When does it make a difference

[BAM]

I have been on atkinds for a month, the first 3 weeks i didnt exercise at all, actually the previouse time on atkins i didnt exercise at all and lost weight. This time i am devoted to doing it right though.

I am on day 6 of riding my exercise and not seeing any additional weight loss from before. The first thee days i rode 15 minutes at 12 miles per hour, the last two days i am at 20 minutes at around 14.5 miles per hour. I am a big guy so i had assumed that i would see some difference rather quickly. Am i doing something wrong, or perhaps the length of exercise is to short.

I am actually really straining at 20 minutes though, im swetting like a pig heart is going a million miles an hour.

[Labarum]

Re: When does it make a difference

Hi Bam.

When I first started on Atkin's I walked, then I took to a daily swim. When the local swimming pools closed I returned to cycling after a gap of many years.

I wasn't scientific about this excercise, though I was about the eating programme. I just did as much as I felt able.

A few questions? What sort of bike are you riding. 14.5 mph on a slow mountain bike with knobbly tyres is very good. On a lighter road bike with better efficiency and higher gearing it would be slow. Remember, at the moment you're not in it for the speed but for the excercise - others on this list are better qualified to comment than I, but I would have thought a slower longer ride would achieve more at this stage.

Your present weight puts a lot of strain on the bike. Is it up to it? Is it correctly set up for you? A visit to a good local bike shop might be of benefit. Not necessarily to buy, but to take advice and make adjustments to the machine "Because when I have lost some more weight and got a little fitter I will be looking to treat myself to something realy nice." If you get my drift.

How tall are you? And how old? I guess male, but I may be wrong. A target of 240 lbs suggests you are well over 6 ft or have set an interim target.

All I can say is stick with the programme. Excercise regularly and sensibly within your abilities and watch the weight fall away.

There are some very good and knowlegeable folk on this list who will offer you very good support, but is a doctor monitoring your progress and watching your health? Always wise, especially given what you have to lose.

PS

I have just looked at some of you other posts - maybe I have it wrong and you are talking about a static excercise bike - in which case 14.5 miles per hour means nothing except that you are working harder that if the clock says 13.5 mph!

[Kent]

Re: When does it make a difference

One more suggestion, get your measurements. Only seeing your clothes get looser is rather unscientific to knowing how your body is changing. The exercise may in fact be working (losing inches), but the scale might not be showing it yet. One final thought, it was my experience that muscles retain water as they rebuild themselves. The water will eventually be flushed when the muscles don't need it anymore. Cycling (no pun intended) longer workout days with shorter rest days might also help the muscles rebuild themselves quicker.

[Brook]

Re: When does it make a difference

I'd suggest getting a heart rate moniter. This will help you work at a pace that's appropriate for you - not too strenuous. When you're first starting out it's tough to figure out where that's at. It's really easy to overdo it, and when you're out of shape to start with, it doesn't take much exertion to pop your heart rate way up there quick-like!

Forget how fast you're going. Forget how far you're going. You're going to want to shoot for TIME and staying within your TARGET HEART RATE. If you stay within your target heart rate, you'll find you are able to work out longer. Harder is not necessarily better, especially when first starting out. You need to work up to it and you may find that 12 mph on your bike is overdoing it for YOU. You might find that 5mph is the right pace for you to start out with and that's PERFECTLY FINE! The heart rate moniter will help you figure that out and let you work at your own healthy pace.

Kent is dead on about the measurements. You're likely to see a decrease in measurements before you'll see it reflected on your scale. Remember, your body will retain quite a bit of water when first introducing exercise into your routine. It's your body's way of protecting it from the goof who's putting it through all these new strains and stresses! You'll find after a bit that your body will figure out you're not going to give up on the exercise and it'll release the water. You'll adapt. Isn't it fabulous!?!

CONGRATS on taking care of you, BAM! I promise you, it's allllllllllllll worth it.