BFLers!! Check in here!
 

Little quiz to keep us connected!!

1. Which is your favorite workout? Upper body or lower body???

2. Which one are you doing today???

3. How much do you hope to lose in the phase???


I'll post my answers below ;)

1. I think after having done both, I like lower body the best. It feels great to work those huge, big muscles, although, walking down stairs for the rest of the day and the next day is mighty scary!!! lol On Lower body I don't have to switch weights as much, so it's faster, and I"m done in 30 quick minutes. Upper body is a lot of weight switching, odd positions on the bench, and drags by it seems.

2. I'm a little off this first week and did lower yesterday. Might do upper body today to get back on schedule, or just do yoga plus cardio.

3. I'm hoping for the max, maybe: 30 pounds? But my eating will have to get alot cleaner for that to happen I think.

1. Which is your favorite workout? Upper body or lower body???

I like both, each for its own different element. The UBWO is nice because I can see real immidate results, the LBWO because my clothes fit better.

2. Which one are you doing today???

Upper Body with some odds and ends thrown in, I do a lot of ab work whenever I can fit it in as it helps with my back.

3. How much do you hope to lose in the phase???

My goal is to get to 180 and reassess what and how I am doing.

1. Which is your favorite workout? Upper body or lower body???

Like Liza, I have to say I don't have a favorite, though if forced to choose, I'd say upper. :)

2. Which one are you doing today???

Um, both. Actually doing a BodyPump class which does a mix, plus moves fast enough to get my hr up. All my exercise done in 75 minutes! :lol:

3. How much do you hope to lose in the phase???

Ah. I'd like to lose 10-15, but mostly I'd like my clothes to fit better. At my age (61) I don't lose very fast.

May I join you BFLers? I know I'm late in joining in, but I've got Peeke's book reserved for me at the library, and will start in this weekend. It would be good to have a group to report in to.

Susan

re the questions

I love both! Have trouble with lower body as I have a bad knee and can't do lunges, but I squat to beat the band, and do alot of floor exercises. I'm also bottom heavy, and don't like using weights with the lb, so won't be doing strictly BFL for lb, but rather, toning.

Today is a lower body day. Will do video Karen Voight Lean Legs and Buns, then 2 mile power walk.

I need to drop 10 pounds as my intermediate goal, but if I could be like Water Rat and drop a size, I would be ecstatic. My problem is at night, when no matter how well I've done during the day, I gorge on nut mix (oatmeal, cranberries and almonds). Need to find better substitution. Does anyone know whether having protein at night is bad for you? Thought maybe a protein shake might do.

BFL - Lower Body Day
 

SUSAN - I don't think you can really be late in joining in, cause the fact you are joining is the whole point. I should think that having a protein shake in the evening is better than what you are having now. If it holds you over, then go for it. Dropping clothing sizes is much more interesting to me than the pounds right now. :lifter:

Anyway, hour of cardio, watching CNN, so amusing today I thought, then LBWO. I have done something to my left knee so I am choosing all things that won't aggrevate it. Another way to know I am over 190. :workout:

I did get on the butt buster though, just love that machine for some reason, maybe the way I feel all contorted while using it.

Beautiful day here in Cambridge, out of here early this afternoon - two hours to myself - then DD wants to do something. She is also planning a picnic after a hike this Sunday, so I am flipping through my EFL cookbook for ideas.

Got a great breakfast in, WW toast, two eggs, two slices of canadian bacon and tomato slices. It was lovley. Also reread the EFL plan and how to make it work. A lot came back to me.

BTW - noticing how the EFL routine and WW CORE program as really the same thing.

Day 1 of the desugaring is going fine, heck, almost through the whole morning. :dust:

I think my favorite workout is upper body because I love the way the exercises feel. There's always a lot of stretching involved in working the chest and back, and I can literally feel all my kinks unkinking. LBWO is a harder workout for me, because I have arthritis in my hips.

As for how much I hope to lose, I, too, am aiming for lower dress sizes rather than pounds. And on that score, I am already seeing progress. I begin Week 4 tomorrow, and a brand new pair of jeans that I bought shortly before beginning -- jeans, I might add, that fit beautifully -- are distinctly lose. I never expected to see results this quickly. Pat, I"m with you -- I don't lose pounds very quickly and I might not lose any even though I'm eating very clean and chalking up a fair amount of exercise. But if the clothes fit better, I will be a very happy camper!

I'm packing up for Commencement Week. I just bought a new book with 150 resistance band exercises that I'm going to take with me. My goal is to walk daily and use my bands. If I don't get a chance to check in, I'll be thinking of you.

Well, I'm ready to move into week 2. Week 1 went well - cardio 5 days, weights 3 days. And eating was about 90% clean, only 1 day over 1600 cal.

I normally work out at home and have always preferred UBWO but last week I went to a gym for the first time and had a really great LBWO!

I'm slightly more interested in dress sizes as well because pounds aren't really making much sense at the moment. I'm a yoyo dieter from way back when and this is the first time I've lifted - the training has changed my shape so that I'm now a whole dress size smaller than I've ever been at this weight before.

Good weekend dispite allergies
 

I did UBWO at home on Saturday, staying away from the blooming trees as much as possible. Used the Cathe Friedlich (sp) tv program on FIT TV that I DVRed. I am recording her whole series, she is calm and upbeat at the same time. I also noticed Gilead has a whole new series of shows on too. I need to have a fall back plan.

Good week last week and yesterday was my free day, and something about that , I just didn't need to stuff my face off track. And I did eat too. Need to stay focused on not eating when I am not hungry though, made waffles from scratch, and finished the second one when I didn't really need too. The next step is to make up some that are more loaded for me and freeze them for my treats.

Beach was great relief from allergies, mostly hung out and read.

Couldn't check in on the weekend as my computer mouse died at home...did Cathe Friedrich's Slow and Heavy Biceps/Triceps on Saturday; yesterday concentrated on lower body; did a ton of squats and leg lifts, as well as worked my abs with a great video called Curl...am blanking on the trainer....oh yes, Kari Anderson. It's only 20 minutes but she gives a fantastic workout, and it's sequential, so no matter what level you are at, you can accommodate you abilities.

Have been having trouble with cardio, as my knee bursitis is kicking in, but tonight will try to get to the gym to use the elliptical machine. Am about half way through Peeke's book...like it very much. A non-nonsense, straight forward read.

Today did Upper Body, using exercises from the slow and heavy tape but adding chest, back and shoulders. Good workout.

Hope you all are having a great day.

Susan

1. Which is your favorite workout? Upper body or lower body???

I love to do upper body workouts - I like arm workouts.

2. Which one are you doing today???

Today is my cardio day which I really love to do. I have always preferred cardio workouts.


3. How much do you hope to lose in the phase???

I am hoping to lose about 20 lbs. I'm going into my 4th. week and I've lost nearly 10 lbs. That's not bad for me. I just wish I could see it more. LOL

SUSAN - Love the CF slow bi/tri workout. I found another show called Supersets I want to record since it was on at some odd time. My cable search menu does not always show her show or else the title confused the poor machine. I think I will put Peeke's book on my Mother's Day list. Do you use heat on your knee bursitis?

CYL - congrats on the 10 lb loss and keeping at the program, overall you are getting healthier, and it does take a while to develop new healthy habits.

Allergies slowing me down but I haven't totally given up on today. May switch it out with a cardio day and see if I can breath through that, otherwise, picking something off the screen to do since I skipped the gym this am.

Lunch is brown rice, black beans and lean pork chop, love those leftovers.

Sugar - I don't have cable so never have watched Fit TV--isn't that what Cathe's on?....I have bought at least 10 of her videos over the years, and think they are terrific. Her exercises are always well presented and her manner is friendly and encouraging.

This morning I woke at an ungodly hour (2:30) and did my lower body workout....used a Beach Body DVD I had gotten as my base, adapting for my knee. Re your question...The bursitis came after I had a knee operation....the doctor thought it was arthritis but I finally convinced him it wasn't, and he figured out that it is something called goosefoot bursitis, an inflammation of the hamstrings where they wrap around in the front under the knee. I got a cortisone shot about 4 months ago, but it's recurring, and I am scheduled for another shot in two weeks. Not fun. At least this time I can walk...last time it was really painful all the time.

Got back to sleep after my workout but the interrupted sleep is making me really groggy now. At least I got my workout in for the day.

Art

Just checking in today. I'm starting to notice that I feel much more limber and look forward to aerobics and upper & lower body training. I'm in my 5th. week of BFL.

End of week 2. Exercised 11 out of 14 days, eating is about 90% clean. But one unfortunate side effect is that my knees are bothering me more. Not that they hurt, it's just getting up and down (like squatting down to clean the litter box! :lol: ) I know that knee replacement is in my future - they've been bad for 20+ years - but I'm hoping that I can put it off awhile longer.

hi Pat,

regarding the sore knees: according to my doctor if the muscles on both sides of the knees are stronger they can take some of the load and your knee joint is loaded less heavily. But it must be on both sides of the knee. I find I have less knee problems if I do the leg stuff consistently, like squats & lunges, but you have to be really carefull that you don't let the knee go past your toes ( I hope this is clear) or else you load your knee in the wrong way when you do the exercises and that makes them worse. I do the squats & lunges with a mirror at my side to make sure.

Oh, and I also take glucosamine with chondroit (sp?) for my joints. I have the impression that it helps.

Good luck,
Rabbit

Thanks Rabbit. I do squats and lunges (very carefully) several times a week. I think my recent problem was caused by wearing worn-down shoes (need some new outdoor walking shoes) on pavement. There is a dirt trail most of the way, but it hasn't completely thawed yet so it's mud over frozen ground - not nice walking texture. :) I've gone back to doing elliptical at gym and knees are better.

Glad to hear that Pat! The glucosamine stuff is for arthritis type problems, so this would not have much to do with what you have now.
Wornd own shoes can rapidlt cause me problems on the knees and hips too. I bought new running shoes about 2 weeks ago but I have now had time to run. We go camping next week, so I might take them with me & see if I can do something around the campsite.

Rabbit

If nobody minds I'd like to join y'all. :)

I started the BFL workouts last week and I'm really liking it so far. I get about 10 hours of cardio in a week, but my weight / resistance training has been really hit and miss so I'm liking the structure of the work outs.

I loved how much my triceps hurt after the first UBWO, that seems to be my most neglected area. I'm also looking forward to putting some muscle on my chest as I'm looking a little bony there after my weight loss.

Like some others of you have mentioned, the LBWO is challenging to my knees, but I'm starting slow and watching my form and hopefully they will show some improvement soon.

Hi Tani, of course you are welcome! You are a great success story!! Cardio 10 hours a week - man, that's awesome! I guess we know how you achieved your weight loss. Is that about 2 hours of cardio a day, or do you just make sure to do something every day and you are very active on your weekends? Please share!

Fran, love your changing avatars! :)

So far I've exercised 4 out of 5 days this week. Tomorrow will be the second rest day - though I'll be square dancing at the Relay for Life (and swatting at the mosquitos! :eek: ). Food is less good, but today was better and tomorrow will be better than today.

Hi all! My working out has been negligable this past week. My sister, niece and fiance were here thru Tuesday, wore me out running around plus eating out alot...I did get to the gym for at least one workout, but other than that since they left I have just been catching up on my sleep and trying to get my eating back under control.

And now I am down in Nashville visiting my grandbaby, DD and SIL, and it is doubtful I will be able to do anything other than gardening and maybe lower body. I just hope I can watch my food intake...there's going to be a big brunch for grandbaby's first birthday, which means cake, casseroles, and lots of carbs. And the time change really screws up my sleep schedule...everyone goes to sleep late here which means 11-12 pm...and my normal bedtime is 9:30. Of course my body rhythms have me waking at 6:30 no matter what, which is 5:30 their time. Late to bed and early to rise means a tired me. When I'm tired I eat....vicious cycle. I have, have, have to keep control!

Hope everyone's been ahving a good week.

Art

Crazy woman here, haven't have gotten to the gym since Monday, but lots of problems have been resolved and next week looks pretty clear. Yes.

RABITT - I agree on the knees and the strength around them. My left one is wracked up from years of heavy shoulder bags on my left side, but I know that I have way fewer problems since I converted to a backpack and have started the upper leg workouts.

TANI - Welcome and love the geekly pagan chick title. Your numbers look great too.

FRAN - I dream of the adjustable weights. Like you curious on the TANI 10 hours, I am striving for 1 hour a day and then lots of opportunities no matter how small.

ART - For some reason I love First Birthday parties the best. We always have big ones here and of course they are mostly for parents. A small piece of cake tastes the same as the big piece though if that helps.

Weight stayed the same this week and I should be glad for that. Was able to eat pretty good and when I was faced with less than great choices, I went with the portion control. so no exercise and food and no weight change was a learning experience.

Thanks for the Welcome :) About the 10 hours, It's spread out throughout the day. I ride my bike to and from downtown to work as part of my commute, so there's 5 hours without even trying. Then I have a 1 hour aquacize class that I take with my mom 3 times a week, and I walk on my lunch break at work with a friend (mostly just to get away from the office ;))

It's going to be more challenging starting in July when my job moves 10 miles down the road and I switch from my bicycle to my new scooter. The nice thing is that I'll then be working from home 2 days a week. My plan is to rejoin the gym and go for an hour in the morning on the days I work at home (Tues/Thurs) and an hour at night on Monday and Wednesday (my dh has agreed to come on Mon/Wed, so that will be cool)

My aquacize classes are in the evening Tues/Thurs and Saturday morning, so hopefully that will work out okay. I'm one of those maintainers who has to either get in a lot of exercise or eat like a bird, and I'm *not* the eat like a bird type :lol:

Right now I'm doing the BFL lifting Monday Wednesday & Sunday. Speaking of which, omg do my quads hurt today.

Skipping the gym this morning, went and picked out a screen door for the front porch instead, boring but hey, has to get done.

Food is going to be ok today, I do have to go do some grocery shopping. Continuing my work on acquiring a taste for cottage cheese, hey if i could learn to prefer FF plain yogurt then I can do anything.

Liza - is it the texture that bothers you? You can blend it using a stick blender so it's not so lumpy. I find what works well for me is to add in a spoonful of yogurt (usually lf vanilla, but any would work). I then add in my fruit. Had applesauce with it yesterday which was surprisingly good. I think cinnamon would have added to it, but I was at work and it was just one of those 1/2 cup plastic containers of applesauce. We grow strawberries, raspberries, currents and rhubarb, and pick wild blueberries, so those are more often my choices (well, the currents and rhubarb are more DH's, they need to much sweetening to be palatable for me). :)

I am growing to almost like cottage cheese. I don't like it when it is being itself :) like on a salad - but I like it when its pretending to be something else, like hidden in oatie pancakes or when I've mixed it with sweetener and vanilla and it turns in to a cream substitute with fruit. I've recently started using it in place of milk with muesli, I whizz it up and then add a little sweetner and enough water to get a milk like consistency. I also whizz it up and add a green chili, chopped mint and cilantro with a touch of honey to make a dip or salad dressing.

Anything to disguise it really!

PAT - RE: Cottage cheese, no, I don't mind the texture, though I do prefere the small curd to large, it is just a taste thing, Love currants.

Thanks for the cottage cheese boost, I am hitting the motivation wall, not sure if I am sleep deprived or facing too many things. End of school for DD and stuff like that.

Just outlined my plan for the week in the weekly thread. Looks good so far. And I appear to have dropped 2#! Yippee. Still looking for the danged tape measure.....

The week has pretty much fallen apart for all of the ususal excuses. I plan to keep on going forward, not giving up but not expecting any results this week. Definately going to do something about my sleep deficit though.

Liza, you can do it. Sleep is very necessary to success - so catch that up first! You'll feel much more in control if you're not tired. :)

Hi,

I'm starting BFL on Monday (or even Sunday if I get overexcited!) with some weights workouts on Thursday/ Saturday to get the hang of some of the exercises (I use free weights but at a lighter level) I've had a fair bit of help planning already but am really excited and would welcome any hints and tips that you have...

Hey, I just realized that 4 weeks have passed. I'm cruising right along on this program, and lost another 3# this week! :D My exercise is much more consistent than it was, and while I still don't look forward to it with excitement, the feeling of "oh no do I have to do this?" is much less. :lol:

Eating is going pretty well, and I keep working on it. Hope the rest of you are doing as well.

PAT - You are definately on the straight and narrow of being on track for the BFL. Down 3 is great.

I have gotten down one more, but not switched back to my other gym, so I am trying to stay on track at home.

This afternoon is lower body while baking cupcakes for an event at DD's school. Seems a little odd, but hey, multitasking is where it is at.

Got a good grocery shopping done so when I am eating, I am eating right. Still working on acquiring a taste for the FF cottage cheese.

Liza, did you try mixing in a spoonful of yogurt? My DH eats vanilla yogurt, either LF or full-fat (he's a skinny little devil) so I just steal a spoonful and mix it in my ff cottage cheese, then add fruit and if necessary splenda. Today I have raspberries :)