Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength

I was never overweight until I hit my teens--then I struggled for decades with an increasing weight problem that got worse with every diet. I'd collect diets and diet books, Scarsdale, Rice Diet among others, all promising 20 pounds of weight loss within two weeks--and you know what, I succeeded in that. Problem was, that was a weight loss I couldn't sustain, not even long enough to get to goal weight and each time I'd fall away I'd get even fatter, until I was morbidly obese--over 250 pounds and a size 24.

Maybe it's just I needed to change, but this book really made a big difference for me. I lost over 100 pounds. Over the years I've put some of it back--I had a bout of sciatica that caused me to stop hitting the gym and once I broke show more that habit I lost some of the good eating habits too--but only to a point. I didn't ever go back to my top weight--not even close. This stopped the yo-yo-ing and I'm well below 200 pounds--overweight, but not with the problems before this taught me to at least walk every day, use stairs, and eat somewhat healthier.

And I know if I want, I could lose the rest again using this program. I'm not saying it's easy. The first two weeks of exercise were really hard for me. But I remember when I saw my first muscle, began to feel better and stronger. It is doable. Even for someone like me who is far from athletic. And I liked how it doesn't focus on calorie counting or weighing and measuring. You get a list of healthy foods, then a meal consists of a fist-sized portion of protein, a fist-sized portion of grains/carbs and lots of veggies. I find that a lot easier to live with than a program like Weight-Watchers. show less

This is what got me started back into lifting weights again after an 18 year hiatus. I think the program as written -- little food -- especially fat and crazy volumes of exercise could be too much. Of course I did the program with much more fat and traded the intervals for steady state aerobic. And as a newbie (revirginated?) enjoyed spectacular results. The motivation in the plan is great. And the whole idea of making and keeping a 12 week promise to yourself is unbelievably empowering.

I bought this when I was younger and hadn't yet learned that narcissism is a full time profession. I give it two stars because there's some good information. I give it two stars because there're resources available that provide much better and scientifically sound information on human physiology.

Even if you're not interested in the body building lifestyle try the website www.t-mag.com for far more lucid information on the topic of the human body. Perhaps not coincidentally, the website/publication was brought into being by former writers and editors of Bill Phillips' publications who grew tired of his style-over-substance approach.

I thought that BFL Women was good, but this book is great. It covers a lot of points that BFW Women leaves out.

Went from a size 12 to a size 6 in 10 weeks. No kidding.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface: Real-world proof
Foreword: The promise
Part I: The breathrough
He transformed tragedy into triumph
She lifted herself back up
Now they're loving life
The end of the beginning
Part II: Crossing the abyss
Focusing your future vision
Transforming patterns of action
Overview of how to cross the abyss
Part III: Separating myth from fact
Overview of separating myth from fact
Part IV: The training-for-LIFE Experience
Plan-to-actual analysis
The high-point technique
The 20-minute aerobics solution
Sharing the experience
Overview of the training-for LIFE Experience principles
Part V: The Eating-for-LIFE method
Authorized foods
Overview of the Eating-for-LIFE method principles
Part VI: Staying on course
Transform adversity into show more energy
Honor self-promise
Harness the power of positive pressure
Focus on progress, not perfection
Practice the universal law of reciprocation
We're here for you
Overview of staying on course
Afterword: The gateway
Appendix A: Questions and answers
Appendix B: Terms and jargon
Appendix C: Exercise guide
Appendix D: Daily progress reports
Appendix E: Real-life success stories show less

It absolutly works!