How much exersize????

[ecstacyrai]

being 302 lbs, I can go 30 minutes on the elliptical. I was thinking of doing this 3 to 5 days a week. How much are you guys working out???? :help:

[Kisal]

If I could get to a gym, I would do as much as I could tolerate! I love exercize! Your post sounds like a good beginning rate to me, although I'm far from being an authority on exercize.

[c_cat]

I think the key is to do "more".

If you haven't been walking on the treadmill at all, or taking long walks. Maybe you can do 30minutes at one go, but maybe you won't be set to do it day after day.

Set goals you can beat. Don't set goals that will beat you.

And remember that your joints, bones, tendons, ligaments will take longer adjusting to a new routine than your aerobic capacity (heart/lungs) and your muscles.

Be nice to your body.

When I played sports in high school (100pounds less of course), I worked out in the summer to prepare to work out during the season even harder. I think of now as working out - preparing a base - for when I can work out even harder (when my weight is lower and my joints are ready).

I don't mean to be all discouraging - because by all means do 3-5 days a week if you can! I just know that I get really discouraged if I set a goal of 5 times a week, but then get so exhausted I can only do 2.

Sarah

[katwoman]

Sounds like you're on the right track and being realistic for a starting point. C Cat is right, increasing slowly and not doing things that will discourage you is a big key. Sore muscles are discouraging--be kind to your body--as Dr. A would say it's a good body or it wouldn't have gotten you this far (or something to that effect--not a direct quote as I didn't look it up).

I got serious about working out in April (April 26 to be exact). I had been walking for awhile--but not daily before that. I started with 1/2 mile, worked up to 1 mile. April 26 I decided to make myself get really serious and started doing low impact aerobics each evening (in the privacy of my home with a video--no way am I going to a gym and letting people watch me jiggle--lol). I surprised myself by becomming addicted to the endorphin high I get from the exercise (although I don't always like the exercise while I'm doing it).

A wise TDK friend told me that if I would tell myself I could stop after 10 minutes if I wanted to, but that I was going to work out 10 minutes every day, that most days when I reached the 10 minute mark I'd decide to keep going (thanks Val). She was right.

Yesterday I rode my bicycle a total of 5 miles (3 a.m., 2 p.m.) AND mowed for 1.5 hours. I don't know how much it's really helping with the weight loss, I'm a turtle, but it really does make me feel great. This is my 2nd time on Atkins--and for life this time--but the exercise is one of the things I'm doing differently this time.

[jschwab]

I have been at it for a few weeks now and am dealing with taking it easy, trying new classes, etc. I have my first appointment with the personal trainer this afternoon. I have decided I will be happy with between 2 and five times a week - 2 if I am nursing an injury, five if I'm feeling more spunky.

Janine