overview
Bill Phillips, a former supplement company owner and magazine publisher, wrote Body for Life: 12 weeks to mental and physical strength Mid 1990s. Phillips, a longtime bodybuilder who published a bodybuilding magazine and owned a supplement company, wanted to bring a bodybuilding program to the masses.
The nutrition program recommends eating six small meals a day, spread throughout the day with a good balance of lean protein and “good” carbohydrates. This is done to boost your metabolism by keeping you eating throughout the day and also curbs hunger by never going without food. The exercise part consists of alternating high-intensity cardio and weightlifting six days a week. His training program focuses on high intensity. Phillips recommends interval training for long-distance running and high-intensity short reps for strength training.
Most controversial about this diet are the dramatic before and after photos of the contestants who took part in Phillip’s weight loss challenge. They show what many believe to be impossible, transformations in an alleged 12-week period.
advantages
- Solid Plan: At the end of the day, the program recommends a simple philosophy; Eat right and exercise. There’s no doubt that exercising six days a week and eating a balanced diet of lean, healthy foods will make you leaner and healthier.
Disadvantages
- False Expectations: The real pitfall of this diet is the false expectations it may create in some of its users. My contention is not that the before and after pictures are fake, but that the people who took them were probably in great shape at some point in their lives. Muscle memory is a very real thing, and it’s a lot easier for someone who’s been in shape to get back in shape than it is for someone who’s never been in shape to get there.
bottom line
While Phillips has his heart in the right place, he seems to be promoting the all-or-nothing weight loss mentality. All in all though, this is a very solid and sensible approach to weight loss…if a bit regimented.
Thanks to Victor J Thomas
