Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 The program is more than 12 weeks. You can keep doing 12 week intervals for life or you can quit counting. 12 weeks is the amount of time that most people can see or measure a change. If you don't continue eating good nutrition and working out, you will regain the fat and lose muscle. Most people that can continue the program for at least 6 months have a very good chance of sticking to it for life. The longer you keep doing it, the better the chance. Sometimes people fall off the wagon, but they always know what they need to do. I'd also guess that most people at some point change their workouts from the BFL method. I still do 20 MAS cardio sometimes, but my weight routines are different than the BFL book. What you do really depends on your goals. If you just want to maintain your weight, I'm sure you could do that. Andy > > Hi, > > I am somewhat confused by what you are supposed to do after you > complete your Body For Life challenges and reach your goals. I > don't need to be too concerned about it for a while, as I doubt I > will meet my goals before the end of a second challenge, but I guess > I am confused b/c on one hand - this is supposed to be a way to live > your life healthily (right?), but then on the other hand, it is a 12 > week 'program', which suggests an end i.e. no more 6 meals a day or > 6 workouts a week. Is the purpose to get you to live a healthy > lifestyle for 12 weeks and then love it so much you continue for the > rest of your life? Also, on a board (maybe this one) I've read > posts that said you should take a week off between challenges, which > suggests this isn't a program for life. > As you can see, I am just curious as to what I can expect once I am > not doing a 12 week challenge. > > Thanks, > Heidi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 One friend of mine made a brilliant observation on working out. He said it wasn't a sport, or a science, but an art. That is so true. Although BFL is a good jumpstart for people, there is no one perfect way to attain your goals. For example once you get to your goal weight you could 1) build strength 2)build muscle 3) build conditioning. I wouldn't go for just maintenance that'd basically mean doing the same thing over and over again. Once you reach your weight goal you could go to a whole different level by making yourself stronger or even getting yourself conditioned. Down the road if you notice some article of clothing is getting tight, you already have this knowledge of weight loss at your disposal, go for another challenge, maybe one not so long if you only need to lose a little bit of weight as opposed to whatever you need to lose now. Also on taking that week off, it's the same concept of the free day. Everybody needs rest. That week off between challenges is essential for the mind, body and soul. People I know at the gym do it , heck, even some pros take as long as 3 months off, then come back just as good if not better. If you don't rest, that's where possible overtaining and plateauing can occur. You have your entire life to maximize your bodies fullest potential. Taking one week off every 3 months will only help not hurt it. The body changes through rest and repair, the work at the gym just helps start the process. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Heidi, Just my take, but I TRULY believe that this is a BODY FOR LIFE style. I think of the 12 week challenges as only incidental and not at all part of the program. Really the challenges are a promotion of the EAS folks, no disrespect of course, but even though I've done quite well with the program I haven't even submitted my challenge results. I'm 20 weeks in and still making progress. I can't dream of taking a break, it doesn't make any sense, like you said. I know some people feel they must indulge themselves psychologically that way, but I think the free days and occasional 'mistakes' are plenty enough for me. The real message is in the book and in Bill's words. " I am building my body for life. " Learn all you can about nutrition, exercise and health. It can only pay dividends in the future. Bruce > > Hi, > > I am somewhat confused by what you are supposed to do after you > complete your Body For Life challenges and reach your goals. I > don't need to be too concerned about it for a while, as I doubt I > will meet my goals before the end of a second challenge, but I guess > I am confused b/c on one hand - this is supposed to be a way to live > your life healthily (right?), but then on the other hand, it is a 12 > week 'program', which suggests an end i.e. no more 6 meals a day or > 6 workouts a week. Is the purpose to get you to live a healthy > lifestyle for 12 weeks and then love it so much you continue for the > rest of your life? Also, on a board (maybe this one) I've read > posts that said you should take a week off between challenges, which > suggests this isn't a program for life. > As you can see, I am just curious as to what I can expect once I am > not doing a 12 week challenge. > > Thanks, > Heidi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 I've finished 20 weeks of BFL and now I set a target (or goal) for every 28 days. My current goal (weeks 20-24) is to lose a bit more body fat, hoping to get down to 10%, and increase my strength, particularly in the upper body. I think, like Matt, that setting the goals helps us keep our nose to the grindstone, so to speak. As far as the week off goes, I don't believe in a week of 'binging' if that is what is meant. But I do believe in caloric cycling. I certainly haven't done a lot of research in this area but I do know of other Physique Transformation trainers who firmly believe in that notion. I also came across some scientific research about the long term benefits of alternating high and low calorie cycles for bodybuilders. Thanks to the fact that I keep very detailed records of my eating/nutrition (using Fitday and Excel), I see that, by accident, my own caloric intake has followed a sort of sine curve, with peaks and valleys, alternating roughly about every 3 weeks. It was NOT planned, but just seemed to happen, and through it all, my progress was basically steady. Bodyfat percentages kept dropping, when measured every 28 days. Weight dropped off to a new low on average every 6 days. Lower body strength improved. Upper body strength was stable for some muscle groups and increased for some. All this with swings in caloric intake of more than 1000 calories (min = 1985 for a 1 week period, max = 3244 for a 1 week period). My exercise and calorie burning did not vary that much, and yet my progress was maintained. So I think there really is something to be said for the metabolic boost that can come from occasional increases in caloric consumption. Just my personal story. Bruce > > One friend of mine made a brilliant observation on working out. He > said it wasn't a sport, or a science, but an art. That is so true. > Although BFL is a good jumpstart for people, there is no one perfect > way to attain your goals. For example once you get to your goal > weight you could 1) build strength 2)build muscle 3) build > conditioning. I wouldn't go for just maintenance that'd basically > mean doing the same thing over and over again. Once you reach your > weight goal you could go to a whole different level by making > yourself stronger or even getting yourself conditioned. Down the > road if you notice some article of clothing is getting tight, you > already have this knowledge of weight loss at your disposal, go for > another challenge, maybe one not so long if you only need to lose a > little bit of weight as opposed to whatever you need to lose now. > > Also on taking that week off, it's the same concept of the free day. > Everybody needs rest. That week off between challenges is essential > for the mind, body and soul. People I know at the gym do it , heck, > even some pros take as long as 3 months off, then come back just as > good if not better. If you don't rest, that's where possible > overtaining and plateauing can occur. You have your entire life to > maximize your bodies fullest potential. Taking one week off every 3 > months will only help not hurt it. The body changes through rest and > repair, the work at the gym just helps start the process. > > Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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