exercise ?

[lovelymc72]

I recently purchased a treadmill, because with the price of gas, I just can afford to travel to the gym as much as i would like to. I am not a heavy exerciser, but would like to be more active. how much time do you need to devote to walking to really see a weight difference. I know you cant rely on just the walking, but what else can i do. I hear people say,do at least 1/2 hour everyday, but is that really supposed to make a difference in my appearance or just my overall health?

[Sleepy]

i just bought a new treadmill too
i do at least 20-30 minutes a day
but really try to do 30 if i have the time
5 days a week
and saturdays i go as long as i can 30 + minutes
im really not seeing a weight loss but i can definately tell my body has changed
ive taken my measurements and ive gotten smaller and people are noticing also
and i feel fantastic, more energetic. i do it early in the morning to start my day off.
next week im going to increase my time, speed and intensity

id also like to know how much time you should walk to really see a weight difference since i havent seen any and ive been doing it for over 2 months and increased my cals & fats

[ginabw]

When I was in the losing phase, I did jog on my treadmill (5 miles a day, 5 days a week, no incline), but for the last 2 years I have only walked on my treadmill (4 miles a day, 5 days a week, no incline, takes an hour), and I regularly do a little weightlifting for arms and legs, and I have maintained. I think you can lose by walking only, you just have to walk briskly enough to get your heart rate up.

[nadi namaki]

I go on my treamillel everyday for 2.5 miles. I like how i feel when i am done and change. I dont think it has really helped me so far with the weight but it does make me feel good. Just do it as much as u can...

[Houston Heather]

It has to feel like work, but not like you're going to die.

I began running, both times, when I weighed over 200 pounds. I would run as long as I could (maybe 15 seconds) and walk until I got my breath back. Then I'd run again. You can see the before and after photos. I also did some weights.

It's a lot more exercise to run a little bit at 200 plus than it is to run a lot at 120 pounds! I've seen great results with 20 minute runs 2-3 times a week. I also have a very active job, an exercise bike I use at least 1-2 times a week, and I hit the weights at home at least 2 times a week (for about 30-45 minutes each).

I run outside. I have been gawked at and laughed at but I like to think I'm out there setting a good example.

I'm not losing "weight" very fast but my legs have got DH panting like a dog now. I have a lot more energy and endurance, too. I have a mood disorder (bipolar) so it helps keep me level. I see exercise as my fourth medication.

I'm doing this all on less than 20 net carbs a day - straight Atkins Induction, while taking 3 medications that cause weight gain.

[Bug]

I'm not a runner - strictly a walker.

My treadmill has different levels of programs. I try to do random hills 4-5 days a week anywhere between 1-2.5 miles at a time. I've been doing this strong since August 2007.

I absolutely LOVE what it has done to my legs, waist, back area, and tummy.

[Sleepy]

are we not losing weight cuz we are gaining muscle and muscle holds water?
id think after 2 + months i would have lost a bunch of pounds along with low carbing

[WildflowerMama]

You can do hills or intervals. Walk for 5 minutes and then alternating running hard for 30 seconds, walking for a minute, run hard 30 seconds, walk for a minute. You can do any variety of this - run 15 seconds, walk a minute etc... The key is to shake things up. Don't let your body get too comfortable.

Your body will quickly adapt to just walking and you'll become so efficient at it, your body won't really have to work. Shake things up. Do the hill profile or do hill interval training - walk at 2% incline for a minute, up it to 15% for a minute - repeat.

The key is doing it regularly and shaking things up by changing up your workout with intervals.

[Houston Heather]

If you don't have a lot of muscle to begin with, then the muscle growth with mask your fat loss. You may not lose many "Pounds" but you are losing inches.

That was my case. I was very frustrated until I started measuring everything. Now I'm 1/3 of the way to goal.

[Califrog]

For health, it's recommended 30 minutes of exercise every day.

I walk for an hour each day, either on the treadmill or out in real life. I'll be adding in some other stuff after June 30, but that's what I'm doing for now.

[suzanneyea]

I do 30 minutes of cardio a day, but I jog or stairmaster, enough to sweat, but I can still hold a conversation. I also do 30 minutes are strength training. In fact, I will post this message and go to the gym right now.

[KevetS]

I'd suggest a couple of things:

A TV with a TiVo in front of the treadmill. You can skip through commercials and two 30 minute shows end up being about 45 minutes of walking.

I'd also suggest a heart rate monitor. For me, I have to walk really fast and at a pretty good incline in order to get my heart rate up where it should be.

If you do 30-60 minutes 4 or more times a week and keep your heart rate in a good target zone, you'll get great results.

[ardawn]

Another suggestion is to watch tv from your pc.I am not a big tv watcher,but I LOVE doing this! I position my laptop on a shelf at eye level in front of my treadmill and watch Grey's Anatomy,ER,Desperate Housewives,and others. A one hour prime time show usually lasts a little more than 45 minutes.

[Shimmer]

Originally Posted by lovelymc72

I recently purchased a treadmill, because with the price of gas, I just can afford to travel to the gym as much as i would like to. I am not a heavy exerciser, but would like to be more active. how much time do you need to devote to walking to really see a weight difference. I know you cant rely on just the walking, but what else can i do. I hear people say,do at least 1/2 hour everyday, but is that really supposed to make a difference in my appearance or just my overall health?

I do the 20 minute cardio à la BFL--increasing & decreasing speeds a minute at a time. The time goes fast since I'm concentrating on the countdown. I'm a walker, not a runner due to knee issues (arthritis) plus I have short legs so the highest speed I can work up to without running is 4 mph. I do work up a pretty good sweat and my heart rate is up there so this is working for me. Another treadmill workout I do to add variety: I start on an incline of 10% (3 mph) and lower it by .5% each minute--this takes 20 minutes to get to 0% (I increase speed the lower I go)...then I walk a couple minutes at around 3.5 then lower the speed for the cool-down. If I know I'm only going to spend 20 minutes or so, I'm more apt to do it...if I was looking at an hour, I'd probably find an excuse to skip cardio. I've read that the minimum for cardio is 20 minutes so I've got that covered.

[Kissmygrits]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I run outside. I have been gawked at and laughed at but I like to think I'm out there setting a good example.

I LOVE that! What a great attitude...