The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Lauraly]

Hi all!

Tomorrow marks 3 weeks for me on the program and I want to start incorporating some more exercise. I could use some guidance.

First of all, a little background:

I currently go to a 2 hour Tai Chi class every Tuesday. I did not stop this when I started the program because I absolutely adore the class. Tai Chi is slow and low impact, but move and balance for 2 hours and you will work up a sweat. I also go to a 2hr Yoga class every Thursday - not as much of a workout, but I also enjoy it and did not stop.

About a month before I started Medifast, I was doing 30 min a day on my home exercise bike, and arm exercises with hand weights every other day. Not intense, just a little. I had been doing this off and on for a few months. (I was up to 6 pushups! Woot!)

Then I quit smoking. (Yay me!). During the sulking phase of quitting I stopped exercising at home, and gained 6-7 pounds in a month. Then I started Medifast.

Ok, thanks for reading this far, here's my question: I want to start on the bike and hand weights again. Is it the right time? How much? I worry that what little muscle definition I had is withering away from misuse. But I don't want to kill my metabolism. Did I already hurt my metabolism by keeping up my classes in the beginning? Advice please!

[aphrael]

I would say if you have lost 14 pounds in the first 3 weeks your body has adjusted even with the Tai Chi and yoga. So I wouldn't worry about that.

You are at the point where Medifast recomeneds adding exercise back in. Start out with half your normal work out. 15 min on the bike and half the usuall weight workout. If you feel good after that add a little more the following week. Go slow with adjusting your work out. Some people stop losing if they add in too much exercise. Let your body tell you if you are doing too much and adjust acordingly. You might need an extra shake at first when you get back into your program. Don't stress over that if you do, just evaluate and adjust as needed.

Good luck and great job on being so active!

[dede4wd]

Yup,
What she said!

DeDe

[Jan]

Hi There,
Just remember that while you're on program you only have enough extra calories for about 45 minutes of exercise per day.. If you exercise more than that you risk putting your body into starvation mode.
jan

[Lauraly]

Thanks for the advice! I am going to start back on the bike on Saturday, doing only 15 moderate minutes a day to start. And I'll start up again with my arm weights then too. Thanks!

[Elke]

I just have to say good for you form quitting smoking. I know its not easy and I comend anyone that can do it...me included.

I have been free from smoking 1 Year, 10 Months, 3 Weeks, 17 hours and 49 minutes (690 days). I have saved $5,180.56 by not smoking 20,722 cigarettes. I have given my family 2 Months, 1 Week, 2 Days, 22 hours and 50 minutes of my llife back. My Quit Date: 6/24/2004 12:00 AM

[Lauraly]

Thank you Elke!
Yup, quitting smoking was no walk in the park. I read this stop smoking book by Alan Carr and it made it waaaay easier though.

I have one of those ticker things too! See:

One month, three weeks, six days, 8 hours, 20 minutes and 2 seconds. 875 cigarettes not smoked, saving $178.98. Life saved: 3 days, 55 minutes.