Excellent book if it is for you! - Rated 
I have just finished the 12 weeks program and I have to say it did change my life. I did not want to write a review until I finished the 12 weeks because I wanted to see for myself if this book was enough on its own to carry you through the entire 12 week program
Let me try to explain the confusion with the reviews about this book because I think I understand it now. If you are a couch potato and don't do any exercise, or if you are a reasonably active person and do a lot of cardio work(running, tennis, squash, etc) yet you are not seeing any results, then this book is for you. I was actually watching my fat content go up and up even though I was doing 5k runs every morning. I never had a structured approach to weight/resistance training, and I always considered free weights especially as a bodybuilder's thing. I was wrong, and this book has great details for starting with weights for getting leaner (and not bulking up). I would say this program would work for women as well. If you are an intermediate to advanced weight lifter/body builder then this book is not for you because you will already know everything already, because Bill advocates a standard split body training program and a slightly below maintenance calorie diet. This is standard stuff that body builders have been using that for ages. For a beginner though, or for someone who has been mainly doing a cardio based sport, and as your metabolism changes with ages, I think this book will get you started on the right track. Saying that though it will not give you everything you need to know! It is a very easy ready and if you are eager to get started, then you can read the entire book in two/three days and end up in the gym with a working plan. I personally started seeing results from about week 3. I was never hungry and I could tell I was getting much stronger and much better balanced playing my sport (squash), which is excellent. I did Plateau however around week7,8,9! And I was getting very frustrated. I was still losing dimensions, clothes felt bigger and I could tell I was getting leaner, but the scale, and fat monitor didn't show it. I also came across Tom Venuto's Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle eBook which offered much more detail but took a long time to read. I highly recommend Venuto's eBook as a follow up to the BFL book, program because it will help you through the plateau which I'm sure you will get. It will offer you plenty of options to work on. I think I passed my plateau now, and I'm seeing weight, and body fat drop again very consistently. I'm still using the BFL training program though, the only think I changed after 12 weeks was to extend my cardio to 30 mins from 20 and keep the interval training except stay at about 80% for the last 10 min, then do the 100% and warm down. That gave me better results. With regard to the supplement issue, it is not a secret the Bill owns (or part owns) the EAS (The company that sells Myoplex) I tried it and I like some flavours, and I didn't like others. I also tried products from other companies and liked/disliked them. I would say try as much as possible to see what you like and don't like and keep a diary with the ones you like because there will be few. Recently I started adding Milk and Fruit to protein shakes to get better taste and better calorie balance. This morning I could see the top of my abs!!! Not bad with starting with 30% Body fat twelve weeks ago.
To conclude, to lose body fat you need to consider motivation, diet, and workout plan. If you already have a program that is keeping you lean then this book is not for you. On the other hand if you are not seeing the fat come down even with good cardio work then I think you need to consider this book as well as Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto.
Good luck
Really Works - Rated 
This book and program are both great. I used it back a few years ago and went from a 42 inch waist to 34 in 13 weeks from 29% body fat to 13%. It is not easy and requires much discipline. But this book gives you the tools you need to make it happen. It also requires a lifestyle change for you, you drift off from the program it is easy to slide backwards from the progress you have made.
This book will help you change your mindset. You will examine patters, give yourself rewards and see the changes take place. Phillips states: "It's Very Important to understand the difference between dreams and goals. Dreams are things we wish for--things you enjoy thinking about but don't really know when they'll happen. Goals, on the other hand, are specific things you have decided you need to accomplish within a clearly defined period of time." p.27 This book will help you make that leap from dreams to goals and from goals to results.
One of the greatest strengths of the book is the section that outlines the exercises for each body part. No only do they include pictures of the different exercises and movements, they also have a tip box of the most common errors, and how to avoid them. The book is also peppered with testimonies of people who have done the program with their before and after pictures.
Phillips states: "Your body is the epicenter of your universe. You go nowhere without it. It is truly the temple of your mind and your soul" p.2 this program will help you find a level of health that you may have given up on. One of the former champions of the challenge says: "Beyond information, I was being taught a frame of mind, which inspired me more than all the preachers, teachers, doctors, and counselors who had tried to get through to me before." p.9 in reflection on this program and his recovery from a bullet wound from his youth.
This book will help you change the patterns in your life, "Remember that everything you do in the real world is merely an external manifestation of what has already happened in your mind." p. 29 This book has a balanced approach, you balance exercise with nutrition. You balance carbs with protein in each meal, and you balance cardio with strength training. Page 83 has an Eating-for-Life Authorized food guide, it lists the Proteins, Carbohydrates and Vegetables that are recommended and list's them in the order if quality for this program.
There is a world of difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it. This book will definitely give you the knowledge and challenge you to put it into practice. "Remember that everything you do in the real world is merely an external manifestation of what has already happened in your mind." p.29
Great Guidance! - Rated
I don't think I will be able to convey in this review just how wonderful I think this book is.
Two years ago, I was the fittest and thinnest I ever had been. And, then, lo and behold, I discovered that we were going to be welcoming baby number three into the world! Completely unexpected, and a little older than before, I was terrified I would gain a lot of weight. I managed to keep the weightgain down, but still, after the birth of my happy little surprise, I had 25 pounds to lose and was anxious to get it off.
The truth was I didn't know the truth about eating and the truth about exercising. I had never lifted weights and was no longer as physically active as I once was. I bought the Firm and the stick thing that went with it, but the information that program came with didn't go into the whys and the ways. So, even though there was some instruction, and a calendar, I didn't understand about the physiology of eating properly and often and how one must let their muscles rest after exercising.
Bill Phillips' book was the perfect introduction for me. In twelve weeks, just as promised, I was back to my smaller size. And, I learned so much about weight loss and proper nutrition and working out with weights and how to improve my aerobic/cardio routine, as well. His book completely whet my appetite for more knowledge regarding proper eating/dieting/nutrition/etc., and because of Body for Life, I have read so much more about nutrition and exercise and this is now a full-fledged interest of mine.
The only criticism I have now, two years after I have read it and several years after publication, is that it really needs to be updated. The current thought is that one must eat immediately after working out. Body for Life states you should wait an hour. Also, the Body for Life website, which he refers to and recommends throughout his book, is now owned and operated by EAS, a food supplement company, not Bill Phillips, as it used to be.
I'd really like to see something new by Bill Phillips. He's an inspiration.
The good, the bad, and the ugly. - Rated
Despite the cheesy picture of the author on its cover, "Body for Life" is a pretty good book- although I wouldn't count on looking like the people in the book in just 12 weeks- they no doubt were trying to win the contest that the author puts on and spent a little more than 12 weeks getting into shape. Having said that, I found the book valuable.
Why? Well, the best thing the book has going for it is its motivational writing style- which sets the book apart. The book motivates you to eat better (the diet plan is as straightforward as it gets) as well as setting you up on a pretty reasonable exercise program (which involves lifting weights and cardio).
All in all, its well laid out and downright inspirational, so, I give it 5 stars. Also recommend "Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff" for readers who have difficulty lifting weights due to a torn cuff or shoulder pain.
Not Essential - Rated
Last week I completed the 12 week Body For Life challenge and I was mega pleased with the results. The program itself is sound and to get maximum results, total commitment is required.
The book itself, in my opinion, is not essential to those thinking of taken the challenge. I found it to be an excellent motivational tool, for example, reading the sucess stories. I read the book cover to cover the first day it arrived. On my second week of the challenge I loaned it out to a guy from my gym and have yet to get it back - thus it was not essential for me to throughout the 12 weeks.
Excellent book though!
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