12 weeks up - then what?

[kamumma]

I'm in week 10 of my challenge and starting to think about what comes next. I definately will keep up with running and lifting, but not sure how I'll be changing my diet. I'd really like to keep my new shape! Afraid if I start eating differently I'll start putting some weight back on. There are a few things that I don't like about the way I'm eating on BFL. I have been eating things that have some chemicals and preservatives that I never used to eat, i.e. cold cuts, and occasional diet soda, some of the bars. I would also love to have my orange juice back in the mornings. And an occasional dessert. I've been pretty strict with the BFL diet and don't do many "days off". What has everyone else done when they finished? Stayed strict, loosened up a bit (and if you did, did you gain any weight back?). Appreciate any insights.

[Adam]

The principle philosophy behind BFL is setting new and bigger goals for yourself. If you've finished all 12 weeks then ask yourself: "did I reach the goals I set when I first started the challenge?" If you're answer is yes then your next step is to set new goals; to reach to the next stage of mental/physical fitness.

This makes sense to me because once your 12 weeks are up you are now in a dangerous place were settling back in can happen.

Think about trying to swim across the ocean: It's virtually endless, but you're either moving forward toward finish, or else you're treading water and wasting time/energy not going anywhere. Eventually you're gonna run out of steam unless you make it to that shoreline.

The whole reason BFL helps people with their lives is that it teaches to not sit still. That is the more valuable of the two benefits to BFL in my opinion. My own vain reasons for wanting to change are only petty and temporary - that is to say I will reach those goals with time (X% body fat, weight, etc) but my real intention is to give myself something to always be striving towards accomplishing.

Hope this helps. All I'm saying is that once you're done it's important to keep moving in the right directions. I have no intention of having to do another 12 weeks years down the road because I lost all my progress. God bless!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by kamumma

I'm in week 10 of my challenge and starting to think about what comes next. I definately will keep up with running and lifting, but not sure how I'll be changing my diet. I'd really like to keep my new shape! Afraid if I start eating differently I'll start putting some weight back on. There are a few things that I don't like about the way I'm eating on BFL. I have been eating things that have some chemicals and preservatives that I never used to eat, i.e. cold cuts, and occasional diet soda, some of the bars. I would also love to have my orange juice back in the mornings. And an occasional dessert. I've been pretty strict with the BFL diet and don't do many "days off". What has everyone else done when they finished? Stayed strict, loosened up a bit (and if you did, did you gain any weight back?). Appreciate any insights.

I've got one friend who is absolutely ripped who has mentioned that stuff like BFL is all about reaching certain points - getting a six pack is like climbing a mountain; Once you're there it takes less work to stay there.

My dad is an example of someone who has made a drastic change in his body (he sits around 175lbs @ 5'11" with 11% BF) and he didn't do anything except live out what the Bible teaches: "everything in moderation", including health-fussiness He's a gym/running/swimming guy, but he'll have dessert now and then (sometimes even two in a row) and eat "with the best intentions". The only reason I am not doing it that way is because it took his body about 4x longer doing it that way than if he buckled down and did BFL hahaha. The way I see it BFL is a short cut, and it takes a lot of hard work in less time just like the 20min cardio we do.

[bodybuilder]

Originally Posted by kamumma

I'm in week 10 of my challenge and starting to think about what comes next. I definately will keep up with running and lifting, but not sure how I'll be changing my diet. I'd really like to keep my new shape! Afraid if I start eating differently I'll start putting some weight back on. There are a few things that I don't like about the way I'm eating on BFL. I have been eating things that have some chemicals and preservatives that I never used to eat, i.e. cold cuts, and occasional diet soda, some of the bars. I would also love to have my orange juice back in the mornings. And an occasional dessert. I've been pretty strict with the BFL diet and don't do many "days off". What has everyone else done when they finished? Stayed strict, loosened up a bit (and if you did, did you gain any weight back?). Appreciate any insights.

you carry on with what youve been doing over the course of the 1st 12 weeks. if you stop exercises or eating healthy then you will simply lose your shape again