To exercise, or not exercise ...

[UnspeakableJoy]

I'm debating whether or not to start exercising. :weights2: Just a couple of times a week to start, if that. I'm just so full of energy and feel so darn good that I can't help but think about exercise. :weights:

I understand that exercise may trigger hunger, and may also slow down my weight loss as muscle weighs more than fat. I also know that I'll probably be on program for another 4 - 5 months, and in the big scheme of things, that's a pretty short time to wait, and then start exercising.

I dunno ... what should I do? :thinking:

Are you exercising? If so, what are you doing?

P.S. I should add that prior to 1PD, I lost my first 25 lbs by exercising, yes it took ALOT longer to lose those 25 lbs than on 1PD, but I really did enjoy my time at the gym!

[lfingers11]

I say "NO". I have been waiting to be done with this to start my workout program. I like that I only have to focus on one thing at a time. I work on the eating and then later I work on toning things up. I had a ton of energy about 6-8 weeks in and then about 2 weeks later the extreme amount of energy I had went away. I would hate for your weight loss to slow down because you are working out. There will be plenty of time later to work out!!
Pam

[SPDeRosa]

I also think you should hold off -- unless you have been exercising all along. If you have so much energy you need to burn off, then maybe some long walks? It's amazing how tired we all were when we were heavier .... and how much energy we have now that we're slimming down!

[CohenInAz]

I would say ask your consultant.

I too was also working out and training for a half marathon before starting and I was doing it before my blood test.

When I asked my consultant they said:

Walking at a comfortable pace is a good choice of exercise.

So.. I've been slowly doing it (hurt my knee on day 10, so I'm starting back up next week) but I let her know I was doing about 4 miles every other day and then adding a mile on every Saturday.

Ask yours and see what they say.

[SurferGirl]

Boy oh boy! How I have tested the waters of this very question. (Sometimes litterally:surf:). I have been pretty active my whole adult life. I used to run, climb, surf, hike, etc., and at 200+ lbs. no less. I loved those activities but was frustrated that my weight made them so much more difficult for me. As the weight has FINALLY come off I have been really anxious to try the sports I love once again.
Surfing is my favorite and many many times I have gone surfing while on plan. And many many times I have been STARVING, EXHAUSTED, CRANKY!!! Just ask my husband, he'd tell you. {slapfight}Those feelings really played some mind games with me and the plan. It made me wonder if I could really do this. How come I was so hungry, tired, etc.? Was my body rejecting the weight loss. All of that was hog wash of course. I just simply way over did it. Most recently I decided to test how running might affect me. BAD IDEA!!!! I went running 3 times and for a solid 5 days afterward I was a wreck. {pan}
My advice, if you do decide to try exercising, please please listen to your body. If you have any of those yucky feelings you did way too much and you need to tone it down, or better yet, just wait until you are done. Because I am so darn stubborn, I'll probably do this to myself again, but I shouldn't. It's stupid and counter productive. Thanks for giving me the oppurtunity to vent about this issue and I hope that my experiences can help you.

[UnspeakableJoy]

Thank you everyone for your advice!! I have decided to wait until I reach my goal to exercise. I have however started to add pilates 2x week and morning yoga daily. My morning yoga is much more of a good stretch and meditation than a workout, but it's so wonderful and I feel so good after. My pilates is a weight loss conditioning workout, but it's nothing like aerobics or running or anything like that.

I currently belong to a fantastic gym that's costing me $60/month, but I'm tied into a contract for another 12 months, so that's what prompted me to ask this original question. I hate throwing money away so-to-speak, and am miffed that the gym will have made away with 6 - 8 months of payments from me without me even stepping a foot in it's doors. But it's all good, this isn't the first gym I've paid money to only not go, so in the eternal perspective, this is just a blip on the radar.

My son has started to express interest in working out and weight lifting, so my goal over the next few months is to create a home gym in my basement. Then when my gym membership finally runs out, I'll be able to just go downstairs to get in a good workout.

Hope everyone is doing well! Thanks again!

[lfingers11]

You might want to ask the gym if they add the months onto the end of your program and explain why. I don't know but you might be able to get a note from the program stating that it restricts exercise. You never know, it might work.
Pam

[Misha]

Many gyms will allow you to "freeze" your membership. I would call them and let them know what you are doing. I'm sure it will not be a problem.

Misha

[UnspeakableJoy]

After my weekend at the waterpark resort, I have decided NO EXERCISE while on 1PD. All that activity made me ravenous, almost unbearably so! I still look forward to working out when I reach my goal!