Does everyone stick to a pre-made fitness routine? Or do you just do whatever you feel like? I think it's more important to stick to a pre-made routine, but then again some people say that changing it up is better...

I use workout DVDs. I'm a big fan of TaeBo. I have the cardio and the bootcamp. I also like yoga and pilates.

I love The Biggest Loser workout DVDs and the T-Tapp program is GREAT for people who are time-crunched.

I started out using a program called "P90X"... it used to just be a book from what I understand, but then they eventually turned it into a set of 12 DVD's.

I have found, now that I am over forty, that I am a lot more tired and worn out than I used to be. I used to be on the move CONSTANTLY, but with a move to a much higher altitude, I find myself so worn out that I am more sedentary!
I broke down and joined Curves a few weeks ago. I realize that the benefit from the Curves workout can be a controversial subject, BUT, I have found that it gets me moving and I feel SO much better when I am done.
It is a great group of ladies, and I am never made to feel bad there. When I was in Indiana, I had to quit going to Curves, because the ladies there were VERY rude.
I am excited and confident in my new decision, though. We have inline skates for skating along the base of the mountain (in our back yard!!!!). We have this HUGE biking/walking/jogging trail that runs the length of the Sandias. It is just a couple of blocks below our house. We hike up into the foothills frequently.
I got a BIG doggie to go walking and jogging with me when my hubby can't join me. (I got her small and she grew up REALLY fast!)
I figure it is time to MOVE!
I have used bodyflex, too. I know it looks and feels kind of silly, but I am a believer! Having lost 125+ pounds without any chin skin (hehe), I have always attributed it to bodyflex.

Tae Bo (sp?) is the best too! I just wish I could find a local class. The tapes are hard to stay with without other people involved.

Mary

I do weight resistance training three times a week at the gym and then at the end of it I get on the recumbent stepper and see how long I can last! Some days I make it longer then others. I also get into the pool sometimes because I can do more jogging type stuff in there. I have some problems with pain and it helps to be in the water when I am doing this stuff. I feel pretty weightless, however when I go to get out every step I take feels like I gained about 20 pounds.

I got my routine by simply asking at the desk if someone had time to help me with the machines and show me how to get started. They made an appointment with me for a day or so later to make sure the girl who worked with me would not be interrupted. It was free not to mention a lifesaver.

I just started doing laps at a local olympic sized pool last week. I already feel better than I did by being sedentary all the time. My knees swell up to watermelon sized even if I walk a mile, so swimming is probably my best option. I've been stalled for quite some time, and I know that some excersize to boost the old (way too old :-P ) metabolism is what I need more than anything.
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http://permanentlc.blogspot.com

I started going to Curves 2 weeks before I started low carb. I go 3-4 times a week and this is about my 3rd year with them. It keeps me off the sofa. I'm not big on excercise but the 30 minute routine helps to get me there as I repeat over and over "it's only 30 minutes". LOL I think this made all the difference in my quality of life while losing the weight. Going there kept me motivated and the support is also great. Also gives me a place to preach the low carb life style.

After my WLS (weight loss surgery) 6 years ago I did Curves, but after several months it really hurt my knees. I most likely killed my knees from my enormous weight for so long. I loved it though and wish I could have continued. I moved on the Walking Away the Pounds DVDs because I could actually do them... that is complete them. I found a Prevention DVD that I like and recently bought the Biggest Loser DVD. It has lots of lunges, which I have to be really careful of, as they can hurt my knees, but I can modify them to a certain extent as well.
My three year old is now riding a bike with training wheels... so my new favorite exercise is chasing her down the road. Trying to keep up and make sure she doesnt crash.

Whatever you can do to get that heart rate up, WeeWendy!

I don't use any special programs, just walk my dog every weekday morning for about 30 - 35 min. It's a good time for human-canine bonding. I'm now walking faster than I used to. My dog would be unhappy if I left in the morning without her.

I also lift weights at the YMCA 2 - 3 times a week.

Other strenuous activites include mowing the lawn on weekends.

They say diabetics should exercise regularly and not go more than 48 hrs without exercising. I try to follow that. It has helped my weigth and glucose control.

I started the Couch to 5k program about 4 weeks ago. It is a 9 week program that supposedly takes a couch potato and turns them into a runner in 9 weeks. I am on my 4th week of the program, but still doing the 2nd Weeks activities. I am not moving on to the next week's activity until I am comfortable with where I am at. It is a tremendous program and for the first time in my life I am loving exercise! Go Figure

I start with 30 minutes of walking as fast as I can. I do that 3 to 5 days a week. Then every other day, immediately following the walk, I use a cross-bow, which is like a bow-flex. The manual provided depictions of various exercises, and I just started with the greatest resistance I could in order to complete 10 repetitions of each exercise I recorded the amounts of resistance and devised my own circuit training comprised of eight to ten exercises without resting between each exercise. As the routines became easier, I added more resistance. The whole routine takes about 15 to 20 minutes and works all muscle groups. The advantage I find with the cross -bow over free weights is that I am less likely to hurt myself.

Andy

I am a vidiot, I use P90X, Turbo Jam, Callanetics, T-Tapp the Bar Method, lotte berk etc. etc. What can I say I need variety

Tia

Elliptical ... 20/30 mins every morning at 4:30 ...

Just recently started doing pullups/situps/pushups.

Margarita

LindaSue: First let mwe say I LOVE your recipes they a a lifesaver.

I am sorry to hear about your back and the vertigo I hope you a feeling better. I usually do callanetics 2-3 times a week and the Super I reserve for when I have time usaully on a weekend but not every weekend maybe once a month. lol (as you said it is VERY challanging). The beauty about Callanetics is you truly dont have to do much I found I can get good results by doing on of the 20 minute quick ones as add-on to my cardio.

Welcome NativeTongue! I'm so happy to see you here at my forum and wish you well in this low-carb journey to better health. WELCOME, my friend!

Thank You Jimmy for the warm welcome. Your pictures are truly astonishing.
you look wonderful and very happy.

I AM happy! And I like your "hottie" name--Native Hottie!!! WOO HOO!

I recently started running again after having my ACL reconstructed last March. I'm working my way back up and am now at about 2 miles. I'm excited that I am able to do this now. I also try to implement some sort of strength training/toning excercise at least 2-3 times a week.

ACL reconstructed?? Sorry not good on the lingo stuff!!

I just joined an adult figure skating club...wow using muscles that clearly were turned to jello!! I can only do normal skating for now at my current weight but it is def a total body workout to do laps. I forgot how much of a workout that is!! I use to compete when I was young but alas I am here losing weight! I also have begun some muscle building here at home...legs, abs that sort of thing!!

Alison

Cycling, running, weights, ice hockey, slideboard, videos, etc... I really like to mix it up, as long as the frequency remains. Right now it's P90X with extra cycling thrown in.

It's frequency that is the key part, IMO, sheduling the exercise so that you do it automatically like you would any other requirement in your daily life. When I list my to dos for the day, exercise is always one of the top priorities. I try to get it done first thing when I get up, so that it's just done. It has to be automatic. It's at least as important as the WOE, if not more so, IMO.

Jimmy: lol at the ducky avi.

Yeah, had to get my jabs in at you know who.

I'm a T-Tapper and will probably re-start with Fluidity in a month. Thanks for the forum Jimmy!

(No these are not my legs - they belong to Naomi Campbell - they're my dream legs!)

Kay

Hey Kay! Nice legs...they'll be yours someday!

WELCOME to my forum and I look forward to getting to know you better.

another vidiot here. I work out mostly to the FIRM, Slim Series, some FitPrimes, TLT's and Cathe Freiderick.

I have gym membership but I haven't been there in over 15 months.