Committment to the challenge

[LeslieM]

I love days when I jam through the to-do list! Do you ever watch american TV? In the 80's or maybe 90's??(it's all a blurr) Molly Shannon did a character on SNL named Mary Katherine Gallagher. It is probably my all-time favorite. She would stick her hands in the air and say superstar! That's the image I get in my head when I'm on fire! I actually have a pic of her as one of my profile pictures on Facebook. Sometimes after a few days of unprecedented productivity, I have to change my picture to Mary Katherine! You are a superstar!

Originally Posted by LJShona

What a crazy week this one has been.

I have bitten the bullet and decided to do the XFLD. I've been inconsistent with my eating so the structure and rigidity of the XFLD will keep my on track. And knowing others are doing it makes it seem less intimidating.

Now while I've been inconsistent, my diet has remained clean with lots of protein and veggies. Lost another 1kg (2.2lbs) this week, but my measurements didn't really move. Now this... I am concerned with! Hence the change in diet.

Yesterday was cheat day (Friday); and today is fast day. We are on lockdown after the events in Cairo yesterday. With no adventures to be had I have made this my GSD day. (Loving that acronym BTW). My productivity has been through the roof, and I'm really enjoying the fast day (so far, the day is still young). Skyped with my family, caught up on outstanding emails, finalised all of the info for my tax return (ugh)... and plenty more to achieve. I'm even going to do all of my food prep for the week. Although there isn't really that much FOOD in my immediate future.

Top 3 things I am grateful for this week:
1. A privileged life. I have food, water, a home, an education, and a high degree of personal safety. Millions of people don't.
2. My friends, who are all over the place! But they each add something special to my life, and quite often make my day through the simplest things like a nice message or a phone call.
3. Technology. My internet was out most of yesterday, today it is back.

[hal1]

Originally Posted by LJShona

I have bitten the bullet and decided to do the XFLD. I've been inconsistent with my eating so the structure and rigidity of the XFLD will keep my on track. And knowing others are doing it makes it seem less intimidating.

Good luck with this. I have seen mixed reviews looking back through the forums, so while intrigued, I am not ready to take the plunge myself - at least not right now. I am actually curious about the renegade diet, which I have looked into before but can't remember the details. I do remember thinking at the time that it might be something doable over the long run.

Good luck with XFLD!

[sbgal]

I'm on a fast day 2, 2nd round - ugh!!! I got up about 2 hours later than usual and plan on going to bed early LOL. In the meantime I'm taking BCAA's at an unprecedented rate too lol.

I'm not in GSD mode today, it's a mellow day for me although I did organize my clothes again and purged all the too big stuff.

2.2 pounds is a GREAT loss. Remember that fat is coming off of every part of your body including around your internal organs and in unmeasurable places so don't stress on the measurements yet. Also from past experience I never really notice a difference until magical week 8.

This article really helps me visualize the changes

Paper Towel Theory by Bob White

Let's assume you go out and buy two rolls of paper towels, each with only 84 paper towels on it (one for each day of the challenge). You put one aside, and keep it for future reference (your before/ picture).

The other one represents you (I'll call your paper towel you "Ed"). The core represents the lean Ed. The towels represent the fat that is covering the lean Ed. For sake of argument, let's say that Ed wants to lose 21 pounds of fat, so (84/21) each sheet represents a quarter-pound of fat lost. Let's also assume that Ed loses his fat equally during each day of the challenge.

Each day during the first week, you tear a sheet off of Ed, representing the fat he has lost for the day. Next, you put Ed next to the full roll ("Big Al") for comparison. No noticeable difference!!! Even at the end of the week! This can't be working for me!

But, being a good Ed, you continue to follow Body-for-LIFE. At the end of weeks two and three, you continue to compare Ed to Big Al, and still notice very little difference. That stinkin' Bill Phillips MUST be a liar!

But Ed is determined! He works hard! Three more weeks go by, the sheets peeling off day after day, before Ed gets up the courage to stand next to Big Al again. Holy Myoplex! Ed is skinny! OK, not skinny, but less huge!!!

By the end of the 12-week Body-for-LIFE program, Ed is down to his lean dream, or somewhere near it. Ed is happy. We are happy. Big Al - well he's not so happy.

The lesson to be learned is that fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around,that fat is spread over a MUCH larger area - just like that outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each lost pound of fat shows, because it is spread over a smaller area.

While the outside sheet may only cover 1 layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around 4 times. That last sheet looks like it gives you 4 times the results of the first sheet, but in reality, the results are the same - your perception is just different! And you'll never see the inside, if you aren't patient while the outside is coming off! - Bob White

[LJShona]

Originally Posted by sbgal

I'm on a fast day 2, 2nd round - ugh!!! I got up about 2 hours later than usual and plan on going to bed early LOL. In the meantime I'm taking BCAA's at an unprecedented rate too lol.

The fast day ... well, it kind of sucked. I stopped eating just before 6pm on Friday and didn't eat again until 8am today - 38 hours. All was ok yesterday. But I woke up today at 3am just plain HUNGRY and feeling queasy. Felt like a train wreck this morning, and I looked freakishly depleted in my upper body. So glad I re-read the material last night to realise I can eat free veggies today. Possibly the most exciting news of the day!

I'm not the only one doing it, so I need to put my big girl pants on and get on with it.

Anyway, hopefully "Ed" is shedding his layers .

[hal1]

Originally Posted by sbgal

I'm on a fast day 2, 2nd round - ugh!!! I got up about 2 hours later than usual and plan on going to bed early LOL. In the meantime I'm taking BCAA's at an unprecedented rate too lol.

I'm not in GSD mode today, it's a mellow day for me although I did organize my clothes again and purged all the too big stuff.

2.2 pounds is a GREAT loss. Remember that fat is coming off of every part of your body including around your internal organs and in unmeasurable places so don't stress on the measurements yet. Also from past experience I never really notice a difference until magical week 8.

This article really helps me visualize the changes

Paper Towel Theory by Bob White

Let's assume you go out and buy two rolls of paper towels, each with only 84 paper towels on it (one for each day of the challenge). You put one aside, and keep it for future reference (your before/ picture).

The other one represents you (I'll call your paper towel you "Ed"). The core represents the lean Ed. The towels represent the fat that is covering the lean Ed. For sake of argument, let's say that Ed wants to lose 21 pounds of fat, so (84/21) each sheet represents a quarter-pound of fat lost. Let's also assume that Ed loses his fat equally during each day of the challenge.

Each day during the first week, you tear a sheet off of Ed, representing the fat he has lost for the day. Next, you put Ed next to the full roll ("Big Al") for comparison. No noticeable difference!!! Even at the end of the week! This can't be working for me!

But, being a good Ed, you continue to follow Body-for-LIFE. At the end of weeks two and three, you continue to compare Ed to Big Al, and still notice very little difference. That stinkin' Bill Phillips MUST be a liar!

But Ed is determined! He works hard! Three more weeks go by, the sheets peeling off day after day, before Ed gets up the courage to stand next to Big Al again. Holy Myoplex! Ed is skinny! OK, not skinny, but less huge!!!

By the end of the 12-week Body-for-LIFE program, Ed is down to his lean dream, or somewhere near it. Ed is happy. We are happy. Big Al - well he's not so happy.

The lesson to be learned is that fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around,that fat is spread over a MUCH larger area - just like that outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each lost pound of fat shows, because it is spread over a smaller area.

While the outside sheet may only cover 1 layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around 4 times. That last sheet looks like it gives you 4 times the results of the first sheet, but in reality, the results are the same - your perception is just different! And you'll never see the inside, if you aren't patient while the outside is coming off! - Bob White

I like this analogy - and what in the world does GSD stand for?

[hal1]

Originally Posted by LJShona

The fast day ... well, it kind of sucked. I stopped eating just before 6pm on Friday and didn't eat again until 8am today - 38 hours. All was ok yesterday. But I woke up today at 3am just plain HUNGRY and feeling queasy. Felt like a train wreck this morning, and I looked freakishly depleted in my upper body. So glad I re-read the material last night to realise I can eat free veggies today. Possibly the most exciting news of the day!

I'm not the only one doing it, so I need to put my big girl pants on and get on with it.

Anyway, hopefully "Ed" is shedding his layers .

That's a bit rough sounding. I am not stranger to the 24-hour fast, but I don't know about a 38 hour fast...especially if you can only drink shakes the next day. Whew!

Anyway, definitely looking forward to continuing to read about your thoughts and progress on this program!

[sbgal]

Originally Posted by hal1

I like this analogy - and what in the world does GSD stand for?

Get sh*t done

I agree the 36-38 hour fast is tough. Not as tough the 2nd time around though. I woke up and ate an orange lol. The idea of the shake day is to not eat too many calories after a long fast while still getting the right macros in. I re-read the material last night too and decided I could eat an orange before working out and then not have any additional carbs in my post workout shake so that's what I did. I'm not a "free veggie" kind of girl but may be by tonight hehehe

My first "shake" was protein pudding make with coconut milk, chia seeds, protein powder, coconut and chocolate baking powder. Not bad and the chia makes it filling plus I can eat it with a spoon.

[TomHK]

Those fasts sound pretty hardcore! Not sure I could last out so long. Is it proving effective so far?

[LJShona]

Originally Posted by hal1

That's a bit rough sounding. I am not stranger to the 24-hour fast, but I don't know about a 38 hour fast...especially if you can only drink shakes the next day. Whew!

Anyway, definitely looking forward to continuing to read about your thoughts and progress on this program!

Will definitely keep you updated.

Free veggies kept me from tipping over the edge on the shake day. My love of protein powder has started to dwindle. The moderate carb day and depletion day are walk in the park. That is pretty much how I normally eat except I've been counting calories (which I normally do NOT do).

Originally Posted by TomHK

Those fasts sound pretty hardcore! Not sure I could last out so long. Is it proving effective so far?

I've just finished my 5th day (1st cycle complete) so it's a bit hard to tell. I've dropped a lot of water because I can see my abs. The results from the 2nd cycle will give a better indication (in my expert opinion ).

What it has done is refocus my eating. I was getting a complacent and this has reigned me back in.

[TomHK]

Sounds good - will be interested to see your results. Not sure I'm at all ready for something like that but maybe some time in the future who knows?!