What would you eat?

[Haven]

I just finished my first week on the Bill Phillips Body-for-Life diet and exercise plan, so tomorrow is my first "free day" from exercise and eating according to the plan.

DH and I have been having fun planning what we''re going to eat tomorrow, and I think it would be fun to see what everyone else would eat on their free day.

SO . . . you have one day a week to eat whatever you like, and you can do so guilt-free because you''ve eaten very healthy, well-proportioned meals all week, and worked out safely and regularly.

What would you eat?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''m not sure. . .but I''d avoid high-calorie foods like Pizza that basically would defeat the purpose of sticking to a strict plan all week.

I guess I would have chocolate cake as a desert and then later on a few beers! lol How many calories is that? 800? Eh! Okay, maybe only the beers then.

 

[KimberlyH]

Cheese and crackers
Chips, salsa, and guacamole
My mom's carrot cake
7 Layer Dip (homemade, not store bought)
Ice cream


I wouldn't eat all of these things on one day, but they would be on my list. I'd add wine, but I don't cut that out of my normal diet so it doesn't really count.

 

[Elmorton]

A cheese plate and a really well-crafted beer, a steak, and gelato for dessert.

 

[gwendolyn]

My future mother-in-law''s creamy lobster pasta dish that she made last night. It is seriously OMG-good.

 

[bee*]

Fish and chips with some tartare sauce. Yummy!

 

[LilyKat]

A roast (chicken, lamb or beef), with roast potatoes, lots of veggies and gravy. Delicious and filling but also healthy.

 

[Dannielle]

I would have a big bowl of Penne Sorrento.. Penne pasta with prawns, bacon, onion, chilli and snow peas tossed through a napoli sauce

 

[gwendolyn]

So Haven, do you know yet what you and your hubs are going to have for dinner tonight?

 

[iheartscience]

I don''t know! Probably a steak...YUM!

 

[Sabine]

It would probably depend on what I had cut out during the week...

While pregnant, I had gestational diabetes, and I really thought as soon as I delivered I would want all the sweets I had cut out. But what I really ended up wanting was CARBS, not sugar carbs but pasta, bread, cereal, etc. Turns out my body missed that more than it missed the sugar.

 

[Haven]

Yum! Everyone has really good free meals.

Today is my "free" day, and I''m craving:
Walker Bros. Pancake House eggs, bacon, pancakes, and hash browns with coffee
or a burger and fries

I''m not sure which I''ll eat, but whatever it is, it will be delicious.

I think I''ve had more fun thinking about what I''ll eat than I will actually eating it. I feel so good on this diet and workout plan, that I''m not interested in gorging myself, just feeding some cravings.

I also ate cheese and crackers for breakfast. I needed some havarti.

 

[asscherisme]

Sushi.

 

[bee*]

oooh burger and fries sounds good-I''d go for that Haven!

 

[Haven]

A burger and fries sounded so good that DH and I went to a local burger joint for lunch.
I ate most of the burger, half of the cheese fries, and drank some soda.

And then I felt really sick.

I think I should have eaten one or the other, the burger *and* fries *and* soda were probably too much.

We decided that next Sunday we''ll go to Chipotle for lunch. I ate there almost weekly before I started this thing, so I''m at least used to the food. And it isn''t fried.

 

[gwendolyn]

Awww, honey, I''m so sorry you felt sick after you ate. Probably a good idea to stick to foods you know in the future, like you plan to, but man, that kinda sucks that your day off ended up like that.

 

[marlie]

My FI did the body for life plan a few years ago and found that on the cheat day he had the same situation as you. He just wouldn''t feel good. Your body gets used to all the healthy things you are doing to it during the week and gets angry at you when you ''cheat''. The first few weeks on the plan, he ate whatever he wanted on the cheat day and felt crappy afterward...he''s eat stuff like ice cream or fries or cake or something. As he progressed, he found he was eating healthy on the cheat day b/c that''s what he was actually craving. Knowing that the book says that it''s important to confuse your body with the cheat day, he''d kind of force something out of the ordinary in like a slice of pizza or something.

Just thought I''d share his experience with you! The book does wonders though. FI was already in good shape before starting the plan but he was leaner and more muscular afterward! Both of us sort of follow the principles of the diet but we''re less regimented now...more like a lifestyle at this point.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

I think I''d want some pasta! Spaghetti and garlic bread, or some lasagna!

 

[musey]

Macaroni and cheese!

I''m easy.

 

[princesss]

Fondue!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Sorry that you felt sick afterwards, but a burger and fries sounds soooo good!

 

[Haven]

Oooh, mac and cheese is a *great* cheat meal. And that''s something I make a lot, so it probably wouldn''t make me ill!

Thanks for your kind words, everyone. I should have known I would get sick, but I was actually really excited about those cheese fries so nothing would have stopped me. At least I got it out of my system now.

marlie--Very cool that your husband did the BfL plan. I really love it, I did it two summers ago and had great results even though I didn''t finish out all 12 weeks. For me, the structured workout plan is key because even though I''m a certified personal trainer, and I live with a certified PT, I need some serious structure to actually stick with a workout plan.
And this first year of marriage was so much fun that I really overindulged with all the meals and entertaining that we did.

Today was the first day of week 2, and I''m feeling incredible. Maybe I''ll be brave and post my before and after shots in 11 weeks!

I still love hearing everyones'' cheat meals, bring ''em on! I''m adding mac and cheese to my list.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Hi Haven! I was thinking about doing this same thing, and I wanted to check back and see what other meal ideas people had posted!

Glad you''re feeling better.

Hehe, if you are brave enough, before and after shots are always fun! It''d be good motivation for the rest of us to stick with the programs!

 

[Haven]

You should do the program, luvthem! We could check in and support each other!

I''ll post some before and afters once I have something worth sharing. So far I feel a lot better, and I''ve dropped three or four pounds, but no significant physical changes yet. Soon, though . . .

I had my cheat meal last night because I had company over. I made a caprese salad, garlic bread, and baked ziti. And chocolate chip cookies. It was so worth the cheat!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 8/21/2009 11:11:07 AM
Author: Haven
You should do the program, luvthem! We could check in and support each other!

I''ll post some before and afters once I have something worth sharing. So far I feel a lot better, and I''ve dropped three or four pounds, but no significant physical changes yet. Soon, though . . .

I had my cheat meal last night because I had company over. I made a caprese salad, garlic bread, and baked ziti. And chocolate chip cookies. It was so worth the cheat!

Your post got me considering it, so I''m on the website looking at it now!

Did you buy the book? Is that what you guys use to follow the program? Or do you use the online resources more?

I eat very healthy as it is, so I''m curious what I''m going to find as far as nutrition goes. It will probably help me though just to have some sort of schedule to follow. I do much better when I have that, instead of just relying on myself to make it to the gym after work, on the days I''m just mentally drained. I need something that gives me that extra push, because I''ve eaten very healthy for aobut 2 years now, and I don''t notice much of a difference in my body at all anymore - there are certainly some areas I need to work on.

I''m off to look at the website some more, maybe I''ll go by Barnes and Noble on the way home and pick up the book! I''ll let you know!

(PS - your meal sounds sooooo

)

 

[Haven]

We have the book, and now we have the recipe book as well because my sister bought it and lent it to me.

Even if you eat well now, you''ll likely have to change your eating habits because Phillips has you eat six small meals a day rather than three regular meals.

I''m like you--I find that having a workout schedule makes it much easier for me to get to the gym and have a *productive* workout. DH and I are both certified personal trainers, but we still have motivation issues. (Of course, DH can go a year without working out, eat whatever he likes, and still keep his six pack. Errrrr.)

Let me know if you end up doing it! You can start on Monday!

 

[kama_s]

Sounds like a fantastic program, Haven.

I''d want to eat Indian butter chicken, from my favourite restaurant in Dubai! If only I could fed-ex food....ha!

P.S.: I replied to something you posted in the Library forum

 

[cammy85]

ok i''m chiming in really late and randomly to say i adore Walker Bros! yummmy! totally would eat that on an off day...

 

[Kasey3]

Hi Haven

congrats on starting this plan. i visited the website and the diet and exercise plans seem very reasonable. I have a few questions for you if you don''t mind:
what do you eat for a typical day?
do you use protien drinks? if yes what brand and flavor do you like?

TIA
Kasey

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Haven!

Just wanted to update you on what I''m doing...

I checked out the website in a lot of depth, and I also went to the bookstore Friday and looked at the plan book and the recipe book. They''re both so expensive right now though (it''d be almost $70 to get both), and they already told me a lot of things I already knew. The recipe book looked soooo yummy though!! I might have to get online and try to recreate some of those when I''m looking for a new meal idea.

I already eat 6+ times a day, haha. Most people think I''m crazy, but it does wonders for me. I can''t eat much at one time anyway, so it works for me to kind of graze all day long, and constantly feed my body. I''ve done it for about 2 years straight now, and went through different cycles combining different foods, and have learned a lot about what foods work for my body and what doesn''t. But I still hadn''t found quite the right daily plan for me.

So I''m sort of doing the program, just not the "Body for Life" program verbatim. I did think about entering that challenge actually, but you have to use the EAS products, which I''m not a fan of, since my body doesn''t respond well to them. Anyway, as of Saturday, I''ve cranked up my workouts to an hour a day and am really listening to my body. I''ve also started some protein bars again, which I eat about an hour before my workout (I went through a spell about a year ago where I couldn''t find one I could stand to eat) - I did get that reminder from the BFL program, that those supplements can really help, and they do. And I''ve finally found a whey protein shake I like too, and I use that 10 mins after my workout to refuel. I can already tell a difference in my body - it''s starting to get stronger, which is always good, haha. And my food plan seems to be working well and keeping me well energized. Per the BFL program, I''m making a point to include a carb portion along with the protein at every meal, and add a veggie. That really does make a difference.

I am also going to incorporate what the BFL program does with the one free day, and I did that this weekend. Not so much a free "day" really, but about 2 free meals. It worked really well to confuse my body a little and not make it feel like I''m constantly starving it. I think that''ll really help re-energize after a long week of disciplined eating and working out too.

So how are you and your husband doing on the program? I really appreciate you cheering me on to start it - even though I''m not doing the program verbatim, I took a lot of the tips I read online and as I skimmed through the book, and believe it or not, that gave me the extra little push I''ve been needing for a LONG time to finally narrow down my food plan to exactly what I needed and to get my butt moving in the gym.