So Why Don't You Exercise?

[ttdriver]

I've seen alot of posts where people insist they can lose weight on Atkins without exercise .. and I won't debate that because I suppose its true ..

But really .. who would want to lose weight without toning up? Dr. Atkins said that exercise is non-negotiable, so is it accurate to say that if you're doing Atkins without exercise, that you're not doing it according to the book? I believe it is.

Exercise benefits the dieter in so many ways, the least of which is with weight loss. Consider for a moment:

Exercise reduces stress.
Exercise lowers cholesterol.
Exercise induces sleep.
Exercise helps concentration.
Exercise reduces body fat.
Exercise burns calories (DUH!)
Exercise lessens depression.
Exercise increases endurance.
Exercise increases sex drive (YAY!)
Exercise makes you look good naked! (see previous)

Okay, so how many of you are exercising?

Betty

[Sheshy]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

I am, I am!!

And it's the best thing you can do for yourself!

Over the last 6 weeks, I've lost only 3 pounds, but 7 inches...it's worth it and makes a huge difference in the appearance of your body!

Just do it!

[ttdriver]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

WOOHOO SHELLY!! THAT IS SO FANTASTIC!

Betty

[lawyerchick]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

I'm an exercise fanatic now, too!

But I'll admit that for the longest time, I didn't exercise because I told myself "I don't have time," and "I look okay without it."

But now I MAKE time, because I feel so much better when I exercise. That hour a day is about making me look and feel good and improving my health. It's more important to me than almost anything else that I could do with that hour.

[wiseblood]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

I'm starting soon.
Really.
I aam.
Why won't you believe me?!?!

[2big4mysize]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

Great topic Betty

to quote doctor Atkins from DANDR chapter 15 page 191
"It is often neglected and sometimes quietly scorned, but if you think you're doing the program and you are not exercising, you're not doing the program."

there is no room for any debate exercise is a part of Atkins. And as long as you are alive and not on bedrest orders from your doc you are not too heavy to exercise in some form.

[LC_Dave]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

I don't exercise (in an organised way) and have not since starting this WOL last July. The reason is my morbid obesity and the stress it was putting on my joints.

But my plan, now that I have lost enough weight to aleviate some of that stress, is to start a walking routine on the 16th of January. This is after my parents leave for a visit, and the begining of an ADBB Induction Boot Camp that I am going to do.

I still believe that morbidly obese people need to have less emphasis on exercise until they get to a more mobile weight.

I fully believe in Exercise as a requirement for this WOL and I can't wait to start. I know when I used to walk every day years ago that it gave me a motivational boost to the day. Also enorphins are great stuff!

Once I've lost even more weight, I plan on hitting the GYM and going a weights routine. I have done weight routines when I was younger and I liked the results.

[wiseblood]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

I'm with Dave on this one.I'm too fat to do it.I'll do it soon,though.
Weights are heavy,and walking makes my big toe hurt.
And you don't want to be around a 388 pound man whose big toe hurts.

[wannabethintoo]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

There is this woman at my gym who started coming in January of 2005 and she must have been 350 lbs. When she started she didn't do a lot...a little walking on the treadmill...well you should see her now! She's lost a lot of weight but she's still big and she can out-do me when it comes to exercise (and I'm no amateur).

[2big4mysize]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

there is no joint stress in water aerobics Dave calenetics and pilates neither. I was morbidly obese when I started (and so were most of the CC forum members)and I walked only 20 min starting out and very slow but I kept at it and got in better shape and added more. if you can walk to your car you can walk further and park further away each day just to start. Walk the aisles at the grocery store, get a pedometer and track your steps then add more in 100 step increments once you get to 10,000 a day you are doing it. We can all find reasons not to but there arer easy ways to add free exercise to our days and just do it.

[Rick]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

First of all, Betty, Congratulations on completing your half marathon! That's a great accomplishment!

I'm pretty new here, but started treadmilling from day one. When it warms up here in Missouri I'll plan on getting outside and pounding pavement. Day one on the treadmill was a chore. It took 20 minutes to do my first mile! Just a little over a week, it's improved to getting my first mile done in less than 15 minutes (I know, that sounds slow to a lot of you, but it's a lot better than I started out with!), and I'm sticking it out for a full hour each day now. I'm mixing jogging/walkin, and have a pulse monitor to keep my heartrate in the aerobic zone. I'm loving it!!!!

Best of luck to you in the full marathon!!!!

Rick

[pammie]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

Remember your exercise doesn't have to be "formal" exercise in the begining. If you really are that out of shape, morbidly obese, just out of surgery or for what ever reason cannot do formal exercise, you can still work on building up your stamina.
Like 2big said, start parking just a little farther away, add an extra 1 minute to your walk from the parking lot to work. When you go to the grocery store take an extra turn around the store.
If you cannot walk, you can sit, right? Sit on your couch and do some leg lifts, grab a pair of dumbells and work your arms a few minutes a day.
Anything extra you do, anything that is not in your normal day will help you to build your stamina and help you get healthier.
Then, when you are able to do so, get your butt exercising!

[allierw26]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

Walking, even just marching in place at home, is a great low impact work out. It's terribly ironic that swimming is probably one of the best for morbidly obese people, yet that involves said people having the courage to wear a bathing suit in public (if you're not fortunate enough to have your own pool). That's why I don't swim. That being said, I really need to up my exercise. My schedule has opened greatly, though, so I plan on starting tomorrow, 3 times a week for an hour. I know it is genuinely the key to successful, long term weight loss.

[Analog6]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

I think Dave and Wiseblood are right to be cautious. Just for interest, I did your BMIs on my Excel spreadsheet (I have the fomula entered in it) and it come up with 61.2m for Dave and 54.3 for Wiseblood. (I had to do it in the Excel spreadsheet because the ones online would not accept a weight that high! Not much use, is it!) By comparison, mine was 'only' 44.3 when I started and people told me I was too fat to exercise! And Dave, you have dropped it impressively - it's now 50.35!
Softly, softly, catchee monkey, as the saying goes. Start exercising when you feel ready, guys. You could try chair exercises that are designed for the frail and wobbly elderly (no, I'm not trying to insult anyone). They are desigend to get a bit of aerobic activity going on for those who can't run and jump with the rest of us. I'm not sure where you'll find details, but I know they do suf like arm exercises and leg lifts while concentrating on good posture and breathing.

[sombersusie]

Re: So Why Don't You Exercise?

this probably sounds corny but a few years ago i did oxycising, which basically you can do just sitting in a chair or driving. It's basically deep breathing and some flexing of muscles, lol. But it would be a gentle way to start and it's always good to breathe, you know, once in awhile .