On a personal note...back in January, after reading some random unsolicited testimonials for the Body for Life program over at Althouse, I got some very good advice from an acquaintance (whom I've lost touch with) and started my own modified B4L plan. I found the book very helpful as far as the overall program, and also for teaching how to eat in order not only feed your body right for this program, but in general. Surprisingly, I found the suggestions for diet easier than the workout...well, surprising to me, anyway. I've always been somewhat active, so maybe that's the key to that surprise.
Months later, I'm feeling fantastic overall. I still feel that I have a ways to go toward where I want to be as far as overall tone and size, but I have to say that I'm amazed at how much my body has changed by doing this modified program. I've obviously been this size before, but I looked completely different at it than I do now. And, as it is quite a few years down the road since then, I find that kind of shocking! In a good way, of course.
I have no complaints at this point, just maybe a little frustration lately as I feel like I have hit a plateau and am having a hard time figuring out how to get past it. I really don't want to feel deprived as far as eating goes (though I know, I know...watch the pasta!), and working out harder is not that attractive to me, either. Something's gotta give, though.
Anyway, I highly recommend the Body for Life program. But minimally, joining a gym if you don't have the necessary equipment at home, getting some help with how to develop a training program for yourself if you can, and learning how to feed the muscles you're working on. So far, this is the best thing I've done as far as taking care of myself physically.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
As they say on the Internet: This post is useless without pics.
<ahem>
I did that program and worked very well for me. In retrospect, my current concern about it is that it doesn't emphasize fruits and vegetables enough. Ick, I know, but "they" are now saying 9-13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day--which isn't as much as it sounds, but still more than most of us do, and more than B4L accounts for.
My suggestion would be to count F&V as free. Eat them whenever, with every meal, and try to fill up on them.
Windbag over at TY talked about not eating anything white, and that's a pretty good rule: No white flour, no white sugar, no white potatoes (other colors are fine), etc.
As you know I did the treadmill thing for eight months without losing a pound (though obviously I lost some fat and gained muscle), and even drank close to a gallon of water a day without losing a pound.
Stopping the empty carbs? 15 pounds in six weeks.
Tragically.
LOL. Maybe a pic when I reach my goal?
Some interesting tips there, Blake. Thank you very much! I think I have been neglecting fruit because of the sugar content, and I shouldn't. I'll try to follow some of your advice!
And well done to you, too!
The "no white foods" thing is sorta like the old don't eat processed grains and starches saw, which is pretty good advice too.
You shouldn't cut out fruits Darcy-some are high in fiber and pectin-too things that are good for you.
FWIW, here's a list of the best and worst fruits according to sugar content Link
I just spent a few minutes looking over the Body for Life program. Looks interesting and sounds like it has been successful for you Darcy.
I did the Zone Diet for a couple of months last year and have been about 75% Zone Diet for the last year. It's been good. Regular focused and effective exercise was, of course, essential. Yoga is also a good way to increase flexibility and tone up.
But enough of that. I just came here for the hot tennis babe pics.
All this talk about diets is making me feel sad. Maybe I'll give up sweet and sour chicken. Just don't take away my farmer's omelette with hash browns...
I've only done a sort of make-it-up-as-you-go type program, but what Blake says rings true.
Around 40, in the face of troublesome weight gain, I took up jogging. I didn't loose any weight, but at least the gain stopped. So I started to cut back on the carbs--just less bread, rice, potatoes and pasta. Not zero, but a lot less. Then I started to loose weight.
Now that I have been running for 7 years, I've gotten a lot stronger and so I can go further and faster on my lunch-hour runs. (My workplace has showers--thank goodness) As a result of the more intense workouts, I have added back the carbs and the weight has stayed off.
Keep up the good work! It may take a while, but if you are on the right track you will get there.
Hey, Curtiss, Bushman, and dbp! Thanks for the comments. I've gotten some interesting tips here, and yeah, I'm going to try to lower the carbs a bit. And avoid the "white" carbs.
Post a Comment