The Body For Life Review
Body For Life – Weight Loss and Life-Long Wellness
The Body For Life program is a 12 week diet plan developed by Bill Phillips that incorporates exercise and a specific meal plan for dieters to achieve weight loss. While on this plan, dieters are expected to eat smaller portions, and exercise 6 days a week combining both aerobic activity and weight training.
Nutrition
Participants on this program are encouraged to eat more frequently, but eat smaller portions. Ideally, 6 small meals per day should be consumed, for 6 out of the 7 days of the week. Foods encouraged on this plan include:
- Poultry
- Fish
- Lean beef
- Legumes
- Brown rice
- Potatoes
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Nuts and seeds
- Fresh vegetables
- Whole grains
Portion size is crucial on this plan. Each meal should consist of 1 protein and 1 carbohydrate serving, which is generally the size of your fist. In addition, 2 servings of veggies per day should be eaten, along with 2 tablespoons of healthy oil, such as olive or flax seed. 10 glasses of water are also encouraged for consumption in a day to decrease satiety and improve digestion. A supplement should also be taken in order to ensure you are getting all your essential nutrients that may be lacking in your diet. On the 7th day, you can take a break from your diet and exercise.
Exercise
Dieters on this program should be exercising 6 days per week. For three of these days, weight training should be done for 45 minutes per session. For the other three days, aerobic exercise should be done for about 20 to 30 minutes per session. These exercises should ideally be alternated.
Pros
The structure of the diet plan on the Body For Life program teaches “grazing” techniques rather than “gorging”. Because the dieter is eating more frequently – and smaller sized meals – it keeps the metabolic rate going, which means more fat and calories being burned. There are a lot of foods to choose from on this diet, which should minimize the chances of feeling deprived. Having one day to rest off this diet gives people a chance to break up the monotony.
This plan also emphasizes exercise, which is a vital component of any diet or weight loss program. Exercising on a regular basis – including after all the weight is lost – helps to maintain a healthy weight, keep the body strong, and minimize dangerous health issues.
Cons
The only potential con to this plan is the possibility that many people who are used to beig overly sedentary may find it difficult to incorporate exercise into their daily routine.
The Bottom Line
This diet plan is highly recommended. The concept of eating smaller portions more frequently throughout the day is a scientifically studied fact that works to keep hunger and cravings down and the metabolic rate up. The exercise emphasis is also a strong point of this program, making the Body For Life plan a solid program to go on for weight loss and long term wellness.
