I have been exercising for about 4 years now and have been disappointed with how long it is taking to see results. So this year I have decided to take the Body for Life Challenge. Body for Life is a 12-week program that focuses on nutrition and exercise. The exercise program consists of just 45 min of intense weight training 3 days a week and 20 min of intense cardio training 3 days a week. This is the beginning of "My Body for Life"
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
My Kryptonite!
A few days ago I decided to give up Coke for Lent. I have already broke this and had 2 Cokes over the weekend. The difference this time is I really paid attention to how I felt in the hours after I drank the sodas. I immediately noticed I was bloated and uncomfortable. That feeling lasted all day, I even started craving more and craved sweets and other junk food. It was almost unbearable that I decided to go to bed before I gave in. The bad thing is, the cravings ran into the next day too. So I got up and went to the gym and after that I was able to control the urges and go about my day as normal.
After this, I have decided that the short term guilty pleasure is just not worth what comes after. So, no more sodas for me for the next 40 days. I can for sure commit to 40 days, and then make a new goal after that. It is much easier to do it this way then to say I am giving it up forever. But someday it will be forever. Just like I did with smoking. But, I must admit, smoking was much easier to give up than sodas. lol
Have a great day everyone! May you accomplish one of your goals today!
Eating out on the BFL program
Monday, February 27, 2012
Week Six
Friday, February 24, 2012
Meal Plan
Tough Day at the gym!
Body for Life Book
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday; I am not Catholic but the last few years I have decided to give up something for Lent. I decided to do this because I like the idea of making a sacrifice for someone who sacrificed so much for us all. The things I have given up in the past have been food items. Why is that? I guess its because its something I really enjoy but, is not a necessity. Food yes, is important but not junk food is not a necessity. In the past I have given up chocolate and potato chips. So once again, I am giving up my one and only vice I have left, Coke! Coca Cola that is! I am a huge soda drinker. It is my drink of choice. I know it is not a good choice when your trying to lose weight and eat healthy. As I have posted in the past; I quit smoking 4 years ago. Smoking was far easier to quit than giving up Coke. Even just giving it up temporarily has been much harder. In the past I wouldn't even think of giving Coke up for Lent because it would be too hard. But since I have started the Body for Life Challenge I know I cannot accomplish what I want with this program and drink Coke too. So this year I am giving up all soda for Lent! The ultimate goal would be to give it up forever but I must take baby steps. So until Easter, I am giving you up. I will miss you dearly my friend! =D
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Starting Month 2
Today was cardio, I hate cardio! It can be so exhausting running on the treadmill. I know isn't that the point, to reach your level 10 you must exert yourself . I must say, reaching my level 10 in strength training is much easier than reaching my level 10 in cardio, where your heart rate goes through the roof. lol But I pushed through. I raised the bar for myself and increased my speed and incline. This will be my new starting point and work up from there. My goal is to work up to a max speed of 6.5. Don't laugh! You must remember I am only 4'9" tall, my legs can only move so fast! lol
Tomorrow is a new lower body & abs routine! I wonder what Eddy has in store for me. He said he has some ab exercises to help with my love handles. Why do people call these love handles? I cannot think of anyone who loves them? Confused! lol
Have a great day all!
Monday February 20, 2012
Also I started a new work out routine. Today was upper body, tomorrow is cardio and Wednesday is a new lower body routine.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Yoga Today
Saturday Sweat Shop Class
Next Saturday I am going to do a Beginners Spin Class. EEEK! Wish me luck with that one!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Month One!
Nutrition? Why do we make things so difficult? I have struggled with trying to eat right for a long time. I thought I was eating right by counting calories, fat, carbs etc.... But the fact is, you can still eat bad and count everything out. So I think I am on the right track. Clean eating only..... It is a little more time consuming to eat clean. Because no more easy to make meals like Lean Cuisine and no more protein bars first meal of the day. I have to actually make food to eat. But, once on a routine it will get easier.
With this program;
Don't count your calories etc.
Use your hand to gauge your portion sizes.
Eat 3 meals a day and 3 snacks a day
Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.
Eat a good protein and a good carb with each meal.
Eat Clean. That's it!
Oh yeah! You get one day a week to splurge a little!
The only hard part is making sure you eat 6 times a day and drinking all the water. That takes thought!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Week Four
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Week Three
Day Thirteen
Week Two
Yoga Class
Day Seven
Day Six
Here is some information that I found on nutrition;
- Eating 6 smaller meals per day instead of the standard 3 large meals. BFL (along with some dietary experts) maintain that eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day will boost the body's metabolism, causing it to burn fat faster.
- Eating one "portion" of carbohydrates and one "portion" of protein at each meal. To keep determining portion sizes simple, BFL suggests that one "portion" of carbohydrates should equal a potato or ball of rice roughly equal to the size of the person's clenched fist. Additionally, one "portion" of protein would roughly equal a piece of meat the size of the person's palm and as thick as a deck of cards.
- Consuming vegetables with at least two meals per day.
- Taking a good multi-vitamin.
- Limiting consumption of butter, cheese, mayonnaise, alcoholic beverages, and high fat salad dressings.
- Allowance of one "free day" each week. A free day is one day a week in which the person is allowed to make dietary choices that do not correspond with the BFL eating program. Although this should not be a day to binge eat junk food, BFL encourages people to eat whatever foods or desserts they desire on this day. According to Bill Phillips, this allows the body to avoid the Starvation response and gives the dieter a chance to avoid cheating since they know they simply have to wait until their free day to have what they crave.
Day Five
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
Week 1 | Upper-body Weight Training | Aerobic Exercise | Lower-body Weight Training | Aerobic Exercise | Upper-body Weight Training | Aerobic Exercise | Free Day |
Week 2 | Lower-body Weight Training | Aerobic Exercise | Upper-body Weight Training | Aerobic Exercise | Lower-body Weight Training | Aerobic Exercise | Free Day] |
Intensity index
- 0 is no exertion at all.
- 2 corresponds to very light exercise. For a healthy person, this is like walking slowly at their own pace for several minutes.
- 5 on the scale is somewhat hard exercise, but it still feels OK to continue.
- 8 is very strenuous. A healthy person can still go on, but they really have to push themselves. It feels very heavy, and the person is very tired.
- 9 on the scale is an extremely strenuous exercise level. For most people this is the most strenuous exercise they have ever experienced.
- 10 is maximal exertion: an all-out, 100% effort.