Nita, I got started as a home exerciser many years ago for the sheer convenience of it. The real trick to making exercise a habit is to pick a "sacred" time every day, so you don't have to make a decision every day, "Will I exercise or not?" Usually, the answer will be no. There are too many convenient and inconvenient reasons not to.

For most of us, first thing in the morning works best for reducing potential conflicts of interest. For morning people like me, that's a cinch. For others, it's a stretch.

The other part of the convenience factor is doing it at home. I don't have any fancy machines. Just a tv/vcr, a few weights, and a step bench. I have dozens of videos that I actually LIKE, and I can do a combination of cardio and weight training in the privacy of my own room. I used to move the furniture in the living room every day to make a space. Now I have a small bedroom all to myself, where I keep my books, my dolls, and my exercise equipment. No bed though.

One of my favorite weight workouts is one I used when I had foot surgery and couldn't do any standing exercises. That might be helpful for leg strengthening if you have arthritis in the knees. The gazelle is good for cardio, but you need weights for strength.

If you're interested in video workouts, Collage Video is a good and reliable source. I enjoy getting their paper catalog.

Now I do a half-hour in the morning of weights or cardio, and then try to work in some walking or other sustained movement during the day. (My buddies here know I'm an ice skating enthusiast in the winter, with a convenient rink close to my workplace). I don't try to kill myself with exercise, but I am very consistent.

The videos add the human factor I need, plus excellent instruction. Most of them have motivating music, too. Sort of the video equivalent of my online friends.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Thanks, ladies. Your examples and advice will be a lot of help to me.

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Nita

How are you doing, Nita?

This morning (Monday) I pulled out my Leslie Sansone Walk&Jog video. I can't face a really strenuous routine first thing on Monday, so this one gets my heart going, and a little sweat, without being intimidating.

On Saturday, I used my Wal-Mart rebounder (mini-trampoline). I just jogged and jumped while watching G. I. Jane on the video. Now THAT was inspiring!

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Hi Everyone,

Up until I was 45 I was fit and slim and everything was ok with my health. I could eat what I liked, as I was a nurse I was rushing around the wards all day and then I came home and went jogging with my German Sheherd...we played badminton and went ballroom dancing too. I was also a yoga fan and took some classes at first then did it with DVD's at home in the spare room....I even did some belly dancing at one point, that was great. LOL :bellydanc

Then one day I hurt myself at work, a nasty accident that put me flat on my back for two years, then unable to walk properly for over 8 years or more....of course I was early retired on bad health from the hospital and I became depressed and used food to cheer myself up.

I balooned from 9st to over 14st then it was found that I had osteoarthritis, IBS also set in and I had an underactive thyroid to boot. After that I had spine surgery and I was able to walk again but I caught pneumonia and ended up with emphysema too. I now take a lot of drugs to help with the pain including morphine and steroids for my breathing, of course they also affected my weight too.:(

I joined this web site in 2003 and did well on low carb after trying every diet under the sun. Then suddenly I couldn't stick to anything, I had food allergies as well as all the other health problems, so I left here and gave up dieting altogether and just used to eat little and often and lost weight without really trying.

Lately I have started having difficulty again with knowing what to eat. I am 60 now and although my weight came down a lot I still have 2 stone, (28 pounds) to lose to feel good again.

I started experimenting with food again as I had cravings all the time mostly for chocolate which had never been a problem before this. It has to be a hormone thing as several others that I have spoken to are having similar problems.

I went back to Slimming World and tried Weight Watchers all to no avail. I gained weight of course. Now I have been researching the low carb sites again to see how they survived the storms that broke out after Dr. Atkins died so tragically.

It was a pleasure to see that Lowcarbeating had survived and a lot of the people are still here that I used to talk with although some are gone, sadly.

I have to admit that I still haven't started Atkins properly but I have been cutting carbs for a while now and I think it will help when I do start. I just can't get myself together to go the whole hog again, I don't know why. Maybe its because Christmas is nearly here...a bad mistake I know, I don't know what it is that is holding me back from taking that final committment.

I have just undergone a colonoscopy, a barium enema, an endoscopy and a scan of my stomach to try and find out why I have so much pain and stomach problems. They think that I may have gallsones now but that has yet to be confirmed, the results are not yet in.

Wheat and gluten are a real problem for me as is lactose so low carb is the only real way that I can go.

I have to exercise before I get our of bed in the mornnig as my boees are so stiff I can hardly move, so I do some gently Pilates on the bed. Later in the day we try to go for a walk every day and then early evening I have taken yoga back up. My body is really stiff and sooooo painful so I am doing it all really gently. I can't lie on my back on the floor, even with a mat because of the spine op, but I can lay on the bed for the laying down exercisess and that helps support my spine.

I do know that you need exercise every day, no matter how little, you need to stretch and to walk, if you do those two things then you can stay resonable pain free.

Now I just need the encouragement to start back on Atkins and I am sure that I will start to feel better and my health will improve.

Sorry for the long winded report, but I hope it helps some of you.

love Lynn. xxx

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luv Lynn x x

Lynn, you sure have been through a lot, and you seem to still have all your faculties intact! Wow!

You have come to the right site. This place has more people providing more encouragement than any other site I've ever lurked in. That's why I'm here.

Even just keeping your carb count lower than what is considered "normal", cutting out junk food, eating only natural foods, will go a long way to improving your overall health, even if you don't lose any weight. I know how hard it is to get started. And it really helps to have lots of support.

I personally do Atkins, but lots of others are doing The Zone, or South Beach, or others that you might also consider looking into.

I have also found that the Oxycise tapes are good exercises for people with health or injury-related problems. Many of the exercises are done seated, or even lying in bed. She teaches breathing techniques that will help to oxygenate your system, too. Hmmmm, guess I need to pull those out and start doing them!

I have a lot of admiration for people like you, Lynn, who have had lots of adversity, and yet don't come across with a "poor me" attitude. You take each day as it comes, and are still in there fighting.

Come back often, you will be a welcome addition to this little lc family.

__________________
Nita

Thank you so much that is so nice of you to welcome me like that.

I did low carb before but I went for the Paleo then and I did well on that but there wasn't much support for it and looking at the boards, there still isn't, ha-ha. I liked it because I could eat plenty of berries, cheese and nuts, ha-ha. I could happily live on just that and I suppose that I could do it on my own but I felt I needed support this time around.

I want to stay with Atkins as I know the plan inside out, it is just motivating myself to get started. Today I had one slice of bread and was doubled up in pain, I know that I should NOT eat the wheat and gluten so why do I do this? LOL

I like the sound of the Oxycise tapes, they would suit me but I don't know where I can find them as I have never heard of them before. I am doing ok back on the basic yoga...when I think of the level I used to be at!!!! but still, at least I can do some of it now and it does get a bit easier with practice.

Thanks again, I will be back tomorrow.

luv Lynn. x

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luv Lynn x x

Lynn, you can get Oxycise at oxycise.com. There is the regular set, and one for senior citizens and people with limited mobility. The tape I have shows a girl in bed in a leg cast doing modified exercises, and a pregnant woman doing them. There are also a group of seated exercises. It's a good set to begin an exercise program if you are having difficulties.

__________________
Nita

Hi Nita,

I had a look at the web site for Oxycise, how interesting and they have a great forum too. They actually give you the breathing exercises free that help with weight loss, I knew these from yoga and they do really help, so if anyone is interested it is certainly worth a look.

I am not ordering just yet because I have gone back to the beginners yoga and I am coping ok with that. But is certainly worth a thought if you are bored with your routine or are struggling to find an exercise that you can do due to age or health problems.

I have decided to keep oatmeal in my new diet as I only eat it made with water and don't add any sugar or anything else, it is only 15 carbs so that is not too harmful. The rest I can handle and I do not want to go into Ketosis anyway as I have a small problem with my kidneys and it could be dangerous for me.

So I am doing my own version of Atkins, much lower carb than most plans but not quite as low as induction. I am losing inches, I can feel it already so I am happy with that and I am feeling less painful in myself, especially that high gut pain that I get if I eat bread or potatoes.

Thanks for al your help Nita, I really appreciate it.

luv Lynn. x

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luv Lynn x x

Hi Everyone,

I am missing apples..anyone else have a food that they miss on induction?

This is where I have to admit to not getting on well with my new diet. I can't get into it this time around and need help badly.

I can see the recipes that you are all using to help the boredom but I have trouble getting most of the ingredients here in the uk, so I am living on salads and veggies and a small amount of fish and meat.

Unfortunately until Christmas has gone I don't really think I am going to commit to this. I am sorry to say this but it is best to be honest. I shall stay as low in carbs as I can until all this food is gone after the festive period. We have a houseful of people over the two days so I can't help but come into contact with foods that I am supposed not to eat and even though I don',t eat a lot I shall probably want to pick at certain items that I shouldn't be having.

I hope that I can come back again and re-start as soon as I am able in the New Year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

luv Lynn. x

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luv Lynn x x

Lynn, just do your best. It's probably a good thing to wait until after the holidays, so you can get your mind completely set on your way of eating. It's easier to commit when you don't have temptations staring you in the face!

I have a hard time with nibbling on things, because it can cause a real binge if I'm not careful. I can even binge on "legal" foods, so even then I must be careful. Sometimes it's best if I don't even keep "legal" stuff in the house! I could eat entire batch of low carb cookies by myself if I'm not careful. It's just too hard to stop!

When you're ready to commit, let us know. We'll be here for help and support.

__________________
Nita

I agree with Nita. Even the best of us relax a bit at the holidays for all the reasons you mention. I've got my sights set on January for making a few dietary "tweaks" and getting off to a fresh start.

As for giving up favorite foods, well...the story about low-carb is that we need to make a permanent change to a whole new way of eating. It takes quite a while before new favorites take the place of old ones. But it happens. No one can sustain a way of eating that seems like constant deprivation, but we do have to relearn a few things. And that takes time.

Enjoy the holidays!

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Thanks Nita and Barb,

I will be back in January and in the mean time I shall watch what I eat very carefully and then come back raring to start induction.

We are going on a Nile Cruise in Egypt on 28th February for our Ruby Wedding Anniversary so I want to lose at least 14 pounds by then, so I am not going to to go mad with the Christmas goodies I can assure you. :cool:

I hope you both have a very Happy Christmas and a great New Year.

luv Lynn. x

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luv Lynn x x

A Nile Cruise. Wow! How extremely exciting for you. 40 years of marriage deserves a fabulous celebration. Best wishes!

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Oh, am I jealous! A Nile cruise! Wow!

I hope you take lots and lots of pictures, and post some for us.

Congratulations on such a long marriage. You've accomplished something you don't see very often anymore.

__________________
Nita

Thanks Barb and Nita.


We are looking forward to our Nile Cruise as we have always promised this for our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. We are going with 6 friends so it should be good fun. It is a lot of site-seeing in high temperatures, but we have 5 star luxury to go back to so that we can relax for the evenings when we sail on down the Nile to the next place to visit...we can't wait. We will take loads of photo's so if they are any good I will post them so that you can see for yourself. LOL.


I am having problems with my breathing and the high gut pain again so I have to see my doc tomorrow, I want it sorted for Christmas if possible.
The results from the barium enema showed a twisted colon, they said they could see why I was in pain but they can't do anything about it....not good!!

Still waiting for the results from the scan. I am hoping it is something simple like gallstones, it has to be something to have so much pain.


Tonight we cooked salmon steaks with vegetables but I couldn't eat it, I felt so sick with the smell of the oils in the fish, so now I am starving and nibbling on ginger biscuits as the ginger helps the pain.


Any suggestions on what to eat to help with the sickness and pain??????


Thanks for listening, it is great that I know you are here to help, even though I haven't started Atkins properly yet....I have to get this pain sorted first so that I know what I can and can't eat.


It is a shame really as I wanted to be at my target weight for our holiday, but there isn't much chance of that now.


Anyway, thanks for being here and again, I am sorry to be such a moaner.

luv Lynn. x

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luv Lynn x x