Customer Reviews

Champions Body-for-LIFE

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have completed the Body-for-Life challenge several times and have made it a way of life, so I was really excited when I saw that this book was coming out and I pre-ordered it. While it has some useful advice spoken by people who have completed the challenge, and the success stories are really cool and inspiring, the book felt more like it was Abbott Laboratories' way of highjacking Bill Phillips' original book and trying to reestablish themselves as the authorities on Body-for-life. Some of the ridiculous "we, the good people at Abbott Laboratories" rants (like that found on page 9) really take away from the heart of the original and sound more like one of Troy McClure's lines from "The Simpsons". Order this book if you feel that you might benefit from hearing the stories of others who have completed the challenge (which you can get for free online), and you are confident you can look past Abbott's silly positioning. Otherwise, Bill Phillips' original gives you everything you need to succeed, and will ALWAYS be the official guide to me.

I love Body for Life- the program , the original book, Eating for Life, the Muscle Media articles about the winners. I can never get enough of the success stories so I was so excited to see this book come out. But right off the bat I was disappointed. What was so amazing in the original was the photos! In this book, the pictures are so small for the most part and the quality of most of them are like bad black and white photo copies. If you've ever had to make a copy of your driver's license you get the picture. You can hardly make out the people. What's that all about? Did no one look at a proof before it went to print?

I missed Bill Phillip's style and felt like someone was riding his coat tails, trying to re create another hit by paraphrasing the original. The input from the champions was the only reason to buy the book, and I felt they kind of glossed over that. I was expecting much more information. As mentioned in a previous review, most of what is in the book is online.

As far as following people through the program, I would have liked to have followed a woman through the program instead of a teenager that actually looked pretty good to begin with. Not knocking her hard work but I personally would have been more inspired by someone who had more of a challenge.

It could have been done so much better. You can tell the personal passion for a great book was missing. It just left me wanting more. I pulled out the original and re read it and was not disappointed.

I'm giving it three stars only for the true champions whose stories are portrayed and mildly highlighted. I still would like to hear more of your stories. You all deserve so much more than what this book delivered!

I was looking forward to this book because I'd been told it would "fill in the blanks," and address unanswered questions from the original Body for Life book. I'm happy to say Champions Body for Life does that. While the original book is excellent, those completing their 12-week challenges often find there are lots of questions that go unanswered in the book. Champions Body for Life addresses most of these.

There is much wisdom to be gained from hearing how current/former champions overcame hurdles that MANY "BFLers" face in their own transformations. I appreciated their input and found it really helpful.

I'd recommend this book as a great supplement to the original book (by the way, nothing about the original Body for Life program is changed in this book...it's the same plan for transformation, with extra nuggets of info and wisdom). It helps to hear success stories from as many REAL-LIFE people as possible when you are seeking your own 12-week transformation!

Champions Body for Life was my turning point for what I'm believing will be a lifestyle transformation. Not just for losing weight, but for completely changing my life. I had already read Body for Life by Bill Phillips seven years ago and loved it. I found it easy to read and extremely motavational. However, somehow I was never able to complete a challenge. Over the years, I managed to keep my weight down with running, but without following the weights and nutritional aspects of the Body for Life program, I never achieved anything close to a transformation and as soon as injury took me away from running, the weight piled on. I tried every diet out there, and none of them worked past five days. With each effort, I packed on additional weight. Then came Champions Body for Life.

I was already familiar with the concept. Like the original book, I found this one to also be easy reading and motivational. But Champions Body for Life offered something different ... a glimpse into the 12 week transformation up close and personal ... showing the journey that Mark Unger and Alexa Adair took. In the original book and on the Body for Life website I was able to read short paragraphs about the transformations that were possible, but this new book offered more indepth coverage. It was what I needed to help me believe that I could do it too.

I read the book in two days and immediately signed up for the challenge. (I had never actually signed up before) and I also took before pictures. The book has been close by my side during my challenge and is keeping me on track. I plan to celebrate my 12 week transformation on my favorate beach in Hawaii, and I owe it all to Champions Body for Life. I am so grateful. By the way, I'll be turning 65, so we're never too old to benefit from the book and program.

This book is one HUGE advertisement ploy. Nothing more!

I returned this piece of junk after reading through it. What a joke and insult to the real BFL!

The original Body For Life by Bill Phillips is all you need. Eating For Life is an excellent book of recipes and

BFL for Women by Dr. Pamela Peake is great for a more fine tuned approach for the ladies...but I whole-heartedly disagree with the diets she recommends in her book. It is all carbs, and minimal protein. A great way to create weak, ill women. The BFL book has the better dietary approach in my opinion.

Skip this piece of garbage and get the original book!

Where was this book when I did my first challenge?

It's obvious this book is meant to be a companion to Bill Phillips' Body for Life not a replacement. Body for Life gives you the tools to get started, Challengers Body for Life gives you tools as well, but it also helps you understand what you're going thru week by week is common. There is humour in the book that you may not understand unless you're a Body for Lifer, but you will quickly appreciate as you go follow a 12 week challenge period.

Some of the editing is a little subpar and now that Abbot owns EAS and Body for Life, it stands to reason they would have a say in the book as they are a business and have a right to make a profit.

I am half way through the book and will add a follow up when I'm completely done. Thus far, it is an excellent and necessary companion to your BFL book.

I got this book today, and it is simply amazing. The stories of the transformations, and success tips from the Champions are useful and inspiring. Besides the success tips the readers get to follow the weekly challenges of two individuals, Mark Unger, and Alexa Adair and go along with them on their journey of self discovery.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who truly desires to make a change in their lives both mentally and physically, and a MUST HAVE for those already building their Body-for-LIFE!

I think this is a great motivating book. I could not put it down once I started reading it.
I have the original and it is great also. But I like this book because it is a little more updated and more fun to read because you get to follow others on their 12 week journey. I also LOVE Eating for Life.
The recipes are wonderful and healthy in that book. Highly recommend this book and the other BFL, EFL books!

Great book. I bought the first version about 10 years ago. It was good, but this one is better. This version has stories from the prior champions that are very motivational. They give you lots of pointers. The champs also give recipe ideas that are great. If you are just starting the Body for Life program, or are wanting to get into it, definitely buy this version. Great book!!

DVW San Antonio, TX

I have used Body for Life, and other variant programs, to great success. Bill Phillips original book was outstanding, and his concepts and bringing health to the masses is great.

I thought this book would be not only inspirational stories, but getting down to the nitty gritty of how the champions made the program their own and came out on top of the transformation contests. Nope. Some pretty pictures, some nice stories, but nothing to add to the original really.

Furthermore, I agree with the other reviewers who note that there are portions of the book that essentially make it into an infomercial for Abbott Labs nutrition and supplement products. Very distasteful, and totally turned me off an already disappointing book.

Read the original. Skip this one.