This is thanks to Dawnajoy ... she made me realize that I really do. Walking in the autumn air was wonderful today. With the elliptical, I'm mastering something I'd never done before. I actually have a hard time sitting still now. Even watching TV, I have 2 lb weights in my hands for something. NOTHING feels like a lat pulldown!
I like to exercise, I really do. You?

I actually haven't come to like exercise much, but I love how it makes me feel. So I do it because of the feeling after.

I've come to love exercise but I've been here before. Hopefully I won't forget how much I enjoy exercising. I like going to the gym, I like lifting weights, I like taking classes, I am even beginning to like yoga which I've recently started doing.

Nellie, I know exactly what you mean! For the past couple of years, I've been exercising regularly, and it's really become part of my daily routine. I remember when I first started getting back into it, I found myself thinking "Hey, this is great! I don't mind exercising at all!" But, even with that thought, I was a little hesitant to buy into my own euphoria because I HAD experienced it before but it didn't last. Yet over the past couple of years, I really have come to believe it WILL last. I've just come to realize that there will be some days when I can't wait to exercise and others where I'd rather hit the snooze button and go back to sleep. I know that I need to "just do it" on those low motivation days. Like anything else, there are some days when exercising is easy and some days when it's hard. Realizing this has made it easier for me to be consistent with it.

Well, I LOVE to exercise... Love the feeling, love the results! But that doesn't mean I don't get lazy moments, because I do, believe me! But I always get back into it after a week of laziness because what I really DISlike is the feeling of not exercising... the jigglyness that sets in after only a week drives me right back to the gym! Thank goodness for that...

Nelie,

I am just like that! When I am exercising regularly, I LOVE it. I absolutely love it. But somehow, if I stop for awhile, I just don't want to do it. I forget how great it makes me feel. That drives me crazy.

Right now, I am doing it and loving it more than I ever have before. It is such a pleasure to me. It makes me feel great, and I feel so proud of myself for doing it. I am working really hard and seeing results, probably for the first time ever. I love the results, and they spur me on to do more, to push a little harder to see what else I am capable of.

Because I lost weight so quickly, even though I was exercising I lost a lot of muscle. I am still fighting my way back from that. I can only aspire to the weights and even cardio that some of you all are doing. But I am really very happy starting exactly where I am and building on it. It is a very individual thing, and I am very competitive, so it suits me quite well. I just have to restrain myself a bit, and use some sense, so I don't injure myself. Balance, as usual, my never ending struggle in life!

I'm off to work. Have a great day everyone!

Dawna

I love my hour power walk/jog that I do religiously every single morning!!If by chance, I have to miss a day, I really feel awful. It (exercise) is something that we HAVE TO DO in order to keep the weight off. Just like taking our daily shower, we all feel sooo much better afterwards!! Now that I have reached my goal weight, exercising has become an even bigger and more important part of my life. I know all that hard work to get rid of those ugly unwanted pounds was necessary then and NOW is necessary in order to maintain.
Have a great day, everyone!
CAROL

Count me in! I love to exercise. I feel so productive and strong during and afterwards, I feel such a sense of accomplishment. Also, if I don't exercise, my body sort of aches all over.

Karyn -- I got that achy feeling last week when I missed the gym for 6 days too! I thought I was coming down with something but didn't. Since I've gone back to the gym I feel fine...

I have another thought on exercising, and that is, most people who exercise on a regular basis set aside a certain time daily to get their exercise in. By doing so, we are more likely to NOT make excuses as to why we couldn't fit in our daily exercise. I hope this makes sense. It doesn't matter if you like to exercise in the AM, afternoon, or evening, just do it!! I, myself, find that if I go for my power walk/jog first thing in the morning, I am rearing to go for the rest of the day! My energy level is way up after I get back home.
Take care-
CAROL

Carol - You're absolutely right about fitting in daily exercise... it just becomes automatic and a given after a while!

What I want to add I learned from one of the books - now I do not remember from which one. The idea is that before you start doing something you should imagine IF you can see yourself doing it also in 5 years... If the answer is yes, and the topic is exercise, then go ahead and start it. If the answer is no and topic is exercise - spare yourself money/effort and don't even bother starting... For me this was crucial - I realized that if you start and than stop, the results will be fading and you will end up exactly where you've been both weight and healthwise. If you continue - you will keep weight off as well as stay healthy.

I never exercised since I was 15 - I was training for junior Olympics and ended up with severe asthma back than - said good bye to exercise forever... Now I started over 3.5 years ago and it changed my life. Currently, still a severe asthmatic, I can run 10 km, I can bike for 80 km in the mountains in a day, I can go thru aerobics class! And I clearly see myself doing and enjoying doing it in 5, 10, 50, 100 years!