Exercise is NON Negotiable....

[eclectikat]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

This is a fantastic thread. Thanks Lisa for starting it.

Sue and Sunny... I know your words and tranpearancy will touch some of the many people lurking and inspire them to take that step towards health through Atkins.

At the beginning of this life change for me, getting exersize was absolutely daunting... all I knew was that getting my heart beating more beats per minute was my main goal. If even my a few beats. Walking to the car, putting on my winter boots, loading my woodstove was all it took... so they are the things I would do...
NOW... I concentrate on getting a good sweat on... being to a place where I am breathing heavy and feel a heat rush... cause now I know I am safe to do so...
I also want to feel muscles I am not used to feeling. That is all exersize....

DO what you can... and build on it as you can.

[MoreStylish]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

As for those that 'can't' exercise due to physical/ health conditions, there is always something you can do. I am not saying that everyone has to start jogging or power lifting, but you can do something that is more than what you were doing before. If you do gentle exercise sitting in a chair and you weren't doing that before, it's an improvement and will lead to more mobility.

I suffer from a disorder called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. It is something along the lines of MS and muscular dystrophy combined, with severe 24/7 pain, muscle wasting, movement disorders and spasms that jerk me off my feet. I had been in a wheelchair, then walked with a walker and at the time I started Atkins, I was walking very painfully with two quad canes. Then, they tried to fit me with the metal canes that clamp on the forearms like polio victims use and I rebelled. I decided that I was not only NOT going to advance to a more 'disabled' assistive walking device, I was going to get rid of all of them. I was told by my many specialists that I could not even do aquatic exercise. Hide and watch was my reaction!

When I started Atkins at nearly 300 pounds, I didn't exercise for the first couple of weeks, but then I started just doing gentle leg lifts in bed. Almost any stretching causes one of my seizure disorders (myclonus or dystonia) to kick in, where either my right leg/foot or right hand goes into a contracture spasm and locks into a claw position. I am stubborn, so if I planned on getting up and walking again without assistive devices, I had to find a way to move that did not exacerbate my condition(s).

I also had ongoing diverticulitis and eventually had to be in the hospital for over a month and have surgery to remove my entire sigmoid colon. I have severe deterioration of my cervical spine, bone spurs and spinal stenosis.

When I first started doing real exercise, I was lifting baby 2-lb. weights for 5 minutes while sitting in a chair. In that 5 minutes, I would be pouring sweat and in so much pain I would be crying. It took me a couple of months to go up to 3-lb. weights and to exercise for 20 minutes, some of it standing.

I was fortunate to find a fitness tape called "Gentle Fitness" by Catherine MacRae, a woman who suffers from MS. It uses the fundamentals of yoga and t'ai chi and is mostly done from a chair. Some was done on the floor, but that is one thing I can't do to this day, because I cannot get back up from the floor without help. I did that tape for over a month before attempting to walk outside with no canes and that was the hardest hour I ever got through. I would be pouring sweat just from that very gentle exercise from a sitting position, but I was getting stronger all the time and could walk around the house without my heart racing and my legs shaking. Although it was very gentle exercise, I was still burning a lot of fat and calories because, for me, it was vigorous exercise for my body to accomplish.

The first time I walked outside without my canes, it took me 45 minutes to walk one quarter mile and much of it I walked while sobbing it hurt so bad. I had to drag my bad leg, but I made it home. I was so proud, though, I walked it every other day from then on. This all started in September 2005 and by January 2006, I could walk two miles in about 45 minutes and only using my cane on the few steps I have to go down and not at all otherwise. I was lifting 5-lb. weights for 30 to 45 minutes and even made it to 8-lb. weights before I had surgery twice in 90 days (October 2007, February 2008 ). I am just now back up to 5-lb. weights, but I lift 2 to 3 times a week and I'm going for the 8 pounders in a few weeks.


For someone that had spent the better part of eight years bed-bound and house-bound, this was a victory brought about by diet AND exercise. I still have RSD, because there is no cure. I still have to go to UVA Medical Center several times a month and sometimes several times a week, but the doctors just shake their head at me and smile. I've had serious surgery three times since 2005, and each time I have been set back, but I get up and do it over again, starting over with 2-lb. weights and exercising in a chair.

There is not one of the medical conditions that I have (I didn't even list them all) that was not made better by exercise. I was not frightened off by Dr. Atkins' admonition that exercise was non-negotiable, I was challenged by it. I read the sentence, "...even the frailest person can start at a level appropriate for his or her condition.", and applied it to me.

I spent the better part of eight years bed-bound and house-bound, but now I've spent the better part of the last almost three years out enjoying life: walking without canes, tramping through the woods, tent camping by myself, back at church, singing in the choir, gardening and many other wonderful things--all thanks to God, the Atkins' Diet and exercise.

And Joee5, I hate to sweat, but I hate being 300 pounds and an invalid even more, so bring on the sweat!

Sunny!

You're truly amazing! You should write a book about your fight and determination!

[Lisa]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

I just stirred the pot a bit, you all provided the insight and ingredients to the awesome discussion .


Omygosh. I literally started tearing up just reading these testimoneis. I'm just so overwhelmed, overjoyed, oversomething--- (okay, it's TOM helping with the emotions part right now but...) your stories that you are sharing are so amazingly awesome.

You have wonderful testimonies to share with people who think that they CAN'T exercise or change something in their lives because it's just too dang difficult.

I'll tell you what's too difficult, reading these testimonies and trying not to be emotionally connected, touched, and changed.

Keep 'em coming!

We need to read these.

We need reminders that we can make changes in our lives and anything is possible.





Suesue friend, it's not only just Atkins, it's your fighting power! I'm amazed at your awesome determination.




I'm soooo going to be on that treadmill today and tell myself to quit the whinning.

[Lisa]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

NOW... I concentrate on getting a good sweat on... being to a place where I am breathing heavy and feel a heat rush... cause now I know I am safe to do so...
I also want to feel muscles I am not used to feeling. That is all exersize....

DO what you can... and build on it as you can.

And you're doing a great job doing it, too.... .

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! Such inspirations when I just feel like not working out because I'm lazy. Not because I can't do it. I can walk 3 miles on an incline and while I want to stop it's only because I'm lazy. I am already in my gym clothes this morning and I will definitely work out today. One of my main goals is to go hiking with my husband. About 2 years ago, his cousins from Baltimore came to visit us in Washington state. They were so excited to hike Mt Rainier and we brought them. However, as they all completed the hike, my blessed husband stayed behind with me so that I could take twice as long to make it up the mountain. One of his cousin's gf was not far in front of me though, and she is a skinny mini. I know that if I'm going to make it, it is going to be because I worked out during my weight loss. I know that it doesn't matter how much weight I lose if I don't work out I won't make it up that mountain. (literal and figurative) Here's to week 3 of Atkins and week 1 of working out WITH Atkins!!!! Happy Monday everyone Have a great day!

[Minofex1]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

Lisa, thanks for this awesome thread. I am definitely on the side of exercise being non-negotiable. There is not one successful diet or eating plan that does not recommend a reasonable exercise regimen. For those attempting to do Atkins without exercising, you are delaying the benefits of this WOL.

Exercising will prevent you from having too much excess skin, which can be unsightly. You can lose weight and not have to deal with excess skin. Exercising can do this. Another aspect to exercise involves the building of muscle promoting fat loss. This can lead to breaking up episodes of constipation, which can occur. You activity level can aide you in the weight loss process, if only you begin!

Being active and exercising can consist of simply raking the lawn, walking through your neighborhood or even taking the stairs. Please, please try to start exercising!! The sooner you start, the further along you will be. You can do it!

I exercise on a consistent basis including cardio and strength training. During induction, I was able to lose 15 lbs.; this helped to keep me motivated. Everyone should consider the benefits of exercising and know that you can start small to make it grow into an awesome advantage for your life.

Regards,
- Minofex1

[Tinytulip]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

You are so right. I am on day 2 of the induction and I am starting to have more energy. I like excercising it is just staying consistant. I will do it for one week then stop for 2 so now that I have decided to do atkins I want to do everything right this time. Thank you for pointing it out and giving me the kick in the but to start moving again. Have a super day.

Tina

I think I will start with ;o)

[jimmie 48]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

since we're talking about non negotiable exercise .....
ATKINSNATION Celebration Challenge

[Lisa]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

Thanks for adding your ingredients and insight to the pot! Sharing your personal experience to help someone else is priceless. Thank you!




Oh, that's an awesome challenge and very doable. I'm in! I may be dragging my fanny low to the ground that I'll need a wagon to haul over the speed bumps of life afterwards, but I'm in.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Exercise is NON Negotiable....

since we're talking about non negotiable exercise is..
ATKINSNATION Celebration Challenge

I am soooo in! I owe so much to Dear Dr. Atkins and ADBB, that I am willing to donate 100 minutes to help this ATKINSNATION guy out!

Sunny!