Hi MrsJim and others -

My DH and I started BFL yesterday - we spent the last week reading the book, starting Success Journals, buying clean foods, preparing lots of brown rice, barley and WW pasta for the fridge, and baking chicken breasts (thanks for the recipe MrsJim, I've been lurking for a while).

We both work out regularly, and have for 10+ years, but as we got older found our results just weren't the same anymore - we're both pushing 40. Felt like we were barely 'pushing back the tide' of the middle aged spread.

In fact, under my 'before' picture in my Success Journal I've written "Does this look like a woman who works out four times a week?"

I'm 5' 6" and weigh about 153, I'm looking to lose 10-15 lbs of fat and gain about 10 lbs of muscle. My DH is 6 feet and 175, he's looking to bulk up. We live in Toronto and have twin five year olds.

We're excited about the program - finding the eating plan is ALOT of food...reminds me of trying to get enough 'good food' in me while I was pregnant. We're still working on making the protein powder more palatable...any suggestions would be welcome.

The workout technique is very cool...both of us felt our UBWO was way more intense than our 'usual way'. The cardio intervals are intense too.

I've been reading lots of the old threads on this website, and also checked out Lean & Strong. Both very informative and interesting, thank you.

Any suggestions on getting through these touch first few weeks would be welcome.

BethO

Hi Beth

Welcome....

Your story sounds like mine I have been working out for a milion years it seems and I don't look too much different!! I am 46!!! that's pushing 50!! argh!!

Good luck you WILL enjoy this gang...

You'll love it here!

Although I cannot relate to you on the working out for 10 years part of your story I CAN relate to the pushin 40 thing. I will be 40 in June (June 12th, just a few short shopping days left, my friends ) Strange, don't feel 40, whatever that should feel like!

Some tips on kitchen stuff to have:

Non-stick pans - lots of em
Blender and or hand mixer
George Foreman Grill (GFG)
Cheap-O Gladware/Ziplock containers
Cooler - big enough to hold 2-3 meals
Those little frozen pouches to put IN the cooler
Water bottle (with markings to keep track of how much you're drinking)
Little food chopper (I got mine for 9 bucks)
Extracts of all kinds
Splenda (sweetner)

Anyone else think of anything?

Anyone else sick of the little Atkins pop up?

What Atkins pop up?

Welcome Beth!!

JC

Well since you said a big howdy ho to me, how could I not respond

You sound a lot like me -pre BFL I was spending hours and hours and hours and hours and HOURS doing cardio and wondering why the weight wasn't just FALLING off - that is until I discovered bodybuilding through BFL - which is a terrific way of getting into this whole weight training thing IMO!

TRY different kinds of protein powder - they all taste different. Lots of folks at L&S like GROW! by Biotest (they make a low-carb and MRP versions) but for straight up protein powder I prefer MetRx Protein Plus Vanilla Creme, and for MRPs Myoplex Lite (Cap Ice or the Neopolitan Variety Pack).

I'm just getting ready to turn in - tired tonight - but I want to add a few items to Niff's list (oh and YES I AM TIRED OF THE ATKINS POPUP but what the heck, it helps pay for the site so oh well!)

Jello Instant Sugar Free Pudding Mix (Butterscotch and vanilla flavors)
Butter Buds or Molly McButter
Eggs eggs eggs!! (for eggwhites)
Cottage cheese galore
Spike (spice mix)

Gotta turn in...busy day tomorrow...

good to have you here with us !!

i would make sure you have plenty of the following items too, especially since you're two doing it :

fresh turkey breast and/or fresh chicken breast (have the butcher slice it into something that resembles 4-5 oz, it's really handy that way. i also watch him when he weighs the pieces so i can keep learning about portion size!)

dry spices like pakrika, cumin, corriander, oregano, basil, garlic granules and/or garlic powder, non-salt salt (you know what i mean). these are great for creating *dry rubs* to put on the chicken or turkey breast and plopping them on the grill !! you can get other good grilling ideas from web sites that deal with grilling meats (foodtv.com comes to mind).

cans and cans of water-packed tuna (i've heard people mention the *pouches* over there, we have only cans here in israel). it's great to use in a garden salad, as a basis for a salad with green onions and chopped apple, for *tuna melts* (mix with a little bit of cottage cheese and zap in micro).

*good fat* oils like olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil --- you still need fat in your diet and these are good for you ! in salads they are real tasty, as well as stir-fried foods.

well, i'm tired right now and i can't think of anything else at the moment.

take care and good luck to the both of you

adriana