BTW, DEFINITELY start an exercise thread on the first, Little Chick. It's a great idea!
and I am going to win. la di da...

ellis, Yes!! I agree. Great idea little chick. Let's do it in February!

I know that the SBD book says that you don't have to exercise to lose weight on this diet but one the best way to help lose more weight on this diet (or any diet) I think its a good idea to exercise and for a lot of other reasons:

1. As we get older and especially women, one of the biggest problems we have is osteoporosis. This can be counteracted not only by diet and calcium supplements but by exercise - weight bearing exercise: walking, running, aerobics, weight training.

2. Muscle burns fat even when resting and fat certainly doesn't! If you weight train and develop good muscle tone your body will burn fat even when its resting. Weight training also helps develop muscle so that as we lose weight we are losing fat and not muscle. ( And no you won't become muscle bound or have huge muscles like men unless you really work at and want them!!)

3. Exercise helps to tone the body as you lose weight so that that "sagging" problem that comes with the loss of a lot of weight isn't as bad a problem.

4. Most workouts of any kind recommend stretching before or after which helps with flexibility and as we get older we need to keep as flexible as possible.

I exercise at CURVES and find that not only does it help me with weight loss and all of the above but because I also have Fibromyalgia (FMS) so it helps me with combating the overwhelming fatigue that I used to have with the FMS. I follow the SBD plan but just recently finished reading the book written by CURVES founder Gary Heavin titled, Curves - The Power to Amaze Yourself. Of course he is promoting his program for exercise and the diet program (which is very similar to SBD), but he gives a lot of information about food, vitamins, dieting and exercise and health related issues in general that was very eye-opening and informative. I recommend that everyone read it for all the information that is contained in this book. Pick it up at the library if you don't want to spend the money.

I hope other people who have read this book comment on what they learned.

I love the idea of an exercise challenge!! As I am sitting her typing, my treadmill is taunting me!!

I have thought about joining curves, but they do not have child care so that would limit the days I could go, as I like to exercise in the morning to get it over with. I also thought that if I can't get my butt on my treadmill right now, then why spend the money on a gym??? Sooooo....If I can commit to exercising at home for a few months, then I may look into another facility.

Hopefully the exercise challenge will motivate me....so would that be starting Sunday? Or officially Monday? Let me know, I am game for whatever!!

Thanks for the information, Annie. It's very true. I'm tired because I'm overweight, because I eat too many carbs, and because I don't exercise enough. And what's my excuse for not exercising more? I'm too tired!

Chaz, I think we should start on the 1st.
Get on that treadmill, girl!

Silly us we forgot about the YMCA. So I think we're going to join tonight.

The only part that will make it difficult is waking up early. (Maybe I can join a thread for that-the sleepy heads).

So, officially I will participate in the Feb. Challenge.

Ellis, please don't beat us all too bad!

Hey, Pebbles! I thought you didn't want to join the Y because of all the rotten little kids running around!?
We have a family membership, but we don't take the kids a lot. DH will take them for a swim occasionally, etc. DD takes yoga there with me, but she's 14, and does NOT like to be thought of as a "kid".
The only time I find it bad there is on the weekends... there are kids all over the place. However, DH and I usually find time to go during the week, so that's not a problem.
The price is right, and they've got lots to offer! I'm sure you'll like it. It's like a second home to me now. (sort of. heh heh.)

UGH!!! That means I will have to exercise on a Sunday???? Isn't that an official day of rest

Okay....I will get up Sunday and check the board and if everyone else is exercising, then I will hop on the ole treadmill...If not, I am hopping back in bed!

Keep me posted!!!!!!!!!!!

Ellis -
So sorry - I always forget that children exist in the world. I guess when your lives are your husband and the dog children are just such a shock. I can never believe how much energy they have.

I certainly hope I didn't offend anyone - it's just difficult. It seems that the Y has the children situation under wraps. (I've been in places where kids are hanging and doing flips on the treadmills) Also there are a ton of machines, so I don't think it will be a problem.

The first Y we toured was a terrible experience, and we found one that was going to work out perfectly.

Again - I appologize. I just think of the dog as our little family, and we don't have any nieces or nephews within a thousand miles - so please forgive my statement.

Pebbles, there's no need to apologize. I can't STAND kids! Seriously, I love my own, but only because they're mine. I think most people feel the same way.
I admire anyone who has the maturity to consider the idea before having (or not having) children. Something I neglected to do.

Ellis I agree with you! My kids are 12 and 14 and when I hear a kid scream in the store now it makes my overies shrink! My ds the 14 yr old is ADHD so he is like havin 4 kids rolled in one. When I see people in the store with little Zack's I just say a prayer for them and hit the check out! My dd is totally different. If you could spend the day with her you would want to have a housefull. Good thing I had ds first.

I'm enjoyin catchin up on all the post while I've been gone. So much to read and so many newby's to the beach. I love it! The more we have the more we learn. Seed y'all chickie's tomorrow afternoon.