Body for lifers

[lizzyc]

I have been contemplating for a few weeks now about Body for Life. To tell you the truth I never even heard of it before I read it on this forum.
Is it truly a 12 week program and how strict is it going to be? I am willing to make changes, but I know something too restrictive won't work for me. Can anyone please give me an idea of what it is all about and how it worked for you?
I really appreciate any responses.
Thank you,
Lizzy

 

[ShyWolf]

I did 2 BFL challenges in the begining of the year ..
I ate clean and workout as prescribed in the book.The book is truely needed if you want to follow the plan also the journal is a nice book to have also.

I did loose inches and decreased my BF% but I did not see the results I was looking for.
For me to seriously lose weight I need more cardio.

It is a somewhat strict foodplan but I did enjoy it.
Ultimately I fell off the wagon ...joined WW instead and have been following Cathe's monthly rotations. What I did not see in a 12 week span I'm seeing in 4 weeks.

BFL did get me back to working out on a regular basis and to eat better but it just did not work for me in 24 weeks, I did not see the results I was aiming for although my muscle mass grew.

I'm barely 5'2" , in my mid 30's and have the classic pear shaped body with thick legs. My legs got thicker and stronger but not leaner.
That's my result, with Cathe and WW I'm getting leaner, with a spring in my step and I can eat whatever I want with no restrictions. I'm very happy with what I'm doing now.

That is just my expierience , everybody reacts differently ...so if your truly interested in BFL I would say take a chance on it; do it for 12 weeks and see what happens . It may be what your looking for as far as results go.

HTH somewhat and Good Luck!

 

[AMYP26]

Hi!

I just finished my very first BFL challenge and am beginning my second. I love the program, especially the eating plan. I think it is very easy to follow, and I see the best results when I eat on the plan. The hardest part for me was eliminating processed foods and only eating good quality carbs like whole wheat bread instead of white, or brown rice instead of white. They are small changes that you can easily get used to. I love how the meals are spaced apart every 3 hours because I am never hungry and never want to overeat. I find also that using protein shakes helps me to get at least 5 meals in per day and gives me that extra protein for lean muscle.

As for the workouts, I tweaked the program by using Cathe cardios, mainly Imax 2 and Imax 1 for the intervals, and using the Pyramids for weight lifting. However, I did occasionally switch things up and use other Cathe cardios and strength training. But I really started to see some great changes in my body. I started eating bad when I finished my first challenge so I am now getting back into it full force. I highly recommend it, at least the eating plan!!! You can always add more cardio to your routine if you find you would like to. It all depends on what works best for you.

Good luck! -Amy

 

[BodyKat]

i've completed it twice, and had a few false starts. the first time - was incredible. i took photos every 4 weeks. and for me, the first four weeks were just amazing. by the end - i was so proud of myself - i just felt great inside and out.

i just started it again this week because i'm totally out of shape again and it's the one thing that works for me.

i thought the eating plan was reasonable. i've tried South Beach, and that low carb thing just isn't the answer for me. with BFL, you are eating well and if you are simply dying for pizza or fries or cake or cookies - all you have to do is wait for your free day. so it's not like you have to give everything up for 12 weeks. you only have to commit to clean eating - a week at a time.

i'm using cathe's pyramid workouts this time around. for cardio i'm using my bike or running.