Where do I work in the exercise?

[yankee]

I learn more about the Atkins diet - and myself - every time I come here to read. I've only just finished induction but am going to pretend I never did it and start over - too many mistakes despite losing 8 pounds. I will re-read my book and recover from the mistakes but I can't for the life of me figure out how to include exercise and really would appreciate suggestions.

Current routine is: Up by 3am and out the door five days a week by 3:45am to take child #1 to swim practice. I can walk while she's there but it's slow going with a cane (nerve damage that will not get better) and never meets the "aerobic" requirements of real exercise. We go from there to pick up child #2 and head off to school/work. I walk quite a bit at work - adds up to between 2 and 3 miles/day - but it's the same thing, not fast enough. I'm out of work by 4:30pm and begin the pick-up-the kids-get-dinner-started part of the day. With the bare minimum of household chores, checking of homework, etc added in it's usually 8pm and I'm looking at trying to get into bed, not the gym, in preparation for another 3am wake-up call. Weekends are used up in errands, big chores, and if we're really lucky, family down-time. Does any of this count as exercise??????

I'm off to change my ticker from being 8 pounds closer to my first goal to starting over.......

[Moochiecat]

(I moved this from the sticky it was originally posted in because it'll be more helpful to address this on it's own)

As long as you are moving your body as much as you are able during the day, then you're doing well, especially if you are limited physically.

What about the swimming? Are you able to swim while your child is in swimming lessons? That can be a really great aerobic low-impact workout. Are you able to see a physiotherapist, or even your doctor or someone at a gym can suggest something for you as well.

But keep doing what you are doing...as long as you are doing something, that's excellent! :joy

[Isabeau]

I agree with Moochie. Do what you can. The important thing is to get your body moving. Walking is great exercise. Have you considered something like pilates or a stabilization ball workout? Both are wonderful for core strength and there are lots of great videos you can get so that you can do it at home. I'm a huge fan of working out with the ball. Your body gets lots of support.

[not2late]

There's a walking program called 5,000 steps. Basically your final goal is to walk 5,000 steps over the course of an entire day (5, 000 steps is about 5 miles). So, you're half way there.

You can also try a hand at strength training and yoga. Yoga will help you with your coordination, balance, flexibility and muscle strength---no you won't get twisted into a pretzel.

But the important thing is to get your body moving. Every movement counts imo. In the book, Dr. Atkins has a list of 150 calorie exercises that you might want to look through.

[sidrah]

Sounds like some kind of tape you can pop in at night for 15-20 minutes would help you, also, MAybe even a stretchign tape or yoga, pilates kind of thing. It will definitely get you stretched out and ready for bed and if yiou do 20 minutes at night, I think you will see results. MAybe save a bigger, longer workout for the weekends adn that can be your schedule since you are so busy during the day.



You are a good mom waking up to drive at 330. Wow....I think if you plan well, like it seems you are (way more organized and set to a schedule than I could ever be) you will do very well.

[yankee]

I wish I could swim while my daughter does but it's a highly competitive team and they rent the lanes - team members only. Since the pool doesn't open to the public till 6am, when the team is getting out of the water, I can't get in.

I'll have another look at all the pilates and yoga videos next time I go to Target. If it says "beginner" I'll give it a try!

Thanks all for the help!

[spazzyhilo]

You could also try the Walk Away the Pounds tapes. I've personally never seen them, but there are people here who swear by them

[Effie]

Buy a pedometer. They're only like $4, and IMO it's a better investment than the years of gym membership dues I've paid. Someone else said something about 5,000 steps a day. I think they say the recommended goal for a healthy lifestyle is 10,000 steps with 12,500-15,000 being recommended for "sustained weight loss".

My big revelation about exercise, which shouldn't be a revelation, is that if we all lived life normally we should naturally be getting exercise in, as it appears you are doing. It doesn't make sense to have drive-through everythings, and families sitting in front of TVs for 3-4 hours a night, only to try to squeeze in 30-60 minutes at the gym walking in place.

So, if you buy a pedometer, you might find that you're already walking 10,000+ steps and that might make you feel better that you are, in fact, already exercising. (Just as a point of reference, in a "normal" day for me, going to the office, hanging out at home after work, I only get in about 2,000 steps. When I went on vacation to Las Vegas and we were walking up and down the strip, I was walking 22,000 steps. It made me realize just how sedentary I was in my everyday life.)