As today marked the 1st day of week 4 on Body for Life for me, I am 25% done with the program. I though now would be a good time to provide more insight about it and how I am getting on with the program.
In a nutshell, I absolutely love it. It has completely changed my approach towards working out. Initially I had said that I am not going to be following the BFL eating plan. While I haven’t strictly been sticking to it, I have increased my protein intake and am trying to eat smaller meals more regularly throughout the day (5-6 mini meals). However if I am out for a meal which is carb-heavy, want a drink, or am tempted to indulge in dessert, I have no problem doing so…even if any of those don’t fall on the “free day”. So long as it does not dictate my life, I will continue to commit to the eating portion of BFL. As for the workouts, here you go:
Pros:
- Consistency: With my workouts pre-planned, my propensity to skip a session is close to zero. Even though I was tempted to on 3 of the days, I didn’t give in.
- Short sessions: I no longer have the “I don’t have time” excuse at my disposal. The longest session is the upper body workout, and that too is only 46 minutes. I’m not an investment banker, I don’t have kids, and hence I can always find time to fit it in.
- Noticeable changes: My tummy area has always been the hardest place for me to lose weight but I am already 1 inch down on my waist and 1.5 inches down on my upper waist.
- Challenge: BFL has certainly taken me out of comfort zones in various ways: I’m lifting heavier and running at speeds faster than I ever have.
- Efficiency: It baffles me how I voluntarily used to spend 40+ minutes on cardio machines. With the 20-minute HIIT sessions, my workout is done before I know it, and yet I always feel like I’ve had a killer workout.
- Variety: There is quite an extensive list of exercises for each muscle group so I have been mixing it up to prevent my body from adapting. It has also encouraged me to try new machines/weight exercises that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
Cons:
- Number of workout sessions: As I have always taken 2 rest days a week from exercise, that sixth day can sometimes be a mental struggle…especially on a Saturday morning after a night out and a few drinks. That being said, if I do feel like my body needs a break, I will definitely take an extra day off.
Little focus on ab work: As the plan only incorporates 2 ab exercises on lower body days, I try to round up by cardio workouts with a bit of ab work.
Bring on week 4…!
Yay! Great progress – that’s really exciting! Even though I’m not doing anything even close to BFL right now, I have been changing things up pretty regularly and the changes I’ve seen just from that are awesome. It’s so true that the body is an efficiency machine – as soon as it gets the hang of something it stops workings as hard. Great post! Please keep the updates coming!
Thanks, Parita! I think introducing any kind of change to your diet/workout is bound to shake things up and produce favorable results…otherwise our bodies will outclever us :)!
Woohoo 25 down, 75 to go! And just imagine how much more progress you’ll see in the remaining 3/4 if that’s how much you’ve already made. Gooooo Khusboo 🙂 (on a sidenote I really wish the same emoticons BBM have could be made on blog comments)
“I really wish the same emoticons BBM have made could be made on blog comments”–> story of my life! Instead of the wordpress embarrassed face, the BBM hand over eye would be so much more useful! Haha I’m an emoticon addict!
You are a sexy beast!! Awesome job!! I love that you follow the diet plan, but don’t limit yourself..I think that is key to finding something you can stick with.
Definitely- In the past I think I was a bit too strict to the point that eating out would sometimes stress me out..live and learn! Eating well is just one part of my life, not my full life!
WOOO! Keep up the awesome work girl, you’re already making such great progress!
Thanks Alexandra!
i give you so much credit doing this. You are 25% done.. that’s awesome. I love your investment banker and no kids comment, I am neither, and I still find an excuse. SO BAD! Enjoy Valentine’s day dinner with the ladies, I miss those days. 🙂
Thanks, I sure did! HOpe you had a great night too!
Great job so far with the program and your progress is awesome! It’s good to hear you are enjoying it and also staying committed! When you are 100% done, you will be a whole new, ass-kicking woman 😀
That’s the plan :D! Thanks for your comment!
That’s so so good!! You’re inspiring me to get my butt in gear and actually start up the program too!
You’re right – no excuses!!!
I need to shoot you an email about some BFL questions and pick your brains about the ‘wisdom’ you acquired when you did it before!
Yay! Yo go girl! 🙂
And by yo I mean you.
Thanks 😀
i always love seeing how people feel about different programs. I’ve never been able to follow on specifically but know it would help with my eating
I think it works both ways- when you eat right, you’re performance during exercise automatically increases and when you workout, you’re motivated to eat well to avoid all your hard work go down the drain!
I cut down on my ab work and my abs are better 😉 so have faith 😉 its all about the clean eats 😉
i love the fact that you love this though 😀 what a great feeling 😀 again, SO proud of you 😀
Word on the street is that abs are made in the kitchen..glad you can vouch for that!
I definitely can 😀
That’s great you are keeping it up!!
Your posts motivate me to keep up my work out routine.
I’ve been on and off (grrr..) but I’m going to go do some ab work out right now after I comment here!!
Hope you got that ab work in 🙂
It sounds like you’re doing great, Khushboo! I’ve been toying with the idea of trying this program out once I get back from Mexico. Do you think it’d be something I’d like? Haha, we’ll see how it goes… 🙂
As you are already into weight training, i definitely think you will love the program…especially in terms of how efficient each workout is!
I’m totally with you on shorter sessions and efficiency. When I first discovered HIIT workouts I was like “and I used to spend HOURS on end at the gym?!” Sounds like the program’s really suited you so far – excited to hear about the rest of your progress!
For me it was definitely a mental thing–> regardless of my effort (even if it was very low-intensity), 45 minutes+ sessions trumped 20 minute workouts…yeah definitely not!
Congrats on the progress! ^^ I know how you feel – but at the same time you feel so accomplished!
Thanks!
Wow! Congrats on your accomplishments! It sounds like it really has changed your whole approach – and how cool to be seeing results and feeling so good 🙂
Thanks- I always used to think cardio was the be all end all but I am seeing results so much quicker by just upping my weight training!
Oh wow!! Thanks for the inspiring post babe!! It is something I really needed now 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
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