Just started Body for Life

beebs · Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:57 pm

I have been stalling on SBD for over a month now. I just joined the BFL challenge. The eating doesn't seem to be very different from SBD, except that I have to use at least one EAS product a day, like a shake or a bar.

I'll see if this can get those last 8 pounds!

Does anybody have any experience with BFL?

LyndaB · Tue Aug 10, 2004 2:03 pm

Ok, if BFL = Body for Life, what on earth does EAS stand for and what exactly is Body for Life? Isn't that a plan by that guy, Jake, who is a bodybuilder or something? Maybe I'm wrong... I'm reaching back into the furthest corners of my braincells because it all sounds familiar, like an old prom date.

Did you not like the Beach? How long were you on the Beach total? Maybe your body doesn't think it should weigh less than it does right now. It'll be interesting to see if your weight fluctuates as a result of changing horses in the middle of the stream.

Personally, I'm a Beach lover and will be a Beach Blanket Bingo Babe forever. Even if I never lost another pound, which is really hard to envision, I feel damn good and I look damn good. That does it for me!!!

Good luck whatever you choose to do!!! :D

Edit: I just went to look up Body for Life... although I didn't get the guys name right, it is the program I was thinking of. This is not like SB at all. This is heavily exercise-oriented, mostly strength training. This is really a program for body builders, not your average joe, in my opinion. They are also REALLY big on supplements, again mainly focused towards body builders. Please take the utmost caution if you get involved in their supplements. Personally, as much as I love working out in my gym and strength training, I wouldn't touch this program with a 10-foot pole. Feel free to convince me otherwise.

BetsyR · Tue Aug 10, 2004 2:58 pm

Hi, Beebs, this is my first post here, but I wanted to weigh in on BFL. I actually really like that program. I did it about 6 months back and was feeling pretty good about the way I looked...then, the Christmas holidays hit, and I got sidetracked and never really got back on track. I agree with you - the eating plan seems to go well with South Beach. It's basically high protein, fairly low carbs and sugars, and a lot of whole foods. It's totally possible to do it entirely without supplements, too...I know Bill Philips recommends the EAS products, but if you read his whole book, he specifically says that you never have to use them at all, they're mainly for convenience and to make sure you're getting adequate amounts of protein to support the muscle you're building. I hated the bars, so I only used the protein shakes for breakfast, which I still do on South Beach because I HATE eggs. I love the fact that BFL emphasizes exercise, and I personally feel that any diet program that leaves this component out is doomed to fail, at least for most of the people I've talked to. I'd say, go for it, and good luck! :)

CracXmeUp · Tue Aug 10, 2004 3:43 pm

I disagree! Dr A says you will loss even if you never exercise. I am not minimizing the importance of exercise. I did not exercise the first 3 weeks of this diet because I had become so atrophied from knee and ankle surgeries, and the lard that followed that I could not walk around the block.

There is an inital attraction, when you can lose without getting up off your ass. But the magic comes in time. Once I started with SB I started getting more energy, I lost 20lbs and felt better, and I began to exercise. So I do not believe someone who does not exercise is doomed to fail, on the contrary, I think this is the perfect WOE for those who DON"T want to evercise.
It is probably their last hope for success. This WOE works for every body. :D

Kimboroni · Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:10 am

SB is not high protein or low carb. It tends to swing that way in p1, and then in p2 you should be eating plenty of carbs and no more protein than you ate before SB.

devon25 · Fri Aug 13, 2004 5:06 pm

I was exactly like betsyr I did it for awhile and stuck to it to a T and I had decent results too! But holidays rolled around and I never hopped back on the wagon. So now Im doing the beach!

BetsyR · Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:18 pm

<sigh> Yes, I know, I know...the South Beach Diet is neither low-fat, nor low-carb. Forgive my silly slip-up. You have to understand, though - for me, any diet that tells me I can have (mostly) unlimited lean meats, but that I have to limit the potatoes and bread...well, that diet seems to be rather low-carb to me. Not NO carb, mind you, but low-carb. Besides, when I say I overdid it on carbs today, I generally mean I had too many jellybeans, not too much broccoli and whole-wheat bread. :) Again, sorry for the misstep.

Kimboroni · Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:30 am

That's just one of my pet peeves. It's all this extremism that bothers me-- just because it isn't high carb, it doesn't mean it's low carb. And just because it doesn't eschew a nice steak like the lowfat diets do, it doesn't make it high protein. It's very balanced, with plenty of carbohydrates that accompany normal portions of protein. Most of what I eat are carbs. I just don't eat huge amounts of refined sugars and starches anymore.

LyndaB · Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:01 am

Kim... you have to realize that some people MUST label it something or another, instead of just realizing that it's a healthy way to eat. Why can't they just see that? Don't know...

Someone here once said "it's a low crap diet"... that's pretty much it.

I know where you're coming from... :?

Beebs? I'm curious.. how's Body for Life going?

Bravnik · Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:15 pm

I did the Body for Life routine and it worked well for me. I was 206 at the start at 5'6''. I'm now 178 with about 15-20lbs of muscle gain. The body transformation is impressive to be honest. The eating routine is very simular to SB. The main differance is with BFL you do weights and cardio along with eating right.

I did BFL without the suppliments from EAS. I only used a Protien powder (Not an EAS one) in the mornings as I'm just too lazy to do breakfast. BFL is an EXCELLENT way to lose weight and gain muscle for the beginner weight lifter. It will teach you how to eat right and use portion control along with the basics of weight lifting.

I'm starting SB on 2/7/05 for a month to help me lose the last 15lbs I want to lose. I have been stuck at 178-180 for the past 4 months give or take. As we all know the last 10-15lbs are the hardest and I'm going to use the SB diet to get there. I will maintain about 1200 calories a day during this time. Once I meet my goal of 165, I will start pushing the heavy weights again and bump up my calories to 2500-3000 using the SB eating method to control the bad carbs and fats. I personally think SB and BFL would work very well together.

I no longer do the BFL program because I have moved more to Free Weights and they are harder to do on the BFL program compaired to the machines (Lots of changing weights with BFL program). Once I meet my weight goal I will move to the Max OT program by AST which is a hard core muscle building routine.

My goals are to lose weight and gain muscle. I want to change my body and not just have the same body but with less fat. BFL was a wonderful start and I highly recommend the program to people. It honestly changed my life and was a HUGE stepping stone for me. I hope to feel the same way about SB after I'm done!

shanxj · Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:50 pm

I've heard a lot of good things about Body For Life. I think if you want to be successful though you have to enjoy exercise. I personally do enjoy it and may look into getting the book. I have been absolutely pleased with SBD and wouldn't be replacing the things I've learned but just adding too what I've learned.
I really believe exercise should be a part of any diet and/or lifestyle. For me I have to be active if I want to be thin. Unless I eat like a mouse for the rest of my life. I know Dr. A said you don't have to exercise on the SBD but I think he was probably cringing while he said it. Too many people want to believe that they can be perfectly healthy without exercise and I personally disagree. I think exercise is a critical part of maintaining a healthy weight. Maybe others don't like to eat as much as I do though :lol:


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