Just Curious...

[malikah]

Hi Everyone! This is Day 8 for me and I have lost about 4lbs+/- (I didn't weigh myself until day 4 & think I was 129+/-) I have some questions for all of you who have been consistently working out.

How often and how hard (what type of exercise) do you workout? Also, did you experience any stalls as most people say they do after the Induction period?

I ran 4 out of the 8 days so far and feel pretty good. It was tough to run the first 3-4 days though. It was a little challenging for me today but I just pushed myself to go all the way and ended up doing 4.6mi (5.6mph on treadmill).

TTdriver - How often do you run and at what pace? I noticed that you are an avid runner from your posts and just wanted to let you know that you are very inspiring to me!! :yes You are awesome and any advice from you on running would be great!

I hope to hear from all of you soon! :wave

Malikah

[spirittalker]

I try to do something every single day. Some days I will walk with some intermittant running in there for a couple of hours. Some days I play Dance Dance Revolution pretty hard for about 2 hours. Some days I do pilates. Other days I do Walk away the pounds. It really just depends on my mood that day. Yes my weight loss slowed down after my initial 2 week induction. I think I stopped losing for about 2 more weeks before my losses picked up again. right now I am losing about 2 lbs per week. TOM will effect weight loss as will upping your exercise, but both things are only temporary water weight that will come off after a bit.

Good for you for getting in your exercise!! You may wish to do your running every other day and do some strenth training on your off days. Strength training will help sculpt your body whereas cardio sheds the pounds. What is your goal weight? It helps if you post your stats in your signature(top of the page "profile") so you can get answers that may be more geared towards your particular goals.

Best wishes!!

[cajunthunder]

I do cardio (elliptical) 5-6 days a week, anywhere from 30-45 minutes. I also work out with a personal trainer 3 days a week doing functional training, which is a variety of stuff (weights, endurance, stretching, etc). It took me a while to build up the endurance to do that much cardio and I'm still pushing myself. But there are days when it's really hard to do too much because my body is seriously achy from the previous days workout with my trainer. I have skipped cardio once in a while when my body just needed rest.

I went a month with the scale not moving, then it dropped 4 pounds. That was a couple of weeks ago and it hasn't moved since. :sadblinky I am jealous of those people who report losing pounds every few days or even every week.

BUT, I am losing inches. Even though you're losing inches, it can be aggravating to not see that blamed scale budge. But I don't let it bother me, other than the periodic desire to take it out on the driveway and run over it with my van. :yes :joy

I am gaining muscle, so I just have to assume that for the time being, for every pound of fat I'm losing, I'm gaining a pound of muscle, thus the scale not moving.

[ttdriver]

TTdriver - How often do you run and at what pace? I noticed that you are an avid runner from your posts and just wanted to let you know that you are very inspiring to me!! You are awesome and any advice from you on running would be great

First of all, thank you!! Yes, I love to run, but it hasn't always been that way!!

I started off walking 7 days a week the same day I started Atkins. I figured, well, if I really was SERIOUS about losing weight, then I better get my couch potato butt off the sofa and get moving. So everyday I would walk 1.5 miles, rain or shine. Pretty soon, it was 2 miles a day, more like power walking ... 15 minute mile. After about a year and half of that, I thought 'what the heck' and tried jogging short spurts. Well, at that time, my goal was to make it past 6 mailboxes in my neighborhood without needing CPR!! :guns But I stuck with it, invested in a HRM and decided to see what this nearly half century old bod was capable of. That was in November 2003. I've been jogging/running at least 4 days a week ever since and now average around 35 miles a week. I absolutely am addicted. I've been in countless 5ks and 10ks and am currently training for the Disney Half Marathon coming up in January, just 3 weeks after I turn 50. To me, that will be the gift I give myself if I can run the entire 13.1 miles.

If you want to run, but have never done so, I strongly urge you to work up to it gradually similarly to what I have done. Taking on too much too soon leads to frustration and possibly injury.

You need to start out slow. A mile at a very slow pace is a good start if you can manage it. BUT, first and FOREMOST, buy some good quality running shoes. Don't assume that your everyday knock-around shoes are okay for running, because they are not. Running puts alot of stress on the joints, even if you're going slow and you need to protect yourself by wearing good stable, well-cushioned shoes. Aside from that, a water bottle to stay well-hydrated and some sunscreen and VOILA .. you're off!

Never ever increase your distance more than 10% at any time. In other words, if you can run a mile for a couple of weeks, then add a tenth of a mile to it for another few weeks, etc. By going too far too fast, you really put yourself at risk for injury.

A good heart rate monitor is essential (IMO). If you are trying to burn fat, the best way to do it is by running slower and longer. In other words, speed can be counterproductive if your goal is to burn fat. If you have a HRM, you can set it to keep you at a certain pace (SLOW!) and if you exceed that speed, the alarm will sound. Most new runners err in running too fast, thinking they will lose weight faster that way. Not true at all. In fact, what happens is your body is in the anaerobic state, building up lactic acid and you stop burning fat the faster you go. SLOWER LONGER. That is the best way.

Hope that information helps you!! I love helping people get inspired to run! Heck if this old broad can do it, anyone can!!

Betty

[Isabeau]

I'm one of those people that hasn't had a plateau or stall since I started. I do exercise a lot (running three times a week, weight training three times a week, swimming twice a week, cycling twice a week with some stabilization ball, pilates and yoga workouts thrown in as well as dogs always needing walking). People on this exercise forum keep me so motivated!

[Esther]

When I started Atkins I was a complete couch potato - 22 stones (300 lb)and too ill to go outside without my carer, and too unmotivated to attempt any exercise inside.

After a week on Atkins I dug out my old bike and started cycling 1/4 mile every day, building up to 2 miles a day over about a month. Once my confidence was up I starting walking a mile a day, building up to 2 miles. After 8 months, my legs had strengthened up enough to attempt running (well, waddling more than running...). Before then my shins would cripple me after 20 yards. I started the couch to 5k running plan, which is supposed to take 8 weeks. I've been 8 months and still haven't got past week 6!

A couple of weeks ago in a fit of madness I entered the local 10k race and since then I have been run/walking 6 miles 2 or 3 times a week. I still can't run 5k without a break but I can do the whole 10k fairly easily so long as I allow myself zillions of little walk breaks.

I've found I stall just as easily with or without exercise - I just have to have faith that the stall will break and keep up the exercise for it's own sake instead of just treating it as a chore to help the diet.

On days I don't run, I usually walk 2 miles.