Transformation Gallery

[smasty]

When you finish a challenge, here's the place to have a permanent record of your results. As Bellibean put it:

Put your transformations here! Share your hard work with us. You've earned a place in the light, so bring them in! Pay it forward and inspire someone to find their way to a healthier life.

[smasty]

Here's Holly's C2 result posted 3/27/02:

Challenge results from C2:
Well, I'm going to enjoy my week long break! whew! I need a rest.
I'm looking forward to starting my C3. I will be doing 6 weeks of the Body Sculpting Bible Advanced program, and then 6 weeks of either BFL workouts or another BSB workout program. I will be continuing with BFL nutrition, keeping carbs at about 100-110.

I think it is difficult to see the changes from the end of C1 to the end of C2 in the photos, but my hubby and I can tell the difference. I am much firmer. I'd like to build more muscle, but my main focus in C3 will be to lower my body fat and to shape up my hips, butt and upper thighs...

I don't own a scale, so I don't know how much I weigh, but here are my measurements from the end of C1 to the end of C2.

Bust: 34 1/2"....34" lost 1/2"
waist: 27"......25 1/2" lost 1 1/2" (yea!)
upper abs: 28"....27" lost 1"
hips: 34 1/2"....34" lost 1/2" (yea!)
thighs: 18 1/2"...18" lost 1" total

Total inches lost in C2: 4 1/2 inches!!

Here are the photos of my challenges, from left to right:

Before C1, After C1, and After C2 http://community.webshots.com/user/peritz

So I am very happy!

Thank you all sooo much for your support and friendship! You all have really inspired me and kept me focused on my health.

I am hear to cheer all of you on! we have so many finishers this week and next week!

Holly

:

[smasty]

Here's Shaz's report from 3/27/02

Here's my pics.
If anyone wants my story, I'll edit this and add it later.

Edited with my story - 2/April/02

This is the story of my journey back from obesity to something resembling normality. I still have a way to go but I know now that I shall get there.
Oooh, this is scary. Here goes – there are things here I have never told a soul – hope it helps someone, somewhere.
I never had a weight problem in my teens, twenties and early thirties. I exercised, ran cross country, played hockey and ladies football (soccer), swam, circuit trained for fun, danced all night, ate what I liked (although I have never had a big appetite) and never gained an ounce. Far from it, I was so skinny and slim, I despaired of ever being able to put weight on, to have a cleavage, to be curvy.
By the time I was 23, I had already been in a very destructive, violent relationship and although it was a positive step and took all the courage I had to break away from it, I lost all my self esteem in the process and it took me quite a long time to snap myself out of it. I am 5'6” tall and at this time weighed between 112lbs (8 stone - far too thin!!) and 130 lbs (9 stone 4lbs). My weight seemed dependant on my happiness level - the more miserable I was, the less I weighed. I began to totally neglect my eating in favour of those old standbys and comforters, cigarettes and alcohol (sorry OASIS, I was 20 years ahead of you on that one!!).
At 112 lbs, I had already been told I was underweight by the doctor and my periods had stopped (never a good sign). Fortunately for me, it was at this time that I met my future husband and my happiness level increased considerably almost instantly. Within about six months I had gained a huge 8lbs without even trying (not bad for someone who hardy ate). I was this weight when I got married and varied by only about 10 lbs for the next 10 years.
Then 2 things happened. I was still smoking, about 20 a day, and decided to give it up. I expected to put weight on, but I did not expect to get glandular fever at the same time (horrible, depressive illness for which there is no treatment, you just have to wait till it leaves you). I said goodbye to my metabolism and said hello to obesity. I ballooned up to about 190 lbs (13 stone). After almost a lifetime of being so skinny, I felt like a barrel.
I could not do anything until I got over the glandular fever properly, which took about a year. After that I spent the next few years on the cycle of diet plans any one reading this will be familiar with - Weight Watchers, Slimming World, Rosemary Conley (low fat), Slimfast, you name it and I tried it. I would lose and then put it all back on again almost at once. I went to France in 1993 and the video and photos were just awful. I sat and cried to think that such a short time ago, I had a skinny figure and now I was so big and fat. I had also been diagnosed with asthma (a result of years of smoking plus dragging all the extra weight around).
I went back to Weight Watchers and did it by the book. I lost about 30lbs and stalled. I started exercising again. I did not lose weight but I toned up and got myself down to a UK size 14 dress size, which I felt quite good in. I would probably still be doing this but I broke my toe and couldn't exercise for a few weeks. Guess what - I never went back. About this time, for some reason I cannot understand, I started smoking again after over 4 years’ abstinence. The smoking kept my weight down but how stupid can you be? My stupidity was brought home to me in the most awful way imaginable - my father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 1998 (and he had not smoked for 15 years). I was with him and held his hand when he died. After that mind-numbingly awful experience, I finally gave up again, only this time the weight gain was even worse, slowly creeping on until I was way over 200lbs. I stopped weighing myself at 214 lbs - 15 stone 4lbs - but I know I ended up weighing more than this, about 220lbs - 15 stone 10lbs- before I finally decided to do something about it. I was officially obese and I hated it.
I decided to try Weight Watchers again and after 1 week of following the plan to the letter, I GAINED 2 lbs!!!! I was devastated, I thought I would remain like this forever, even contemplating starting smoking again (despite the raw memory of what happened to my dad) if it got my weight down.
The moment that changed my life was when I picked up a copy of Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution in WH Smiths one bleak Saturday afternoon in January 2001. Yet another diet plan, I thought dismally as I thumbed through it, pausing here and there to see what it was all about. But soon I was enthralled. The good Doctor was talking about ME - I recognised my self from the examples he quoted and having studied cell biology I knew what he was saying about ketosis and fat loss was right. I bought the book and read it from cover to cover that night. I made my shopping list and started it as soon as I could.
I lost 30lbs on Atkins and got down to 190lbs. Then I stalled. I didn't gain as my eating habits had by now changed forever but equally I didn't lose. I was good on holiday (tried to keep to the plan and did not drink) and felt quite trim, even wearing a bikini (believe me, there were plenty around the pool who were even bigger than me wearing them!!). But it was the photos that really bugged me when I got them back from developing. I still looked flabby and obviously needed to lose some more weight. I had lovely clothes I could not get in to, even my leather trousers looked better on the cow. Once again, I felt really low and also here was some aggro at work which didn't help. It ended up (through no fault of my own) that I had to relocate to a different office at very short notice. Once again, I despaired of ever losing any more weight and my biggest fear was that it would all slide back on again if I did not do something about it soon.
I had bought the Body for Life book in May 2001, when interest first started on the Lowcarbfriends Bulletin Board (where I lurked endlessly) and tried it, albeit half-heartedly, for a couple of weeks before my holiday. It seemed good but was in danger of being forgotten in my book case until all those fabulous transformation photos started to appear on the board. I read the book again and decided to do it. I had a gym membership but no matter what I did, I never felt or looked any better. I realised that if it was going to be, it was up to me. I realised also that I am not one for "group" activities like communal exercise so I cancelled my gym membership and invested in a bench and weights. I set up my little gym upstairs at home and began transforming my life.
The official end of Challenge 1 is 31 January 2002. There will be other challenges as I have some way to go before I can transform myself in to what I want to be. I hope this is helpful to those who read it and that it does not appear self-indulgent. I am genuinely grateful for all the encouragement and support I have received from the LCF board and more recently, the new MSN board, and hope that you did not find my story too boring!!
Stats – 5’6” tall, aged 46.
Starting – Bust 41, Waist 35, Hips 45, Thighs 26 – weight 190lbs – BF 41%
Finishing- Bust 37,Waist 31, Hips 42, Thigh 24.5 - weight 183 lbs - BF 32.8%
Lost 17lbs fat and gained 9 lb muscle!!!

------------------
Shaz - C2/W8

***C2/W6 progress pics uploaded 14/3/02***

**FITTED IN TO GOAL JEANS 10/3/02!!**

****FINISHED BFL C1 30.1.02**** Started C2 Mon 4 Feb 2002
My progress pics - ***End of C1 pics now uploaded*** http://community.webshots.com/user/sharon_d

[smasty]

Here's Leenie's story from 3/27/02

Heres the link to my C1 & C2 before/after pics:
http://www.community.webshots.com/user/amc_58
It was dark, cold and lonely as I sat in the car with the engine running and all of the doors closed. I had just been beaten by my husband and was ready to end it all. I sat there and cried, wondering how I got to this place in my life. I was afraid to walk back into the house, was too embarrassed to ask for help and had no money of my own to leave. Everyone on the “outside” thought of me as strong, dependable and in control. I was nowhere near that. On the inside I was totally out of control. I had no self esteem left. I felt worthless, useless and did not think I could make it through another night. My husband told me how worthless I was and eventually I believed him. He also never hesitated to tell me how fat I was. He would tell me to go ahead and leave, no one else would have me looking the way I did. I was at an all time high of 225 pounds.
I sat there for a few minutes, wondering how long it would take. Then my thoughts turned to my parents (both are deceased) and my children. I thought how disappointed my parents would be. I remember my religious upbringing. I then saw the beautiful faces of my two children. I knew then that I had a reason to live. I turned off the car, walked through that garage door and never looked back. From that night on, I promised myself I would take care of ME. The year was 1997.

I have had a battle with my weight my entire life. My father was 6’2 and was probably around 270 pounds and my mother was 5’5 and barely weighed 100 pounds because of health problems. My dad was a “meat and potatoes” man. The normal meal in the evening was beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and bread. My dad had a “sweet tooth” so dessert was common at every meal. He was a fabulous baker so it was normal to have cookies, pies, cakes and homemade ice cream around the house. Fortunately I was involved in sports, so my weight stayed somewhat manageable until high school.

About my junior year I had put on a few pounds (I probably weighed around 160 then) and I was talking to my mom about going on a diet. She insisted that I see a doctor to make sure is was OK so the appointment was set. He took one look at me, handed me a paper with a 1000 calorie diet on it and then gave me a prescription for diet pills. I lost 30 pounds in about 2 months. I maintained that weight loss through high school.

I got married in 1979 and weighed 135 on my wedding day. I remember trying on wedding dresses and thinking I was fat. In 1982 I got pregnant with my first child. Fortunately I had an easy pregnancy, unfortunately I felt too good and ate too much. I gained 65 pounds and weighed 200 the day my son was born.

I lost part of the weight initially, but the demands of having a baby and working full time left little time for myself. Our diet was the same as what I grew up on with the addition of fast food take out. In 1985 I got pregnant again, weighing 200 at the beginning. My wonderful daughter was born later than year and somehow I managed to only gain 16 pounds during that pregnancy.

After 1985 I tried countless diets to lose the weight. You name it I’ve been on it. I went to a doctor again (because it worked so well the first time) and got diet pills. I again lost 30 pounds in a couple of months but didn’t keep it off. I went to Nutri Systems, Weight Watchers, bought every diet book there was (including Atkins) but never stuck with anything more than a couple of weeks.

In 1989 I went through a divorce, decided to lose a few pounds again so got more diet pills. I lost that 30 pounds again, met the man that would be my second husband and during our courtship gained it all back. We married a few months later and I weighed about 200 again.

The abuse started right away. Same old story, he promised it would never happen again and I believed him. My weight became a huge issue with him. He had lost weight (he was 50 pounds overweight when we got married) and never stopped “putting it in my face”. He looked at me with disgust.

Around 1995 I decided to try Herbalife. A friend of mine had success with the program and told me how easy it was (are you getting the picture here I was always looking for the “quick fix”) I bought the package, started taking handfuls of tablets 3 times a day and lost 50 pounds. I got down to 165 and felt like I was on top of the world. I stayed there about one day. I thought I had the problem licked so stopped taking the pills and since I hadn’t changed my eating habits, the weight quickly came back.

The problems at home were becoming increasingly difficult, I was having problems at work, we had tremendous financial difficulties and my mother was dying of cancer. My ex had a gambling and alcohol addiction; during the next couple years he was at his worst. I ate my way through the pain, up to 225 pounds.

The night I walked out of that garage, I realized I had choices. I realized I was the one with the control and the power. He could strip me of everything EXCEPT ME! He could not take my heart and my soul.

I woke up the morning after the garage incident and started making plans. It was going to take some time to save up the money to leave without him finding out, but I would find a way. I also began taking care of myself for the first time in my life. I started walking in the evenings, rather than sitting in front of the TV eating. It took some time but in 1999 I was able to leave him for good.

I continued to focus on taking care of myself and my children. I lost 40 pounds over the next 2 years. I didn’t count calories or fat grams, I just concentrated on eating only when I was HUNGRY and not for any other emotional reasons. I started writing down not only what I ate, but why I ate what I did when I did. Even though I was divorced and away from my ex, he still tried to control me by nearly destroying me financially. Each time something happened, I fought through it. Yes I had days I resorted to emotional eating, but they were getting fewer and farther between.

I found out about “Atkins” from a wonderful man I had met and was dating. He had shared with me that he lost some weight by following this plan. I remembered I had the book at home from one of my earlier weight loss attempts (I had never read it) . It was May 2, 2001 and I was ready to hit it hard and finish getting this weight off. I went home that night, dusted off the book and read it cover to cover. I told him I was going to do this and set a goal to lose 25 pounds. I weighed 185 when I started Atkins.

I committed to following the two week induction period completely. I remember those first two weeks! By day four I felt horrible! I could tell how “addicted” to sugar I was. I made the commitment to do this though, and was not going to give up. By the end of the two weeks I had lost 14 pounds. I had been on Atkins about two weeks when my fiancée found this website and sent me the link.. I spent hours reading and found so much information, support and encouragement here. I joined the challenge group “Labor Day Challengers” and those ladies helped me stay on track through the summer. I reached my goal of 25 pounds gone, then changed the goal to 40 pounds.

I was excited by the weight loss but knew I needed to start a serious exercise program. Some of the ladies in the challenge group were exercising and it helped motivate me to start. In July I started the “Couch to 5k” 8 week program. Again I committed to following the 8 week program. That first week I could barely run for the 60 seconds but I did it! Each week I got a little stronger and was able to go a little further. By the end of the 8 weeks I could run for 30-40 minutes. I was hooked!

I reached my goal of 40 pounds lost, but was still unhappy with my body. The running helped with the weight loss, but I just became a smaller version of my former self. In other words, I needed to change my pear shape! I had heard about “Body for Life” from a friend, and saw there was a thread on this bulletin board about it. I started lurking , gathering information and went out and bought the book. In September I made the commitment to follow the 12 week program beginning October 1st.

I spent a week before I started, making my goals, planning my meals and workouts and purchasing the equipment I would need to set up my home gym. I was terribly afraid to add back in the carbs as I had been so successful with Atkins. However, I decided to commit to following the 12 week program as written.

I started Body for Life at a weight of 149 and today I am at 143. I’ve gone from a tight size 10 to a loose 8 and some 6’s. I am beginning to change my overall shape. More important though than the physical changes is the mental ones. This program is not easy, it takes determination and patience. It takes believing in yourself every single day. It takes fighting through those tough days and the obstacles to achieve the goals that were set in the beginning. My journey has taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to. I have the power and control over my choices every single day.

I need to thank a few people here for helping me with my journey. Thank you Bill for your support, encouragement and love. I was truly blessed the day you walked into my life. I’d like to thank my two beautiful children who have also been very supportive and have never complained about the lack of their favorite foods in the house or where we could or could not go out to eat at. Thank you to Carol and Dawn for your support and encouragement while at the office, your friendship means so much to me. Thank you to the wonderful people on this bulletin board, especially the “Celebrate You in 2002” group. You are an inspirational and positive group of women and have helped me so much these past few months. Thank you BLFers for your inspirational stories and encouragement. You are an awesome group of people I am proud to know. And I thank God for the strength He gave me to turn off that car engine on that cold, dark and lonely night, giving that precious gift of life back to me.

A poster hangs on my wall at my office: GOALS “If you want what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done”. I am 43 years old and am doing what I’ve never done before and I must say I’ve never felt better in my entire life. Bring on challenge 2, the sky is the limit!

[smasty]

The first thing I want to say...Is that my success is completely humbled by those of you doing the challenge that have kids and jobs. Those of you getting up at 4:00am (or earlier) to do your workouts, or going to bed really late because you stayed up to do your workout...you are the ones I bow to (I know that sounds corny, but it's exactly how I feel). Most of you know that I've failed 3 previous challenges...that's not counting the times I ordered a challenge packet and never started. It's thanks to all of you that I finished this challenge, and opened a new chapter in my life. Thank you to each and every one of you that has allowed me to come here every day for friendship, inspiration, support, learning, and laughing.
Challenge Details: I did not miss one workout and my one and only cheat was 1/2 a SF chocolate bar in week 5 (not on a free day). I started with modified Atkins (lower fat, 30-40 gr carb a day) for the first 5 weeks, then switched to BFL eating for the remainder. BFL eating made me stronger and faster with my workouts, and gave me more stamina. I added extra cardio on weight days starting on week 10. At week 6-7 I dropped my calories from 1700 to 1500. Weeks 10-12 I stayed closer to 1400. My BMR is 1500. I still have at least 25 pounds of fat to shed in upcoming challenges.
Here's my stats:
Starting date 1/7/02, weight: 202.5
Finish weight: 190.5, loss of 12 pounds
Body Fat % (updated): approx 38-40% / approx 34%
% of Fat lost: 15.8%
Fat pounds lost: 15.67
Lean pounds gained: 3.67
Chest: 42/39
Waist: 32/29.5
Belly: 42.25/33.5 (CLA!)
Hips: 44.75/42.5
Thigh: 27.375/ 25.25
Inches Lost: 27.375 (14 measurement points)
Here's the pics (I'll move it over to webshots soon):


Here's where I'm at now in Oct 2002, 1/2 way through C4, about 180 pounds, 25% body fat

[smasty]

Here's Joyce's report from 4/3/2002

Ok...here goes...and Shaz, you're right! Our stories *are* similar! Heavy hitters unite!
In May 2001, I weighed 230 pounds. I looked awful. I felt awful. I'd been yo-yo dieting for years--NutriSystem, Slim-Fast, the cabbage soup diet, Cybergenics, the Hollywood Miracle Diet, the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet…you name it, I tried it. And you know the story: I'd lose some weight, then gain it all back--with interest.
I just didn't get it. I drank skim milk; I used Promise Ultra Light instead of butter; I baked or broiled and NEVER fried foods; I snacked only on unbuttered "light" popcorn (or didn't snack at all); I never ate red meat and trimmed all visible fat off my chicken breasts. Still I'd kept packing on the pounds, feeling guiltier and grosser with each passing year. I was lethargic, constantly ravenous, and felt like a failure.

Then came the REAL wake-up call.

My brother Steve had a massive stroke. He was essentially brain dead, so my brother Wayne and I had to make the decision to unhook Steve from life support. Steve was only 51.

I shouldn't have been so stunned. Our Dad, a Type 2 diabetic, had died of heart disease at age 56. The whole family was obese. Wayne, at 40 and just two years older than me, now confessed he had just been diagnosed with adult onset diabetes. When I got home from Steve's funeral, I had a long, hard look in the mirror and saw my own early death staring me in the face. My FAT face.

That did it. This was no longer about vanity--this was about my LIFE.

A few years earlier, my significant other's father had lost 50 pounds and gotten off hypertension medication by following something called the Atkins Diet. It was plain to me that low-fat eating wasn't helping me. So I figured, "What the heck--I've got nothing to lose," and so I started on a diet that flew in the face of all the conventional wisdom. Maybe something radically different was exactly what I needed.

To my astonishment, I started shedding weight immediately. Certainly this was water, though. But after a few more days, I started feeling something I hadn't felt in aeons--energy! Oh my God, I felt…GOOD! Better still, I didn't feel hungry. Food cravings went away. At the end of the two-week Induction Phase of the diet, I'd dropped 7 pounds, and I swear I think even my IQ went up. Seriously--I was mentally sharper and didn't have the brain fog I'd had when I consumed too many carbohydrates.

Over the next six months, I dropped a total of 40 pounds. This is fairly slow to moderate for Atkins--my CCL was a stunningly low 25 grams of carb daily. So we are talking serious insulin resistance. Still, I plugged along.

But then I seemed to stop losing weight at all, except at a very snail's pace. In addition to this maddening stall, when I looked in the mirror, my body looked pretty much the same to me--yes, I was a smaller blob, true, but I was still a blob. I started thinking about exercise. In the "Exercise" folder here at lowcarbfriends, one day someone posted about Body for Life and how rigorous an exercise program it is. Not for them, they said. My curiosity piqued, I popped over here to the "BFL" folder to sniff around.

I liked what I saw: a close-knit group of serious athletes cheering each other on. The one thing that did concern me, though, was the BFL nutrition. Though it's lower carb than the standard 9-11 servings of carb recommended by the AMA, it's still too high-carb for me. So I decided to stick to the Atkins Diet and do just the BFL exercise program…and I hoped this would knock me out of my stall and perhaps start changing my body shape.

It did.

In 12 weeks, I went from 42% bodyfat to 34%, losing 13 pounds of scale weight (but in actuality losing 16 pounds of fat and gaining 8 in lean mass). I went from a size 18 to a size 14. Yes, I am still fat! 34% bodyfat is still obese. So please don't expect to see a thin babe in my "after" photos (what you'll see instead is better defined cellulite on my hamstrings, LOL). I definitely have at least one, and more likely two, more challenges to complete. But it's indisputable that I am looking better. Most important of all, I'm healthier.

I want to thank everybody here for all the great support and the inspiration to stick to the program. Particularly Week 9 was difficult for me when I found out my third (and last) brother, Harvey, had lung cancer. Geez, are there bad genes in my family or what?!? It would've been easy to quit in disgust then, figuring that no matter what I do to prevent it, I'm going to die an early death myself, so screw it. My brother Wayne surely has--he just laughs and says he'll never see his own retirement.

I am hoping that I can inspire Wayne to think differently--that my succeeding with Body for Life can change his mind. Thank you to everyone here for helping me to lead by example.

And now for the pics (be nice ) : http://www.community.webshots.com/user/jluck777

Joyce

Here's an update on Joyce's C3, posted 12/10/02
Challenge 3 Results!!!







I'm very pleased this time with my results! I went from 163 pounds to 148 and a size 14 to a size 10. Body composition went from 29.83% bodyfat to 24.92%. Other stats:

waist: 31.5 to 29.5 (-2")
lower belly: 39.5 to 37 (-2.5")
hips: 38 to 36 (-2")
bust: 39.5 to 37 (-2.5")

I estimate I still have about 10-15 more pounds of fat to lose and then I'll be "done." Most of the fat at this point, as you can see from the photos, lingers on my tummy and upper thighs. I'm already planning to do a 4th challenge beginning January 6th!

Joyce

[smasty]

Here's Louise's report from 4/4/2002

Here are my C1 results!
I lost 10.81 pounds of fat, and gained 4.81 pounds of muscle. Body fat went from 27% to 20.3%.

My main inch loss came from my midsection.

hips 36.5 to 35 inches
waist 29 to 28
under boobs 29.5 to 27
boobs 36 to 35 (they had actually been at 34 at one point??)

here are the links to my pics

before http://www.amandajetmore.com/pictures/all.jpg

after http://www.jetmore.org/amanda/pictur..._all_after.jpg

[smasty]

Here's Roro's C1 report:

This was my first BFL challenge. Here are my before & afters:




My BF% went from 27% to 18%. I lost 13 pounds of fat and gained 9 pounds of muscle.
Here are my measurements:
Start/Final/inches lost:
Bust 36.5/37.5/gained 1 (they LOOK smaller tho)
chest (under boobs) 33/32/1
waist 28/26/2
stomach 33/31/2
hips 37.25/36.5/0.75
butt 38.75/37.5/1.25
thighs (together) 37.75/36/1.75
thighs(each) 22/21/1
thighs(lower quad) 17.25/17.25/0
calf 13.25/13.25/0
bicep 11/11.5/gained .5
Here are the answers to my questions:

1.What were your reasons for accepting the Body-for-life Challenge 2002?
The main reason I accepted this challenge was to improve my health. I am a flight controller for the hubble space telescope, and the servicing mission was approaching. I suffer from hepatitisC, CFS, and post-lyme symptoms: fatigue, a weakened immune system, and painful joints. I feared I’d get sick during the mission, and heard that strong muscles protect joints and strengthen immune function.

2.What inspired you to stay on course throughout the 12-week Challenge?
My on-line support group is very inspiring. I couldn’t do the nutrition by-the-book, due to dietary restrictions set by my doctor, and a few said I wouldn’t get good results. I wanted to prove that BFL can work for ANYONE, regardless of their limitations. One day when the mission & BFL seemed like too much. I saw the astronauts exercising on NASA TV. If they can keep that up being in space and all, then I could too!

3.What obstacles did you have to overcome? What adversity did you transform into positive energy, in order to complete the 12-week Challenge?
My biggest obstacle was joint pain. Knee braces helped me to increase my weights. Week 7, the mission began, meaning 12 hour shifts for 16 days straight. I got up every morning and went to the gym before work, proving everyone has time to exercise. My walking partner (a yellow lab named molly) tore her cruciate ligament, requiring surgery. It was very traumatic for us, but she is recovering fine.

4.How did you measure your physical progress from “Before” to “after”? (Bodyfat percentage/body composition; pant size; dress size; scale weight; health indicators, such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.) Please describe your physical improvements in terms of how you measured them.
My biggest accomplishment is how I feel. Fatigue is gone, I feel strong and confident, and haven’t been sick ONCE! Although I still have joint pain, it now only hurts from a killer LBWO, not from a walk around the block like before. I was very weak and fragile before, and I have increased my weights a lot. I started leg press with 50 lbs; now I do 200. I started calves with 10lbs; now I do 150! I have gained 9 lbs of muscle and lost 13 lbs of fat; my body fat has decreased from 27 to 18, but that is just icing on the cake!

5.Which EAS supplements (HP, Myoplex, Piranha, Simply, Results, or Avantage) do you feel were the most important to your success and why? Would you recommend EAS Supplements to others to help them achieve their goals?
The myoplex low-carb strawberry shakes are absolutely YUMMY. The myoplex low-carb cookies and cream bars are to die for! The first couple weeks, I didn’t use the meal replacements, and I felt tired and weak. I prefer to eat real food, nothing processed. During the mission, I had no time to cook, working 12 hour shifts, and I started using the bars and shakes every day. The result was a huge boost of energy! I use them all the time now. I also took CLA, and I really think it helped to reduce fat around my tummy.

6.How has your life transformed by improving your physical condition-by deciding to accept the Challenge and sticking with it from start to finish?
My confidence has skyrocketed! I don’t feel like a chronically ill person anymore. I am now healthier than the average person, all things considering, despite my health problems. I am also a lot stronger, which has made me more independent. I can change the big 5-gallon jugs on the water cooler. I can go grocery shopping alone instead of waiting for my son to go with me because I couldn’t carry the groceries. I can do things I used to love: rollerblading, hiking, dancing. I feel I can be a better mom.

7.If you could inspire only one person to follow your example-to experience all the positive changes you have over the past 12 weeks-who would that one person be; why would you choose that person; and how would you help that person succeed like you have?
If I could inspire one person to complete a challenge, it would be a co-worker of mine. He is obese, and has many health problems related to his weight. I would choose him because 4 years ago, when I was very sick, he helped to save my life by motivating me to look into alternative therapies for my illnesses. I would help him by sharing my food with him (he doesn’t cook) and encouraging him to go to the gym with me.

------------------
30 pounds lost on atkins!
I am putting the scale away
size stats 16/6/4 (6's are loose, some 4's fit now)

http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJ...tml?Owner=roro

started BFL workouts w/ atkins woe 1/10/02, finished C1, on to C2!
I am getting younger every day

[smasty]

Here's Marden's report:

OK here it is! I finished my last HIIT today. It is certainly not fantasic like so many who have gone before me, but I have learned and I have also improved.
I never missed even 1 workout - I am very proud of myself for that since I did run into some difficult days along the way. When my baby was in the hospital for a day, I did my workout the next day on what was supposed to be my freeday. I also had bronchitis for a week and a bad cold for another week. I worked out all the way through those, just not as intense. In the past I would have never considered working out if the slightest obstacle came my way. So I have become committed to this! I was far from perfect on the nutrition and did my share of cheating, but I learned from it and have stopped beating myself up over it. I know this is a very long road ahead for me so I am focused on progress and eating wrong at times wont change that. It will probably just take me longer because of it. I didn't take pictures because I knew it would only make me feel bad and I can't risk becoming depressed and quitting. So maybe somewhere down the road(maybe C3) I will do pictures. I apologize for this because I know how much everyone loves looking at everyone elses pictures, myself included. Thank you again everyone who has posted them! I am not sure of BF% because I dont think I measured right with the calipers in the beginning. Measurements:
arm - same
chest -2 1/2
waist -1 1/2, BB -1/2
hips -1 1/2
saddlebags -1/2
thigh -1/2
calf -1/2
I lost a total of 7 1/2 inches! This I am happy about, but also know I could have done better if my calories had been lower. The scale is down only about a pound or 2, but I understand why(muscle weighs more etc.) I believe I look better than before, definitely tighter. Instead of fat and blubbery now I am fat and firm.
I have reached unbelievable levels of fitness. I can run at 5.2 miles per hour and not be gasping for air. I can use 15# dumbells and my kids can't! They couldn't even carry them to the car when I bought them and they play sports etc. I am stronger and healthier. So I feel pretty good about that.

I have also realized that everything they say about most of the changes happening in the last 2 weeks is true. I feel so much different just this past week! All of my clothes fit much better and some things are too big. I can fit in a size smaller on some things.

I don't consider this the end of anything, only a check point. Next is C2 starting Monday(I can't take a week off or I will lose momentum). For C2 I am planning to do a combination of BFL and BSB making the best of both plans work to my benefit. I will be focused much more on weight loss. I know I have gained alot of muscle so I would like to maintain that as well. I will be doing cardio 6 days a week, 3 HIIT days. I will do BFL weight work outs 3 days a week. I will lower my calories and do calorie cycling. I will still do freedays but try not to do free-for-alls. But for now I am going to spend the next 3 days taking a well needed rest and indulge a little in some favorite foods. Thank you to everyone in here for all your support, encouragement and help. You are the best group of people I have come across in my 39 years!

[smasty]

Here's Staceybee's report:

I finished!! I am so thrilled with my results--much more so than I thought I would be. I had to limit all cardio in week 10, 11 and 12 due to a disc injury, but did twice as much strength training. Overall, my results are as follows:
arms start 11", finish 11"
bust start 38", finish 36"
waist start 27.5", finish 26"
hips start 36", finish 35"
bf% start 20%, finish 18% (approx, averaging calipers, and 2 websites, and protein power formula!!)

I do not post much on the site, but read several times every day. I cannot tell you how much it has meant to be able to see the progress of others and read their suggestions. I just never feel like I have much to say

I am on to the 14-day BSB starting a week from Monday. With the limitations of my back injury I am a little worried about the cardio, and may simply have to do brisk walking. I love how the plan targets in several directions the same muscle for more growth.

Another problem--I don't want my quads any larger! So I will have to deal with that--any ideas out there?

Here is the link to my pictures-- Thanks so much for the help you unknowingly gave this "lurker"

Click HERE for my BLF Pictures

Stacey

[smasty]

Here's Chicabelle's report:

If it was easy, it was not a challenge. That’s very true. For me this first challenge has been very challenging.
Some of my challenges was that I am not a morning person. On cardio days I have been awakening at 6:00am and at UB and LB at 5:30am.
The eating part was and is also hard. I started body for life at Induction level of Atkins, and then started adding carbs. My 4th weeks results were excellent. I started telling to myself that I need to eat extra carbs because of the type of exercises I was doing and I started adding more carbs, then totally stalled and decided to cut back the carbs. It has been a struggle and a constant battle.

At my 7th week I got the flu, went to the doctor and my blood pressure was so high (180/120). Dr. told me to stop lifting weigh because it was so dangerous but I decided that it was the only thing actually working for me and in no way I would stop. Stop meaning gain weigh and lose the muscles that I have making with so much sacrifice and that my high blood pressure was caused because of my obesity. So I took the chance, didn’t tell anything neither to my DH and continue with my exercises. Actually my blood pressure is ok due to the medicaments and I hope that when I lose all this fat, my blood pressure became ok without the medicines.

I had to review my goals and my whys almost everyday, look at my pictures and have faith in the program because I still view the same person at the mirror. At times, I had to literally drag myself from bed to make my exercises. Every time I needed some encouragement I look at my after pictures and it makes me strong. I do not want to look like this again. It was an eye opener because after BFL I avoided look at myself at the mirror. Now I love to look myself at the mirror. I know they are still lot of work to do with my body but, for the first time in my life, I have muscles.

Even that I know I will need at least 2 or 3 more challenges, I am very happy with my results so far. My confidence has returned, I spend less time choosing the clothes that I will wear. I even started buying new underwear’s (see Sarah Jessica Parker at Sex and the City) because mine was not sexy at all. I am noticing that I am not so flat butt only that I need to work those muscles very hard (hamstring and gluteus). My arms are not amorphous, like I use to think. Believe it or not, under all this fat, I have beautiful arms.

I am very proud of myself for finishing this challenge. I really need to thank you all. Without you I would never have make it. I have to confess that I am addicted to this board. Even at lurking mode I received so much support.

I did a mini challenge and I am in my free week now because I just returned from vacations.

I don’t Know if this will work but my pictures are at: http://community.webshots.com/user/chicabelle

START END
WEIGHT 173 / 171 / -2
BUST 46.5 / 43 / -3.5
WAIST 36.5 / 34.5 / -2
BELLY 44 / 41 / -3
HIP 42.5 / 38 / -4.5
TIGHT 23 ¼ / 22 ½ / -3/4
CALF 13.5 / 13.5 / =
ARM 15.5 / 15 / -.5
Bf% 42 / 34.93 / -7.07
Lean 99.64 / 111.26 / +11.62
Fat 73.35 / 59.73 / -13.62

[smasty]

Bellibean's report:

What can I say? I felt like the person looks in the first pic, I found all the wonderful people here - lifted the weights, ran the miles, ate the food (less of it at the end) - and felt a thousand percent better! The inside changes are bigger than the outside ones. When I got married I weighed 40 lbs more than in the first pic, and that's the road I was heading back down when I found this board. I know the habits that take me there, it's not the place I want to spend my life. I owe a lot to everyone here - we laugh, we cry, mostly we help each other fight the good fight. This is an awesome place to be if you're ready to change your life!

[smasty]

Here's Gwyneth's C1 report:

I'm here, I made it, I pushed through, I kept my promise to me and I did it the HARD way!!!!
Wooohooo!!! I'm so proud of me!! Thank you all for the wonderful support, I love you guys!
I want to share my journey with you.
My journey to self appreciation, discipline, health and living my life to the max!
I've never been fat, in fact I've always been slender, a pretty girl with a beautiful body, I just never saw it.
Since my parents didn't raise me a very strong person on issues like self acceptance, emotions, being ok or even beautiful as you are and making me believe that I could do anything I'd put my mind to, I was easily influenced by how I thought people thought about me. They never learned or told me that I was funny, likeable, pretty, smart or good at whatever I was doing.
So I focussed more and more on being pretty, thin, wearing nice clothes or nobody would like me and I would not be part of the group.
I never believed people would like me for who I was, I thought I had to be perfect then they would like me.
I started dieting when I was 14, not knowing that that did more damage than good.
All this resulted in anorexia when I was just 17 and it got worse and worse when I moved away from home when I started studying at the university. I yo-yo ed like crazy, my weight was never the same for a week, my skin couldn't keep up with that and was starting to look worse and worse.
I never got hospitalized, but ate nothing but gum and drank diet coke for days, only to binge when I was home for the weekends.
Finally I got caught up so much in being unhappy, not knowing what to do with my life and seeing everything go wrong, that I decided: this has to stop, I want to eat and live like a normal person. I want to be healthy.

I got into therapy for my eating disorder and decided to stop starving, binging and purging myself.
During this therapy, the very root of my problems was never dealed with. So even though for a few years I didn't binge and purge or starve myself, I still had an unhealthy relationship with food and was scared to death to ever gain weight.
In the summer of the year 2000 I decided to start therapy again, because I kept having my down and depressing days/weeks and my eating disorder (now bulimia) came back again.

Well at first all the painfull and hurting stuff that I never dealed with during my childhood came to the surface. I felt like I fell in a deep black hole.
But I struggled and fought my way out of it, facing all the pain and hurt and anger, going through all that again, feeling everything I never felt when I should have.
It took me 10 months and I still consider myself growing, but I'm more proud of having done this than I will be about anything in my entire life.

All this therapy didn't leave any energy to deal with the food problems, which was a symptom of what laid beneath.
I found out about Atkins, a godsend for me at the time. It helped me to eat regularly without feeling guilty.
But after a year, it's use was no longer there, I knew I had another step ahead of me.

So after months of reading all the BFL posts I bought the book, read the first chapter and thought no, I put it away and in January read it again, every page of it.
Then I knew I was ready to make the commitment, the self promise. I knew for me this was the only way to not only get the body I wanted but to learn about all the things I stated above: self appreciation, discipline, health and living my life to the max!
I wanted to change, I wanted a healthy relationship with me and I wanted out of the mess I was in.

So when I decided to do this (not try or to just do my best) I knew there was no turning back. Stopping was not an option, because I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. So now when things are hard or when I'm feeling blue, I go to the gym anyway, not that it's easy, but I know passing on my promise to me is not an option.
I know that when I do pass on me, I'll go back in that ****hole deeper than I have ever been before and I don't want that. I want out, I want to live my best live, being the best me I can be. And I know I can, I won't let anything hold me back.

Was it easy? Not in a million years!!
Was it satisfying? So much more than that!
Did I like it all the time? Absolutely not, there were days that I really don't know how I did drag myself into that gym.
Was it a powerful experience?
The most powerful one I've ever had!

What I've learned:
* That I still have a lot to learn when it comes to appreciating myself for doing the things I don't like at a certain moment and afterwards applauding myself for staying focussed on my self promise.
* When my slump hitted, I stood my ground, pushed through my slump and as a result got my groove back!!! It really is like Pam says: act as if.
* Planning really unbelievable workouts works fantasticly. As I sat there writing down those numbers, I thought: now way, this ain't gonna work. But at the same moment I thought: Yes, it's my last UBWO, I'm gonna kick it's ************!! And most of the time I did! WOOHOO, I kicked some major ************. Upped my weights big time! So I learned I can lift more than I think is possible, but the mindset is very important. On a slump day it might not happen, but on a fantastic happy woohoo day I would rock!!
* I still have issues to work on and to learn not to cope with them by eating and rewarding myself with food. I'll work on that in my C2!!

What I really want to share:
There is so much more possible than you think or even can imagine or dream about right now. There are no limits!!
We are professionals in holding ourselves back, let's become stars in achieving the impossible!

Go beyond your dreams, beyond your passion, beyond your wildest imaginations!! And give yourself the most wonderful gift you could ever give yourself.
Know that anything, truly anything is possible if you just believe!

Now about results:
You have to understand that even though I'm young and I'm tiny, the years of abusing my body and yoyo dieting have completely ruined my skin. There was cellulite and sagginess all over the place.

After 12 weeks:
My saddlebags have disappeared!!!!!! That was so weird: they just were gone one day!?!?!
My tummy is ready for my bikini!! I love how flat it has become and the cottage cheese on it is gone. When I sit, there are no rolls anymore! It has never looked as good as this in my whole life!!!
My arms have lost their flappiness and have slimmed down a lot, but I'm not perfectly happy with them just yet.
My jawbone is tight and visible!! I love my face now.
My butt has transformed dramatically, it has shrunk, tighten up big time and has gotten nice and round. I now love my butt!!!
My back has gotten quite muscular and their is practically no fat left there.
Cellulite has decreased majorly, but still some left.
I finally have calves! But still want them bigger.
I love my legs too, I think they've gotten so beautiful.

Here are my results:

Starting – Bust 31.1, Waist 27.2, Tummy 34.3, Hips 37.4, Thighs 21.7 – Right arm 11.22 - weight 130.0lbs – BF linear: 24.37%, Gym: 21.9 %
Finish - Bust 29.9, Waist 25.19, Tummy 32.3, Hips 36.4, Thigh ** - 21.2 - Right arm 10.8 - weight 127.8 lbs - BF linear: 20.48%, Gym: 17.9 %

Lost 5.5 lbs of fat and gained 3.4 lbs of muscle.

My pics are here: http://communities.msn.com/bodyforli...s/gwyneth.msnw I'm so happy I made pictures, it's crazy to see how fast you 'forget' how different you looked and get used to how much different you look in the mirror.

I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!! BFL ROCKS!!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT C2 BRINGS!!

Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild expectations." - Ralph Charell

[smasty]

Here's Kiwi Girl's report:

Firstly I would like to thank everyone here who has posted – these posts have encouraged me to start and continue my journey to a healthier me!!
I didn't post a story or any pictures after my first Body for Life challenge. I was having a major phobia about posting my oversized butt over the Internet for all to see, but over this last challenge I’ve come to realise that posting my photos may help someone else who is a “Heavy Hitter” start their own BfL journey. I have also tended to lurk more than post so will have to change that too! It’s amazing how the changes seem more profound on the inside!!
I’ve fought my weight all of my 44 years. I actually joined Weight Watchers at the age of 16 and managed to lose around 20kgs (44lbs). I had gained this back plus another 5kg (11lbs) by the time I was 19. Again I went back to WW and got back to my goal weight of 62kgs (137lbs) by the time I got married at the age of 21. After 24 very happy years of marriage, 4 children and many unsuccessful tries of WW and other low-fat diets my weight ballooned to an all time high of 112kgs (247lbs).

During this time my mother who had followed the low-fat regime all her life developed high blood pressure and Type II diabetes. She died about a year after she was diagnosed with diabetes from a sudden major heart attack. My doctor informed me that I was certain to go the same way. Talk about a sudden wake up call!!!

At the end of May 2001 I saw an infomercial about the Atkins Diet. I went out and bought DANDR and my husband Dave and I started the Atkins WOE on 1 June 2001. Unfortunately I seem to be one of those slow losers and by the time November 2001 rolled around I had only lost 12kg (26lbs). I also searched the Internet and found LowCarbFriends and was very interested when people started talking about the Body for Life book. After another trip to the bookstore I came home with the book and started reading. Even though I was the biggest exercise hater around I couldn’t seem to argue with those before/after photos and on 13 November 2001 Dave and I both started BfL.

I did my C1 “by the book” including BfL nutrition while Dave continued with Atkins nutrition. Our first challenge ended at the beginning of February 2002 and even though I only lost 2kgs (5lbs) in scale weight I could see the postive changes in my pear-shaped body and I felt absolutely wonderful about finishing the challenge. We only had about 3 days rest before we started our C2.

I decided to go back to Atkins nutrition for my C2. For the first 2 weeks I found it really hard and was very tired, but then I guess my body got back into the swing of getting its fuel from my fat stores rather than the carbohydrates I was eating. My results were even better. I’ve dropped another 6kgs (13lbs) in scale weight and notice the change most in my side-view photos.

Dave and I plan to start C3 in about two weeks time – more of a delay as we have a conference to attend in Sydney, Australia. We still do cardio and have been mucking around with weights and new machines at the gym so we can decide on our plan of action for C3. After reading this BB I’ve also decided to purchase the BSB book – it’s not available here in New Zealand yet, but I’ve ordered it especially so I don’t know how long before it arrives. We will certainly start C3 with BfL and I know I will have to do C4 so the BSB book will be a great investment.

Chris

Anyway here are my stats:

Height: 5ft 5in
Age: 44

Atkins: June – November 2001
Weight: 247/218
Chest: 48/44.5
Waist: 44.5/40
Hips: 53.5/50
Thigh (R): 32.5/31
Calf (R): 18/17.5

C1: November 2001 – February 2002
Weight: 218/213
Chest: 44.5/42.5
Waist: 40/39
Hips: 50/48
Thigh (R): 31/29
Calf (R): 17.5/17

C2: February – May 2002
Weight: 213/200
Chest: 42.5/41.5
Waist: 39/35
Hips: 48/46.5
Thigh (R): 29/26.5
Calf (R): 17/17

Chris Photo Gallery

[smasty]

Here's Toni's report

Hi all,
I don't often post here, but lately have
been so inspired by everyone that I have taken courage to post my BFL C1 stats and (gulp) pictures for all to see.
Just to let you know who I am . . . my name is Toni. I am a 45 year old single mother of an 11 year old boy. We live in So. Cal and I work as a social worker at a local nursing home.

I have been fat most of my life and this past year has been so great with Atkins diet and now BFL. I have lost in total: 65 pounds!

I did not enter the contest or follow BFL nutrition but I did each and every workout -- killer! I am now doing BSB 14 day workout and loving it!

Starting 2.20.02~Ending 5.19.02

Biceps(L/R):15/15.5 ~ 14/14.5
Calves(L/R):18/18.25 ~ 16/17
Chest:42 ~ 39.5
Forearm(L/R):12/12 ~ 11.5/11.5
Hips:53 ~ 50.5
Neck:17 ~ 16
Thigh(L/R): 29.75/30 ~ 27.5/28
Waist:46 ~ 41
Bust:51 ~ 44
Bodyfat%: 45 ~ 41
Weight: 252 ~ 238 http://community.webshots.com/user/tonil2

Thanx for letting me share with y'all!

[smasty]

Chantel's report:

Even tho I already posted my results and pictures, I thought I would add them to this thread for newbies.
I did C1 and lost 9.7 pounds of fat and gained 3.7 pounds of muscle. Before B4L, I had already started my weight loss journey and lost alot of weight. I weighed over 240 pounds and my preggie pix shows it.