Exercise

[Britmum]

Yes the dreaded exercise. How much, what kind and how often? What are your favourites? Do you often set goals per month to reach? ie, number of minutes walked per month.
Do you see much better results with exercise. I know some people just hate to do it. I like to. I just would like to hear what other people do, and what has been the most effective to see change.
Gina

[LowCarbRachel]

I try and be active, at least 20 minutes a day. I work a sedentary job, where I sit and write all day, and it's important for me to get moving. On days when it's nice, I will go outside and walk for 45 minutes or more with my daughter, but when it's chilly, we'll go and walk at the mall or we'll put on music and dance around the living room for 20 minutes.

[JillianDC]

Gina: Exercise is a key component to improving your health, as well as losing weight. And yes, it makes a big difference for most people. I did it sporadically over the years, but I've become a die hard exerciser since January. I don't always like it, but I do it. I belong to a gym and mix up my workouts. I started gradually and this month, I'm doing at least an hour, 5-6 days days a week.

For cardio, I mostly do the elliptical because it burns the most calories. I can't run because I have foot problems, so I fast-walk on the treadmill and ride the stationary bike. To build strength, I use resistance machines that work various parts of the body and light hand weights (5-7 lbs) for my upper body. I do the strength training every other day to give my muscles a chance to rest in between, but I do cardio every time. I also do some floor exercises (leg lifts, crunches, etc.) and lift light weights at home between gym visits -- not much, but occasionally. I know it sounds like a lot, but I don't want to get thin and have flabby, saggy skin if I can avoid it.

The point is to develop an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle, but be sure to do something you can stick with most every day (walking, running, swimming, biking, an exercise tape, a class, whatever you like). The SB-exercise combo has done more than taken off pounds, but also inches and given me much-improved tone/firmness and lowered my cholesterol, blood pressure amd cholesterol. It's awesome!

[Sun_Luvin]

I for one am horrible about exercise of any kind. I recently purchased my husband a Bowflex for his birthday. Well, I've actually been able to use that more than my treadmill that's sitting in the same room, gathering dust. I guess I feel like if I'm going to spend that much money on a piece of equipment, I better get off my butt and use it. I've only skipped 2 or 3 of my "pattern" days since we got it 3 weeks ago. I have noticed my body shape changing more than my weight. I attribute that to building muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, I guess I wouldn't expect to see the scales move as much as the tape measure.

[jlv32]

In MY opinion, as a gym rat and as someone working in the cardiology field, I think we should consider that people who are significantly overweight are already at risk for a myriad of health problems. I think it is unwise to start any exercise program without talking to a physician/trainer who can recommend what is best for your body and health level. I know that probably sounds like fluff, but I think it is fluff that shouldn't be ignored. If someone pushes themselves too hard working out, and they get short of breath or feel pain, they may just stop the exercise plan completely out of discomfort and discouragement. There could always be an alternate exercise or level of exercise that is more appropriate and not to mention, safer. I perform cardiac stress testing on patients at my job. I can't tell you how many times that we ask patients if they exercise regularly, and the answer is all too often, "No, it makes me too short of breath," or "No, my legs get too weak to walk very far." The answer? Ask your doctor for recommendations on exercising. He/she will know your medical history, what exercise you should/should not do, as well as evaluate any symptoms for more serious causes.

Off my soap box now...haha...

I exercise 4 days per week at the local gym. My schedule is pretty much like this:

Monday/Wednesday: All Cardio - 45 minutes at 3.5 mph on treadmill at incline of 12-15% and 15 minutes on StairMaster.

Thursday or Friday/Saturday or Sunday: Weight training on 10 machines (arms, back, legs, and booty), 20 minutes of treadmill cardio as above, 10 minutes of StairMaster.

I used to do all the weights and all the cardio 4 times per week, everytime I went. I've always enjoyed walking and weights, but I used to eat so poorly that the exercise didn't make much of a difference. I had to shorten the workout in the long run due to time constraints.

When I started the SBD, and continued my regular workout as above, the weight melted off. I am one of those people who needs the combination of exercise and healthy eating to lose. However, I know people who have lost significant amounts of weight on the SBD without exercise. I like the way I feel when I exercise. It's like a sense of self empowerment. Plus, I had a significant amount to lose (110#) and the exercise helped me feel leaner overall.

You know that old saying: A diet will make you look better in your clothes. Exercise will make you look better out of them! I think that is very true for me!

[goodcelt]

I joined a gym on April 3. I had a health scare earlier this year and didn't know what I really could do for exercise...didn't want to not do it but wasn't sure what I'd really like and stick to, especially with the hot weather coming. So, I soaked off my silk nails and decided that I would use that every-three-week payment to put towards my exercise.

The gym is for women only. They have weights, cardio and classes. So, I (so far) use the treadmill 4 days a week, belly dance on Thurs, and use the weight machines on Monday, Weds, and Fri. Tomorrow, I am going to use the bicycle for the first time, for a change. I look forward to it now, even though sometimes, I think, oh, man, do I have to do ___ more minutes?

I invested in a good pair of shoes, which were on sale to boot, and a really nice little tote. I just got it. I had been using an old one but this one was really cool -- no big gym bag, yet, 4 pockets on the outside for my shoes and shower shoes; outside pocket for toiletries.

I hope I see results in at least two months. My doctor will be glad to know that I started moving it, too!

[Neesie 2x]

Hi, I try and get in as much of my exercise as I can at work. I go up and down the 3 flights of stairs to the floor I work on 4 x a day. I also do 2 laps of the floor 3-4 x a day. The laps I'm going to have to change because they're reworking the layout and have blocked off half the floor.
There's a gym here at work that is free and I have gone down a few times but for some reason I can't really get into it. I live almost an hour from work and to spend even more time here every day just doesn't appeal to me. Plus they've been screwing with my schedule lately so trying to get into a routine isn't working either at least for the next few weeks.
I do try to work out at home. I have Tivo so I record workout shows like Denise Austin and Namaste yoga and do those. I'm not really religious about it tho - which is my latest goal. I really want to get rid of these abs!
Good luck!
Neesie

[Britmum]

I walk 3 miles every morning with a girlfriend at 6am. We just meet outside my frount door and go. Well, weather permitting. Anything below 28 forget it. Spring weather here is so irratic. We had 3inches of snow on saturday, then yesterday it was 72! So consistancy is not great. I'm trying to get back into step a couple of times a week too. Just to get some double duty in. I just need more weights!

Abs would be great. I have a giant muffin top that flops over all my summer pants. My goal this year would be to wear shorts and not have them ride up my crotch. There is nothing worse than walking around and having to yank them out every ten steps. I now call refer to shorts as crotch riders.

Anyhoo, good luck everyone. Enjoy your day at the beach.
Gina

[JoLi]

When I started back in April, I joined Curves and went 3 times a week always. I then walked with my neighbor getting up to 4 or 5 miles 5 or 6 days a week (we worked up to that many miles we started with 30 minutes quick walking then got up to an hour). The weight and inches was coming off pretty good. By November I was tiring of Curves and didn't feel like I was doing much good there no matter how hard I "worked" it. I joined a gym here that only has exercise equipment and free weights. It got cooler so I would do the elliptical machine 3 days a week (4 miles). I also began a weight lifting routine 3 days a week (the off days of just doing the elliptical). The days I lift weights I do the elliptical 10 minutes to warm up, then my weights and then 20 more minutes of the elliptical. I work most of my muscle groups each time, I just do different ways of working on them each day (different equipment). I also several different "core" exercises.
In November I had been at a standstill on my weight loss, lost 12 more since then and have 6 more to go. My body shape is changing I can tell that, the capri pants I bought last month are already starting to sag on me a bit.
Do what you feel comfortable doing, but don't be afraid to push yourself when the going is easy.

[goodcelt]

Well, I did the bike yesterday for 10 minutes. Then, I jumped onto the elliptical for 5 minutes (that was enough, believe me!). Then, I did the treadmill for 15 minutes. I sweated like a pig. I also noticed that my shins weren't hurting. After that, I moved on to my weights. I changed the plates on certain things (don't ask me to name them -- I'm too new to remember ). On some things, it was getting a little easier but on others, it was the same. I guess it's good to vary your routine from time to time so ya don't get burned out. We'll see. I have a busy week coming up and just thinking about the regular stuff, plus, this new part of my life (exercise), I get tired just thinking of it. But when I went to dinner with friends last night, I felt really good because I knew I had worked out and I also ate well.

I do have a question for you guys: how long is it, usually, before you start to see changes? Also, please keep in mind that I'm 53 -- I don't look it, but I am I (and I don't feel like it mentally, either). Thank you.