Update and comparison of BFL to 's SFL book

[Guest guest]

About 2 weeks ago I posted a question about the many BFL books and

how they fit or differed from the new Strength For Life book by

Bill's brother, . I really appreciate the responses, as well

as the answers to my questions the past few days. I am finishing up

the 12 day Base Camp portion of SFL and thought I would give an

update on my progress, my thoughts on the SFL program and a

comparison between BFL & SFL.

A brief background: I am in my 40's and have struggled with my

weight since graduating college. I have lost and gained 25-45

pounds several times which scares me immensely since I know this is

NOT good for my body. I am only 5'3 " , a pear shape and have a hard

time losing weight. I can just look at cake and gain weight –

honestly! I am a Lifetime Weight Watchers member and have learned a

lot from that program but found I was using my points for junk

(refined sugar, 100 calorie packs, low calorie foods with HFCS). I

was hungry a lot and kept creeping 5-10 pounds over my WW goal

weight. I knew I was killing my metabolism and losing muscle. I

knew I needed to think of this as a lifetime change, not just a few

weeks of dieting. My plan of action – BFL!

So, enough about me. The SFL book is an easy read, well organized

and easy to get started. He has you start with a 12 day Base Camp,

which I see as the program on training wheels. You then move to a

12 week program (very much like BFL) and then he has a section on

what to do week 13 and beyond (have not read that far yet).

12 Day Base Camp:

Limited food list (no dairy, no bread)

No focus (yet) on food timing, just ask that you eat from the list &

eat protein each meal

Simple training (3x week – only push ups, squats and crunches)

Focus on getting 7-8 hours sleep

Water – 10 glasses

Gratitude

The first few days I really wanted things like pretzels, Baked Lays

and cereal. You know, the things I had been snacking on forever!

Now on Day 10 these cravings have disappeared. I have been striving

for 5-6 mini meals like on BFL and have found my hunger is WAY

DOWN. Headaches from the first few days are also gone. My weight

has gone from 146.1 down to 139.7. Ideally I think I would love to

be around 125-130 (?) but I'm more focused on being toned and

healthy rather than fixating on the scale. I've been 127 with no

muscle tone and still looked flabby. I'll take 135 with muscle tone

any day!

The food list on Base Camp is pretty restrictive but I know it is

only for 12 days. I have been comparing the food lists for SFL with

BFL on the 12 Week sections. The food list for SFL is more

restrictive. Some of things it does not include: lean ham, certain

types of fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, corn, grapes, low fat cheese,

olives, and canola oil. It varies depending on which BFL or Eating

For Life book you use. I personally think the SFL food list might

be a bit too restrictive for ME so I'm not sure which list I will

use for my 12 week program.

SFL talks about how Bill's 6 mini meal suggestion is great but might

not fit into everyone's real world circumstances. SFL suggests 5

meals but says the 5 do not have to be similar in size. It suggests

3 well balanced meals and 2 smaller " snacks " (although he says he

hates using that word). It uses the same guidelines of palm size,

fist size, veggies at least twice a day and so on.

Another difference is that Champions BFL talks about the different

protein supplements, bars and RTD products. SFL only mentions his

brand protein powder " Full Strength " which can be ordered online.

Both programs advocate a free day of training and a free day of

eating.

A quick look at the training sections looks like they each focus on

6 days with some being strength training and others being interval

training. I'll know more on that once I start the 12 week program.

In summary… So far from the sections I have read the plans appear to

be VERY similar with just a few differences. I believe some of the

food differences might be due to 's focus on organic items, low

mercury fish and other environmental issues versus the

calorie/nutrition aspect of a food item? I think the 12 day Base

Camp would be beneficial for anyone switching from a poor diet to

this way of eating. It gives you time to read about the programs,

ease into exercise and generally make a slow entry into this

wonderful way of eating. I'm still not sure if I'll do SFL, BFL or

a combination of them both. BUT, I do know it will be this way of

eating, this way of life. Only 2 weeks into the program I have more

energy, LESS HUNGER, less cravings… it has truly opened my eyes.