a time of success

I believe there is more than one way to skin a cat. in basic weight loss programs the equation is this: decrease in caloric intake (diet) + increased body caloric burn (exercise) = body fat loss (smaller tummy). I cannot argue with this principle. when i was a wrangler we used this exact principle for the alpha horses that got more than their fair share of food. we put them in a different pen, fed them less hay and took them on extra rides. many an overweight woman has used this very principle to loose weight and keep it off. this is the exact principle that famous weight loss programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers use. There are plenty of women that jive with this life style, and then again, there are plenty that don't. Like those horses, as soon as we reach a healthy weight, our time in the diet pen is over and we are released back into the corral to once again become alpha eaters.

The yo-yo diet affect is one that diet companies have come to rely on, it is their bread a butter, and it makes a lot of money. there is a lot of psychology behind all of this that i don't feel i have to go into right now. chances are that if you are reading this you have taken a ride on the merry go round of: I'm going to do it this time, deprive myself of the foods i love but are not healthy, put up with being hungry, yea! i lost ten pounds, I'm going to celebrate, crap! i gained ten pounds, now i feel horrible about myself, I'm going to do it this time!

Let me share with you my favorite way of skinning the weight loss cat. It involves eating all day long, eating balanced portions of carbs and protein, working out only 20 min a day and still being able to eat my "fun" foods, all while shrinking like a wool sweater in the dryer. Impossible you say? keep reading.

The Body for Life program was created by Bill Phillips. He was a body builder also looking for an easier, more affective way. He came up with a 12 week program of diet and exercise designed to get maximum results in the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of stress. sounds like my kind of program.

Now, if you could change your body by sitting on the couch watching tv and eating Ben and Jerry's, i wouldn't be writing this right now. You do still have to put in effort, but with this program the results come fast and easy and you can use it for always, no need to yo-yo.

Body for Life in a nut shell:

Diet: balanced portions (a portion being the size of your hand) of a healthy whole carb and lean protein and vegetables, six (6) times a day. yep, you eat all day long. One day a week you have a "free day" eat as much as you want of whatever you want.
Work Out: Alternating aerobics and weight training, using intervals to maximise results in only 20 minuets a day.

The science behind it:
Diet: eating six small meals a day keeps your blood sugar stable so that you don't have 'slumps and binges'. it also reves up your metabolism, making your body work for you. Eating a protein with a whole carb (whole carb being defined as a carbohydrate that has not been broken down or processed, i.e. whole grain bread, pasta, cereal and fresh fruits.) work in tandem for your benefit. the protein feeds your growing muscle and because it takes longer to digest, you stave off hunger for longer. the carbs give you energy and satisfy your cravings. having a free day takes away the stress of deprivation, because food is also meant to be pleasurable.
Work Out: exercise smarter, not harder. you will burn more calories by doing a short intense workout with intervals than going flat for hours. weight training builds your muscles, increasing your body's metabolism and natural ability to burn fat. alternating the days you do them allows your body to heal enough to build on instead to break down.

Why i love it
Diet: i never, never, never, go hungry. it takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you are amazed at how unbloated you feel, how you always have energy and no slumps, and how you don't feel like you are dieting at all. you are always eating nutritious and satisfying food. at first you are tempted to think that eating this way and all this food will surly make you fat, but trust me, your body loves it and will thank you for it.
having a free day is the best, i still get to have chocolate and ice cream or chocolate ice cream as the case may be, and as much as you want, make yourself sick! at first you are tempted to think that a day of full food indulgence will surly ruin all your hard work of the week, but it doesn't. the first time and maybe the second you will go all out, but it is truly amazing how fast your junk food tolerance level drops when you eat right most of the time. you will find yourself not being able to eat more than one peace of pizza while before it was the whole pie. or that a few peaces of candy do you in while you use to be able to eat the whole box. its a truly amazing concept. after a while i was eating junk food out of principle, because it was my day to do so, even though what i really wanted was one of my protein shakes. besides, there is nothing bumier than to be at a party and be the only one eating broccoli and nothing else. just use it as your free day and you can get down on those nachos with the rest of them.
Work Out: because i am a mother and feel like my time is precious to begin with, i don't feel like spending half the day, everyday, in the gym. the work outs are hard and intense. you will sweat and have sore muscles, but it only last 20 minuets! that is the time it usually takes me to have my morning potty break. and when I'm done, i have more energy than when i started. (after i get my breath back)

the other thing i love about this program, it is completely free. go to your local library and you can read his books, go to the website and you can print any thing you need to do it for yourself, from work out charts to meal plans and shopping lists. you can call the free hot line anytime for advise and support, or maybe even earn some money for yourself. every year he holds a competition with several categories for whoever uses his program. you can see previous champions and other success stories on his website. the results are truly amazing, just go take a look: www.bodyforlife.com . reading his book will tell you much more in depth about the program and how to get started and answer questions you may have. he dose have products you can buy to help you on your way, but they are not necessary. i did it all with a pair of sneakers, adjustable free weights and a balance ball.

when i started i was over 200 lbs and a size 20 in jeans. after 9 weeks (i didn't even do the whole 12 weeks) i was 180 lbs and a size 12. i felt awesome! I can not sing its praises enough, it is truly a life style that i can live with. and i would urge everyone to give it a look into and at least a try.

"so, how come you are still complaining about your weight and craziness?" you ask. well, the fecal matter had a run in with the air oscillator. it all starts with a story about a pumpkin, a knife and a needle.