I know I should exercise. I was a college athlete for pete's sake! But, playing basketball wasn't "work" for me. Today, working out on a treadmill or walking or circuit training on the weight machines is just not my idea of fun. In fact, I hate every minute of it.

I've found that I'm actually a really good dieter, but I'm not such a good "going off the diet" er. I seem to have scads of discipline for a limited amount of time as long as I know there is an end in sight. Then I turn the diet switch "off" and slip right back into my bad habits.

One of the things I've done in past diets is to really concentrate on exercising. So, I'm thinking, this time, what should I do differently so that I don't gain the weight back? I realized that one of my problems was that I could never keep up the intense exercise that I was doing while on the diet when I was "off" the diet. So when I started Atkins, I decided I would give it a shot without exercising.

In the past, I've tried dieting without exercising and couldn't lose weight. I've tried exercising without dieting and couldn't lose weight. But, for some reason, this time (so far, knock on wood, throw salt over shoulder), I've been losing weight with JUST the Atkins diet. I have always said to myself when the weight loss stopped, I'd start exercising. But, so far, I have been consistently losing weight.

I know I need to incorporate exercise back into my life, but I seriously think it is "healthier" to do it for health reasons rather than just as part of a diet. Unless that exercise program becomes a way of life, just like your new eating habits, then you're undermining your chances of keeping off the weight.

All I can say is, "Thank you, body. Keep up the good work!"

Cisco

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Hi Cisco and welcome to LCE forum. Some really great people here who are really supportive and helpful.

You must stop thinking this is a "diet". It is a new WOE (way of eating). You will not go back to eating what got you overweight or you will gain the weight back. No if's and's or but's. It is a fact. Been there done that too many times. I have not exercised and have lost 34 pounds this year. Find some exercise that you enjoy. Go round up some friends and shoot hoops or find a nice hiking trail or hiking club or group just find something you enjoy. Weight bearing exercise is great for strength and bone mass. Excessive amounts of cardio will probably not make you lose weight faster anyway because it makes you want to eat more. You did not gain weight because you ate too much. You gained weight because you ate the wrong food. This woe will teach you what foods you can eat and lose wieght and what foods you can continue to eat without gaining weight.
Good luck on your journey.

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Deb 5', 57 yrs., Atkins 6/9/03:175
Restart 10/1/05-155
Restart 9/18/06-156
Restart 1/2/08-159/117/115
Rung 4 berries but Carnivorous currently

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Exercise is important to rev up your metabolism. You don't need to be super intense with the exercise or overexercise. My exercise physiologist recommends 30-45 minutes 5-6 days a week of exercise that brings my heart into my target heart rate. He emphasized the importance of sticking with the exercise to make sure my system is consuming fat, not muscle. And, that doing this will rev up the metabolism and burn more calories even when not actively exercising.

I have observed that people at similar weights but different fitness levels will look different, with the person who exercises usually looking slimmer and the person who doesn't really exercise looking larger.

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

I think you need to add some tunes to your workout. I love my ipod; before that I had a little Rio mp3 player.

There are many podcasts you can download too.

Hi.. I found the need to do some firming fast as I am losing weight while LCE. I found a book at the used book store and recognized the author from the "bottoms up" book I had (but didn't use) about 15 years ago. Joyce L. Vedral, Phd. The book I got is Weight Training Made Easy. The upper and lower body exercises are easy and start with 3 pound weights. I started doing it without the weights because I couldn't find my old weights... a few days into doing it my husband brought me 2 pound weights that came with a walking machine that I haven't used in months. It's really easy to do and reminds me of when I worked with a trainer several years ago. It's very practical for all sizes. I don't have an exercise bench so I use a long thing that usually goes at the end of the bed and a reading wedge for the incline stuff. This book was printed in 1997 and Joyce Vedral was 53. I'm 54 now so I figure if she can be so firm and fit it is possible for me to firm up a bit.
Just a suggestion.... I'm loving it! MaryLee