Body for Life

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
Body for Life
10
Mon, 01-24-2005 - 11:12am

Hi Everyone!

I post here once in a great while, but read your posts all the time!

Is there anyone here who has either done Body for Life or is currently doing Body for Life? I'm really interested in trying it, but don't really know of results with people with 100+ pounds to lose.

Thanks! :)

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Mon, 01-24-2005 - 3:41pm

BFL ROCKS!!! I did it a few years ago and in 12 weeks went from a bulging size 24/26 to a size 20. I only lost about 25 lbs, so you lose more in size than in pounds (which makes sense because it is a muscle BUILDING program) I've never felt healthier than I did then. It's really, really good. Just don't cheat on your cardio days... I did and think I would've had much better fat-burning resaults if I hadn't. I also really liked the concept (and his reasoning for) of a free-day--how it's not really cheating, it's helping your metabolism get used to working off surprises instead of getting stuck/adapted to a set calorie intake.

I'm doing another BFL 12-week soon.

GOOD LUCK. I think you'll LOVE it!

~C

p.s. I have to be honest though, I HAVE NO IDEA why, I did fall off the program... after my first 12 weeks, I took the one week break (recommended) and just never got started again. :( THIS TIME, I'll know that and be prepared.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Mon, 01-24-2005 - 4:21pm

Thank you for your enthusisasm about the program! With those results, I can certainly see why you're so enthusisastic! I've read about some great results on Body for Life, but I haven't seen many "success stories" of people who were really large like me. I am a tight 26/28 pant right now (Lane Bryant sizes) and NEED to lose weight. I bought a size 24 pair of pants the other day for motivation. My goal is to be able to fit COMFORTABLY in those pants by the end of the 12 weeks. My boyfriend and I are both going to start on Monday, Jan 31. I have to be in my brother's wedding and I can't be in it looking like this. I will be mortified! But it's more than that! I feel so unhealthy (and am so unhealthy). I just have to do something for myself. I am so sick of looking and feeling this way. Watch out! I'm going to be a strong woman with a little bit of muscle! :)

If you (or anyone else) wants to be my Body for Life buddy, let me know!!!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 4:25pm

Shannon,

You and your boyfriend are going to LOVE it!!!! One thing though, BFL really, really, really stresses taking measurements. DO IT!! You will lose pounds but the inches will be much more impressive!! You will EASILY wear those new pants if you stick to the plan. (You might even need 22s! :) I forgot to say the other thing that rocked about BFL but you already know it: Being strong rocks!

I'd love to be your BFL buddy but I'm already on Week 3 of a different weight-lifting program. Kathy Smith's... It's not 1/2 as fun as BFL but I'm going to stick it out (I have a bad habit of quitting things and I'm working on seeing things through--it's funny, but what I don't like is that her program is way too EASY after BFL... I like the intensity of BFL workouts.) You'll be sore the first two weeks...then your muscles will adapt to being built and will feel tired the day of, but not excrutiating. LOL!)

So I can't be your buddy, but I'd LOVE for you to update me with your progress! I lift on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. Is that going to be your schedule too?

HAVE SO MUCH FUN! GOOD LUCK!!!!

~C

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2004
In reply to: ishannon78
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 5:54pm

Ok, I had to go google body for life because of this thread... Is it only a book, or are there DVD's? I read all the time but that's *fiction*.. I don't do the "read about exercise and then do it" thing lol.


From what I can glean from the personal websites people have put up... this is mostly an exercise program (3 days weights 45 mins per, 3 days cardio 20 mins per), with suggestions for how to eat (6 meals a day), and supplements?


If this is so, why can't I get the same results from doing my DVD's and weights on my own? Why do I need to pay this guy for his book and HIS supplements? I already eat the foods he suggests although it's 3 meals a day and 1-2 snacks.


I'm not trying to be argumentative, I really do want to know (:


- cl-Yavie, sig in  still in progress :D

I am just a young girl in need of some

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
In reply to: ishannon78
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 5:59pm
There used to be another member here who did BFL and she loved it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 7:30pm

Yes, I am planning on lifting M, W, F also! I've never read about the Kathy Smith program...do you like it? You say it's easier? How so? Just curious...always interested in new programs! :)

I'm excited about starting next week. My boyfriend is looking forward to it also. I don't know what we're going to do about working out. I don't think we have enough weights at home. I have a gym membership, but he doesn't and he doesn't want to renew his membership where he had a membership (too far away). Plus he doesn't want to join the gym I go to because it is really expensive. We are tight on money. I'm thinking about buying weights and stuff for home. From what I can tell, you really only need some weights, a large exercise ball, and a sturdy bench. Is there anything else we would need for home for weight training? We have a treadmill already.

Good luck with your current program!! Keep me posted on the results!!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 7:40pm

cl-Yavie,

Body for Life is an exercise program with a nutrition component. I don't think you have to do the supplements to get the best results (although Bill Phillips, the author, would like you to think you do I'm sure!). It stresses eating a serving of protein and a serving of carbohydrate about 6 times a day. A serving of protein is the size of your palm and a serving of carbohydrate is the size of your fist. It is, by no means, a low calorie diet. You can cut calories, but I've read stories of people who lost more body fat by not cutting calories too much. He also encourages healthy fats too (but not too much fat). In a way, I see this diet as a high protein, moderate carb, low fat diet. The fat intake is about 20% and the protein intake is probably about 30-40% and the carbohydrate intake is around 40-50% (in terms of macronutrients).

The biggest think he stresses is that you workout 6 days a week, increasingly pushing yourself to the point of exertion. You do three days of cardio for only 20 minutes each day (hard to believe, but apparently it works because you are essentially killing yourself at the end of the 20 minutes by pushing yourself harder and harder). Then you do three days of weights, alternating upper and lower body each day (again, pushing yourself to the max). I've heard wonders about it, so I'm definitely going to try it.

You can go to bodyforlife.com. There are actual pictures of the weight training exercises and even information about the program. I'm surprised they put that info on there considering it's basically the same stuff that's in the book. It even has a menu planner and stuff.

To be in the Body for Life challenge, you must use a supplement. I am not planning on using supplements. I don't think they're healthy. Sure, once in awhile they're probably okay, but I don't want to put that crap in my body (just my opinion).

I hope that helps!!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2004
In reply to: ishannon78
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 8:44pm

Thanks for the response! You explained it very well.


Sounds like my made-up diet already... I still eat complex carbs (and some simple), doing a bit of low-fat (good fats) and quite a bit of protein although not much of it from meats.


Not sure how I'd do the cardio except for doing my DVD's. I don't have a treadmill. I have a bike, but it's in the guest room which is boring lol, so I don't use it :P The big problem is I can't imagine doing weight-work for 45 minutes. All I have at home for that is hand weights (a set of 2lb, 5lb and.. some other one) and ankle weights. Anyway, I could see 20 mins of that, but after that it'd get kinda boring... I guess I'll go check out what they say on the website. If nothing else, I won't do BFL but I'll be inspired for my own exercise regimen (:


- cl-Yavie, sig in  still in progress :D

I am just a young girl in need of some

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Wed, 01-26-2005 - 9:21am

It does sound like you're doing that sort of routine now. There is really no specification on the type of cardio you do...just that it gets progressively harder throughout the workout (and you train in intervals). You could do that walking, biking, with videos, etc.

The website is terrific! It shows all the weight training exercises and even shows people doing them so you can see their form!!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
In reply to: ishannon78
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 12:57pm

Hey again, Shannon!

The main difference between Kathy Smith (and a lot of other weights to lose weight programs/classes) is that her emphasis is on toning. BFL's emphasis is muscle building. With KS program, you will get stronger but to NO WHERE the same level as BFL which will AMAZE you with how quickly you build muscle/increase strength. My Kathy Smith program works every muscle group, 1 set, high rep (20) with a weight that you can lift for all 20. And you rest muscles in between. Eventually (week 4 or 5) you can go up to TWO sets if you want, or you can stick at one. BFL you do 6 sets for each muscle group, but you work the groups (as you know! :) seperately. Lower body then cardio day then upper body then cardio day then lower body, etc. AND THE FOCUS is completely exhausting the muscle so it's forced to grow.

Why do I like BFL better? Well, I love endorphin (spelling?) rush after my muscles are worked to exhaustion. The workout makes me feel powerful and it's a HUGE mood booster/frustration and stress buster. Plus, I had amazing results. :)

However, that said, I actually really liked KS last night--I've just increased my weights to where they're a lot of work for me. :)

You can definitely do BFL at home, especially if you have a treadmill at home for the cardio. I found I HAD to do the cardio on a machine where the higher setttings would force me to up my intensity... outside, I'd fudge, pretending I was working harder but not really doing it. The only thing with doing it at home compared to a gym is that you will need a lot of weights because you have to go up in pounds, every set and you quickly gain strength, so for example, having three set-pound sets of dumbbells won't work--you'd quickly be able to lift them without effort, so I really recommend bars and weights that you can adjust and add too (it's cheaper than individual dumbells too). Although, I LOVE set weight dumbbells and have fives, eights, tens and fifteens. I want twelves and a twenty! :)

As you can see, I'm really pumped about weight lifting and I'm soooo excited that you're going to experience it for the first time!!! (Is it your first time???) You'll have to let me know how you're feeling Tuesday! *grin*

CHEERS!

~C