Thread: Anyone tried "BODY FOR LIFE?"

I just read the book (the one for women, by Pamela Peeke, she wrote it with the original author) and I like the eating plan. Does anyone have a resource where I can go help with menu planning within the guidelines? (You have to eat 4-6 mini meals a day and planning that is a drag) I've only come up with about 8 different combos. She gives one day of a sample menu.

Any suggestions?

Hmm...I would be interested in thoughts on this too. I've read the book and was thinking about reading (and using it) again.

The information is nothing new really, but about eating smaller, smarter and more frequently high volume whole foods. I have sort of started, but in the book it talks about eaing at leat 5 times a day. She mentions snacks and mini meals, then mentions 5-7 mini meals. You pick a food from group A(smart proteins) group B (smart carbohydrates) and 1/2 a portion from group C (smart fats)

What I am confused about is do you do this EVERY time you eat or are snacks different? She used the term snack and meal interchangeably.

Well, also want to find a place where they have sample menus for the week. When I google it I keep getting Bill Phillips' stuff which is geared more toward supplements etc. Can't find anything on Body for Life for women.

Ahzia, I know you know about Body for Life, in fact, your post in another thread is why I picked up the books : )

Get Eating for life for meal ideas

I looked up eating for life and got this meal plan: Body-for-LIFE Week 1 Meal Plan

It's got nutrition shakes etc, and it looks like the portions are for a man.

I meant this book of receipes

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Life-Bill-Phillips/dp/0972018417/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252367730&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Eating For Life (9780972018418): Bill Phillips: Books[/ame]

With the shakes, that is just a meal replacement. You can choose to not do the shakes and have a food meal.

Thanks HubicRuzz, but the BforL women is more designed for women in their 40's and is more specifically tailored daily requirements of female stuff, (soy, correct calcium, portion size for women etc.) I like the concept, but want to make sure I have the correct amounts of stuff. The Bill Phillips stuff is more complicated than the Pamela Peeke booke I think..l;,

I did the Bill Philips BFL a long time ago, and the eating plan was really easy. A serving of lean protein and a serving of low-fat carbs 5-6 times a day. For two (or maybe three) of those meals you added a vegetable. I never really measured by weight. I used the portion=size of your fist plan. I am a picky eater, so I used shakes I bought at GNC to help with variety. Plus they were easy to make at work (one of the guys brought in those hand held mixers and we all used it).

Here's some of the stuff I ate:
-wheat pasta with cottage cheese and a little tomato sauce
-ham roll ups: shaved ham in tortillas (I considered two a meal)
-eggs with either oatmeal or yogurt
-good old chicken with brown rice
-I bought the vanilla and chocolate shakes and doctored them up with extracts and Jell-O

I haven't seen the women's book, so I have no idea how the meal plan differs from the original.

just reckon -on average- a protein portion is about the size of a pack of cards, a carb portion is a cup of cooked rice.

This is when spices become your friend to stop everything becoming bland.

Originally Posted by Andrea2

I did the Bill Philips BFL a long time ago, and the eating plan was really easy. A serving of lean protein and a serving of low-fat carbs 5-6 times a day. For two (or maybe three) of those meals you added a vegetable. I never really measured by weight. I used the portion=size of your fist plan. I am a picky eater, so I used shakes I bought at GNC to help with variety. Plus they were easy to make at work (one of the guys brought in those hand held mixers and we all used it).

Here's some of the stuff I ate:
-wheat pasta with cottage cheese and a little tomato sauce
-ham roll ups: shaved ham in tortillas (I considered two a meal)
-eggs with either oatmeal or yogurt
-good old chicken with brown rice
-I bought the vanilla and chocolate shakes and doctored them up with extracts and Jell-O

I haven't seen the women's book, so I have no idea how the meal plan differs from the original.

HAM ROLL UPS?? yumm I must be reading the wrong book..l;, NO, just kidding, I think I've got it now. The BFL women is the same, you pick from protein, and "smart" carbs each meal. My confusion is do you do this combo EVERY time you eat? she gives serving sizes, I just am confused on the frequency I guess. IT says you are to eat at LEAST 4 times a day, preferably every 2-4 hours. I can do this easy since a "meal" is small, I just wanted to know how to count the dairy and soy you are supposed to add in. Where do they go in the mix?

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

IT says you are to eat at LEAST 4 times a day, preferably every 2-4 hours. I can do this easy since a "meal" is small, I just wanted to know how to count the dairy and soy you are supposed to add in. Where do they go in the mix?

Sorry, but I don't remember anything about dairy and soy. Maybe they are part of the new & improved women's version? Then again, I really suffer from CRS so it's possible that I've forgotten.

I ate whenever I felt hungry, which was every 2-4 hours. It would depend on what I last ate and how much activity I had done. I was supposed to eat six times a day, but I just couldn't eat that much. I think I usually had five meals. One of the really good things about this plan is that you don't really go hungry. There's a slight sense of denial, but that's always taken care of on your free day.

Yes, it's very do-able. I am just so detail obsessed that sometimes I get hung up on the small things. I like that there are no "weird" or hard to come by foods. And yes she gives wiggle room. I don't think there is a "free" day but the idea is to stick with the plan 80% of the time and if you want a slice of cake once in a while, go for it. Just don't let the cake spiral you into a binge. (totally me). I just don't want to be eating too much. Yes, 6 times a day is hard for me too. 5 seems to be the number for me.

If you are exercising according to the plan, you probably won't feel like you're eating too much b/c you're feeding yourself to support your new level of activity.

When I started P90X I scoffed at having to eat so many calories. Once I was involved in the workouts, I felt like I couldn't eat enough.

Your mailbox is full so I'm posting what I wrote to you here:

While I can appreciate the inclusion of a meal plan in any exercise regime, I think it has the potential of making things too complicated and I end up ignoring them, in favor of listening to what my body needs.

It is sensible to select foods from the proper food groups when planning your meals and shopping for ingredients. Above and beyond that, however, I would advocate that you eat at regular intervals and when hungry.

Do not get caught up in the nutrients. ENJOY what you're eating, prepare it with love and intention. Listen to what your body needs, and just make sure you're getting a balance. Don't forget that calcium-rich foods include kale and broccoli. I think soy is overrated and is too processed these days to get any benefit from it.

If you need a guideline, here is a simple but effective one: at each meal, eat a grain, a produce, and a source of protein. That's it.

Example breakfast: oatmeal (grain) + nuts/seeds (protein) + stewed or raw apple (produce).

Example lunch: hummus (protein) + pita wrap (grain) + lettuce/tomato/cucumber (produce)

Example dinner: brown rice (grain) + roasted chicken (protein) + broccoli (produce).

Example snack: rice cake (grain) + sliced apples (produce) + roasted almonds [always roast your almonds] or cottage cheese (protein)

As far as portions, eat no more than the size of your fist + 1/4-1/2 (since you're exercising more).

I am very detail oriented, too. But when it comes to food, it's a form of nourishment and is meant to feed not only your body but your soul. Modern western world is often so far removed from what they're putting in their bodies, which is a shame and to our detriment.