How did it start..

[2chinsnomore]

Your exercise routine and where is it today???

[loonatika]

My first day involved going to a tiny gym in this tiny town and doing a workout I had gotten figured out for me. After the weight training session I felt ok, but a bit tired. The next day I got out of bed and pretty much collapsed as EVERYTHING was sore. What didn't hurt, didn't work

Took a week to recover from that, and still managed to do another two workouts.

Now, I've added in cardio as well, and run 6x a week doing HIIT (run 2 mins, walk 1 for 30 mins) as well as doing weight training 3x a week. Still get sore some days but luckily nothing like that first day. Also have a job that is physical and do that 3 hours a day too.

[Richt]

My first day at my local gym.

I struggled to run 800 metres
Did 20 minutes on the stationary bike
Rowed 1000 metres.

After 35 minutes I was totally shattered and had to leave.

A year later -

I can spend anything up to 2.5 hours in the gym. My biggest achievement came in January this year when I ran 8k on the treadmill.

Rich

[ttdriver]

I think most everyone knows my story, but simply put, the day I started Atkins (January 19, 2002), I started walking a mile or two a day EVERYDAY, along with doing calisthenics and weights at home. I've never joined a gym ... I guess for me it was easier to just do my routine at home rather than get dressed and go somewhere to do it. Fortunately I live in FL where the weather cooperates most of the time for outside walking.

Anyway, I kept up my walking, gradually increasing the mileage and the pace until I could do my route in under 20 minutes. Then, on November 1, 2003, I decided to see if I could jog part of the way. Yeah, right... :yikes I think the first time, I ran about 20 seconds before gasping for air....so I'd go back to walking and alternating running a little. Kept that up for several months and finally was able to run the whole route (albeit SLOWLY!)

Didn't take long for me to become addicted to the great feelings I got from running. I went out and invested in a heart rate monitor and started keeping track of my distance and miles.

Long story short -- fast forward to today, April 15, 2005 .. I am STILL running, 4 days a week, 8 miles a day and am working towards my ultimate goal, running in the Disneyworld Half Marathon next January, a month after I turn 50!!!

YES, IT CAN BE DONE, EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE TOO OLD!!

My exercise idol is Jack LaLanne, who just recently turned 90 years of age. He looks great because he believes in serious exercise. He once said 'the human body does not deteriorate from over use, it deteriorates from lack of it.' That's sorta my mantra now. I feel strong, youthful and energetic .. all because of Dr. Atkins and Jack LaLanne!!

Betty

[Moochiecat]

Over the last year I'd sporadically go for walks, or get a ride to work and walk home, but nothing with any dedication...shame on me :no

Over Christmas a friend challenged me that if I would exercise 3 times a week that she'd take me with her to Disneyland in 2006, so I took her up on her challenge. Turns out that it was exactly what I needed to get my butt off the couch and out the door!

On Jan 31st, I took my first 30 minute brisk walk. I walked 15 minutes in one direction then turned around and came back. I did this at least 3 times a week, sometimes more. I'd walk brisk enough that I could feel stress in my lungs and break into a little sweat. It felt good and I'd praise myself all the way there and back to keep myself fired up and motivated.

Starting on March 1st I started to alternate brisk walk with slow jog. I couldn't go very far at all before I was gasping. I walked more than I ran, and I felt like a lumbering hippo. I just kept at it though, and got over my self-consciousness as I found my pace, and learned to breathe better as I ran.
On March 28th I ran my whole route (3k) without stopping!! :joy
I've extended my route slightly and my goal is to do at least a 5k within the next few months.

I'm wanting to get into swimming at some point as well.

If my friend changes her mind and we never see Disneyland it won't matter to me...I'll forever be grateful to her for giving me that push I needed to get moving again.

[Jake]

Well mine started about 6-7 years ago, but than it stopped. I used to box and I studied krav maga so I was in decent shape, played alot of sports. Than while in high school I started to lift and played a little football but that didn't last long I started to put on weight and pretty fast. Finally found something that worked for me (Atkins of course) and the weight was flying off after a couple of weeks I knew i'd stick with it so I started with cardio to help the weight loss along.

I was running 4-5 miles a day, riding a stationary bike, got back into boxing. Than as my weight loss continued I got into bodybuilding and started lifting heavy again, dragged out my old equipment and than in a few weeks decided to invest in some new stuff. That was my plan, however I ended up with a small scale gym that takes up my entire basement and cost me a few years worth of gym memberships but it was worth it. Still doing cardio however only 2-3 times a week as I am currently in a bulking cycle for my weight training.

[ttdriver]

Does anyone else notice a common thread in all these posts??

What is that, you ask??

PERSISTENCE.

People who achieve lifetime success on Atkins or any other weight loss plan PERSIST with regular exercise. Yes, you can lose weight on any plan, but keeping it off only comes through hard working exercise.

The bottom line is, the effort you put forth determines the success you will have.

GREAT JOB EVERYONE!

Betty

[2big4mysize]

as a super heavy weight mine starteed slow with 20 min walking at 2M{H and worked up to walking longer and faster.


I added barbells after I got in better shape and worked them up to larger amounts. Now I do the BFL program 3 times a week lifting and I go so fast on the treadmill the proform treadmills at the gym say I;m running even thouth I'm walking.

You will be amazed at how fast you improve.

HAppy low carbing.