answered numerous times. I am interested in this program but I do not eat meat, fish, eggs, I do eat dairy. Would this work??

hi -

how do you handle the protein issue in your life in general? you must start with that basis and then see where to go from there.

it might be that you will need some protein powder supplements, but first let's see what can be done with your existing food intake.

let me know,

adriana

i'm a vegetarian of sorts. i eat a lot of low-fat cottage cheese, i bought the protein shakes too. and i do eat a small amount of cheese to get portein. i still eat egg beaters and seafood too. so i have tuna now and then. i just modifed it a little to work for me. and i am still losing weight and inches so it still works. i watch the cheese portion though since there is a lot of fat there. i try for once a day. keep in touch i would love to know how a fellow vegetarian is doing! please.

p.s i also eat soy products such as morning star chick patties(veggie) and the garden burgers too.

I don't really like the taste of meat, so when I started BFL I was eating egg whites and meat substitutes (veggie burgers, etc). This seemed to work ok for a week or so, but I didn't seem to gain much strength after that. Instead, I was feeling weak during workouts. I gradually started adding egg yolks, tuna, cottage cheese, and lean meat, and felt *much stronger* during my workouts, both the weight lifting and the cardio. I was able work harder and didn't hit 10s after just a few reps! Adding meat gave me more variety in my food choices, too.

Another advantange to BFL over vegetarianism for me is that I had a wicked sugar habit when I was a veggie. With BFL, I no longer crave sugar. Seriously. This is somewhat of a miracle!

Also, if you've never worked out with weights before, you need to realize that stronger muscles do NOT equal bigger muscles. Mrs. Jim, I really think you (and any of the other regulars here, for that matter) should post before and after pics of yourself. I noticed you took your webpage info off your postings, but you are a perfect example of what eating clean and this type of exercise program can do.

Personally, I'm eating more calories than I was as a veggie, but they're more nutrient-dense calories. I don't know what I weigh, but I have dropped a jeans size in the past 2.5 weeks. My posture is better, because my muscles are stronger. My head is clearer. My skin is clearer, I think because I'm not eating sugar like I used to (I practically lived on it). I sleep better. My moods are more stable. Need I go on?

I think you should at least try it. Give BFL a shot as a veggie with meat substitutes, but keep an open mind. If you feel a little weak during your workouts, try adding meat to a few of your meals. I'm always surprised at how many people won't give BFL a chance because of the meat or because of the weight lifting - yet they'll try the cabbage soup diet or some other restrictive diet. To me, a starvation diet is *much* harder to stick to than BFL!!

- Dawn

Well, the problem with posting photos here on 3FC is that it's not really set up for that - Suzanne doesn't have a whole lot of server space here for that... and you can still access my website even though I changed my signature (yeah, I KNOW my site needs to be updated!!!) by going to the button at the bottom of my posts that reads "http:\\"

As for myself - I was a vegetarian for eight years until just before starting BFL. I gotta tell ya - if you're not at least an ovo-lacto vegetarian (i.e. dairy and eggs) I don't see how you're gonna get the protein you need...most of those soy meat substitutes have a ton of carbs and fat in them, and soy isn't the best protein for muscle building, ya know?

I hear ya on the sugar thing too - I ate a LOT of simple carbs and bread as a vegetarian - when I was a vegan, I probably was probably getting 10% of my calories from protein...

i haven't had a problem with feeling weak. I feel great. i have never felt this good ever. i have a lot more energy since i've became a vegetarian. i really like this program with the few modifications i've made to it. most of the soy products that i buy are low-fat lowcarb. i guess you just have to watch which ones you buy. i really like the bfl program especially the weights. when you are done you feel like you've done something.