I guess exercise does matter!

[atcgirl42]

I'm coming up on my 6 month anniversary of low carbing. I originally started at 194 and lost down to 168 before joining this site. When making up my profile I just picked the weight 145 as my goal, not really sure what my exact goal number should be. I quickly got down to 150ish and have been maintaining there for the past 5 months. I'm happy with 150 and considered myself at goal. By the way, I'm 5'10" and can wear a size 8 at 150.

I have not been trying to lose weight and have not cut calories at all. I eat whatever I want as long as it's on the low carb side. I have incorporated fruit into my diet and low carb tortillas and occasionally peanut butter. The only thing that has changed in the last couple of weeks is that I've started exercising. Nothing crazy, and not every day. But I'm trying to get in about 4 days a week of something. Yoga, treadmill, exercise video, etc. About a week ago I decided to step on the scale and see where I was at. It read 148. A few days later it was 146.6 and today 146 even. Like I said, I'm not even trying to lose weight! Very interesting.

Do the rest of you maintainers exercise with some regularity?

[BellaHMB]

I exercise 5-6 days a week! Lately I have been rethinking my routine though as I have been quite tired....So I am considering 3 days on, 1 off, 2 days on, 1 off instead of 5-6 days on, 1 off etc. I feel that I might be exercising so much so as to make sure I dont gain.

Bella

[inatic]

Originally Posted by BellaHMB

I exercise 5-6 days a week! Lately I have been rethinking my routine though as I have been quite tired....So I am considering 3 days on, 1 off, 2 days on, 1 off instead of 5-6 days on, 1 off etc. I feel that I might be exercising so much so as to make sure I dont gain.

Bella

you dont need to wt train more than 3-4 days a week.. some cardio or hiit/intervals on a leg day and REST More is not better and just leads to burn out and over training.

make sure you eating enough and take some diet breaks.

[BellaHMB]

Oh yes, I weight train 2 times per week, its the cardio I do 5-6 days.

Bella

[Prairieprof]

I also exercise 5-6 days a week (aerobics, weights and weekly work with a trainer at one gym, plus Curves about twice a week still). And, like Bella, have realized I might be overdoing it a bit some weeks. I also have a bad knee and it feels better when it gets some rest.

One thing I'm struggling with a bit lately (not struggling in a bad sense, just realizing I can't figure out) is what exactly my goal is with exercise right now. Maintaining my weight, of course, but I feel like I want something to strive for, a goal that is "ahead" rather than present. Because of my knee, which I'm finding really frustrating lately, I feel like I can't aspire to become any kind of middle-aged athlete; other than that, even if I can improve my overall fitness a few notches yet, what exactly will I gain by that? I'm at the point where my body fat is about as low as it can healthily be, and unless my bones suddenly shrink my body is not likely to alter much more in appearance.

(Sorry for the thread-jack!)

[dae_tona]

Prairieprof, have you considered Glucosomine Chrondritin for your knee? Just a thought.

To me, exercise & eating right are good, vicious cycles. You exercise-you feel good-so you want to eat right-you eat right-you feel good-so you want to exercise. A good, vicious cycle.

I exercise 5-6 days a week-now that I found Exercise on Demand. I do the Walk N Tone 4-5x a week & weight train 3x a week.

I also do leisurely walking when it's nice outside.

Dyan

[Ailuros]

I don't find exercise makes a big difference to my weight, but it helps my mood and energy. I also notice that I'm less supple if I've not been exercising regularly. I want to keep strength and mobility as I get older, and maintain bone strength as much as I can. I like feeling firm muscle just under my skin, too. Exercise doesn't ever seem to make my muscles bigger, or even increase my LBM, but it definitely makes my body feel firmer.

[BellaHMB]

I think exercise is essential to keeping healthy and weight off. In times past when I stopped my gym membership and walked outside only I gained. I couldn't keep eating the same and exercise less!

Bella

[inatic]

Originally Posted by Ailuros

I don't find exercise makes a big difference to my weight, but it helps my mood and energy. I also notice that I'm less supple if I've not been exercising regularly. I want to keep strength and mobility as I get older, and maintain bone strength as much as I can. I like feeling firm muscle just under my skin, too. Exercise doesn't ever seem to make my muscles bigger, or even increase my LBM, but it definitely makes my body feel firmer.

You dont need to exercise to lose wt but it sure helps with body recomposition!

if you are dieting, you really cant expect to grow much if any muscle. It wil maintain your current muscle. newbies do have some growth tho. Perhaps your training isnt very effective.

[Ailuros]

I suppose it might not seem very effective, but I'm quite happy with my body composition (good grief, did I really say that ), and what I'm doing helps me get firmer, better defined muscles, improved strength and mobility and better energy and mood. I'm just pleased that I can achieve the goals that are important to me with a level and type of exercise that suits me.

[JuliaL]

I exercise 6 days a week, and I also think it's essential to keeping the weight off. For me there is no choice - I feel and look so much better when I exercise, no matter how much I weigh, that I know I can never stop exercising.

[atcgirl42]

Well funny I should have started a thread about exercising. I've been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my neck that was probably exacerbated by the yoga I was doing. I have to take a break from exercising until I can get my pain under control. I hate not being able to exercise. It was making me feel so good.

[LaurieRobo]

I agree with Julia, I exercise 6 days a week... for health, mental and for the improvements I have seen in my body. Honestly and fighting age every step of the way .

While I DON'T like the current number on the scale I have increased my lean body mass from 114 lbs to 125.5 lbs since last August and reduced my body fat along with increase my VO2 max and strength.

Also my eating falls into place better since I am working hard I am fueling my body well... Keeps me on track!

[GApeach23]

Someone ought to tell that awesome Bill Phillips of "Body For Life" that he doesn't need to exercise 6 days a week.

When I was following the BFL plan I looked better than I had in a long time.

Most of the time I guess I don't do enough exercise to see a drastic difference (although since starting at Curves I see a difference again) body wise but I would whole heartily agree it helps my mood if nothing else.

[GApeach23]

Originally Posted by JuliaL

I exercise 6 days a week, and I also think it's essential to keeping the weight off. For me there is no choice - I feel and look so much better when I exercise, no matter how much I weigh, that I know I can never stop exercising.

Julia, you look great............I've always admired your stick-to-it-ness!!!!

Can you loan me some.......

[KajunDC]

I've met or talked to very few long-term maintainers who do not exercise. You can lose without exercise but keeping it off long-term is damn near impossible for most without exercise.

I weight train 3 days a week and do cardio-vascular training (other than the wts - wt training is great cardioexercise in and of itself) 3-4 days a week.

[JuliaL]

Originally Posted by GApeach23

Julia, you look great............I've always admired your stick-to-it-ness!!!!

Can you loan me some.......

Thanks Karen!

I agree with Cajun - maintenance requires exercise, and after all; what good is weight loss without maintenance?

[hummingbird11]

Yeah, exercise does matter! Don't forget that strength training builds muscle and muscle burns calories, even at rest!

I have recently started incorporating HIIT into my cardo and it makes a difference!

Julia, I would love to talk with you about your Atkins/BFFM WOE as it is something that I'm beginning to consider. I'm not sure that I fully understand the diff btwn BFFM and the Anabolic Diet. But I like the idea of carb cycling, for many reasons.

If you have time, what is the best way? I don't want to get OT or high jack this exercise thread. Do you keep a Journal or anything? Or you can PM me. Thanks!

HB

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by atcgirl42

Well funny I should have started a thread about exercising. I've been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my neck that was probably exacerbated by the yoga I was doing. I have to take a break from exercising until I can get my pain under control. I hate not being able to exercise. It was making me feel so good.

Hey ATCgirl42 - so sorry to hear about your degenerative disc disease! That stinks. What is the treatment? PT? Surgery? Hope you're on the mend and back to your exercising SOON!

XO,
HB