Body For Life

The importance of combining a healthy diet and strenuous exercise

I had tried many different diets, but none of them appealed to me like the advertisements for Body for Life by Bill Phillips. I had always stayed hungry on other diets I had tried, so the idea of eating six small meals a day instead of three larger ones appealed to me. Certainly I knew they would be the same number of calories, but I figured spacing them out throughout the day would prevent me from staying hungry.

I also knew enough about losing weight to understand the concept of burning more calories than I was consuming, so the intensive exercise program had to be a positive thing for the Body for Life diet. I had always been the kind of person who stayed more tuned into a diet when I was exercising and seeing results on the scale as well as in the way my clothes fit.

One of the things about the Body for Life diet that really appealed to me was that you were allowed to take a day off from both dieting and exercising. That gave you an incentive to do all of the right things on the other six days in order to enjoy the freedom of a day off from the intense workout program that this diet entails. You will also find an abundant selection of proteins and vegetables from which you can choose.

The diet is approximately 40-50% protein, which is not a problem for those who have well-functioning kidneys. For those who have kidney problems, you may want to talk to your doctor before trying this diet.

The most difficult part of the Body for Life diet for me was the intensity of the weights and aerobic exercises. I had never done much beyond brisk walking or swimming on any other diet I had tried, so resistance exercises were a new concept. My bone structure was rather small, so I had always been afraid of developing a body builder’s frame, something I didn’t want to do.

As I began the program, I discovered that the workout sessions didn’t do any more than help me burn off the calories I had consumed and tighten the muscles in the areas where I was losing the most weight.  I was very pleased with the results and before long was able to increase the intensity of the exercises on my own.

The program is designed to run for a twelve week period, which worked out well for me. I had committed to losing 30 pounds but actually lost the weight in a little less time because of the combination of healthy eating and exercise. For myself I was able to incorporate some life style changes that have been able to assist me with maintaining my new shape and eating habits.

Although I don’t always continue to eat the six small meals, I do make certain I eat smaller portions at mealtime and continue to exercise no matter where I am.

For someone who had been battling with excess weight since the birth of my oldest child, the Body for Life diet was a blessing. My husband loves my new body, and my kids often send their friends’ parents to me for tips on losing weight. My success has turned me into the neighbourhood weight loss guru.

Review by Carole Ritter