How much is enough???

[Ceci]

I started Atkins on 4-18-05 and in the beginning my weight was just falling off. I wasn't exercising or anything...lost 20 lbs. Now, I am dropping very slow. I know I need to exercise, is walking 3 days for 20-30 mins. ok. I have not been very active so maybe this was a good starting point for me.

Help!!!

[spirittalker]

Start out slow but make sure that you ae not going too slow. Maybe start with 30 minutes 3 times a week but as you go on push your distance. Maybe the first couple weeks you go 1 mile in your 30 minutes, then ramp it up for the next few weeks to 1 mile and a half. Then may be after that try to go for 45 minutes. See what I mean? Check out the exercise forum and the excercise challenges, they can help you get started to your new active lifestyle.

[iwillbethin]

Yes exercising helps! Sounds like you got a plan. I average around 2 - 3lbs every other week and I run/walk 2 - 3 miles a day M-F.

[Ceci]

TKS

Thanks...that info. will help me!

:wave

[Richard6310]

That is a good start. I struggle with exercise myself, so i know where you are coming from. You may try to purchase some type of exercise video or dvd. Most are reasonably priced. And that will up your cardio level. For me, i just have trouble pushing myself to walk fast. When i have tryed to make myself walk fast, it makes me like to walk even less, and I wind up stop walking.

[spirittalker]

Whenever I start slowing down walking(below my Target Heart rate) I ask myself, Could I be walking any faster? The answer is always yes. One other thing I would like to bring up. You need to find something you enjoy doing. If it's not walking so be it, maybe it's tae bo or roller blading or swimming or running. It could be dancing(one of my faves) or soccer. The most important thing IMO is that you enjoy doing it so that it becomes something you look forward to. Exercise is an important part of life not just Atkins and it is something you will need to continue when you get to goal, so forcing something that just isn't working for you will not do you any good long term.

[Peytonn]

back when I WAS a runner, I learned a few things that kept me going...

skip a day.. only do it every other day... you can do weights or stretching or some other exercise between the walking/running days..

at first... you might do something like walk 3 minutes fast... 3 minutes slow... for a total of whatever you choose.. I began with 30 minutes..

sometimes I wouldn't time at all.. but I'd go for a particular distance (we live in a rural area, so I'd walk a dirt country road to a certain tree.. or barn.. or creek).....

doesn't matter how fast you walk... it burns the same calories getting there and back whether you run or walk... so no pressure....

stop and look at stuff... who says you can't? if there's a flower.. or a cool rock.. a turtle.. whatever...

enjoy your time out...