Anyone doing just "soft" exercises? Yoga, walks, etc.

jumatwins

I'm just wondering if anyone is “just” doing soft exercises like yoga, pilates, walks, plus some strength and abs training…?
Are you getting any results? I am. I am watching my calories and doing these soft exercises.

I am not a runner, a zumba dancer or any other very high cardio exercises, but I do exercise…
But when I read all the post, seems that everyone is doing these… Am I the only one not doing these exercises?
It makes me feel a bit guilty not doing them…but at the same time, I feel I should respect myself and do the exercises I enjoy?
Or am I just lazy?

nibblypig

Hi, I'm the same as you, I just walk and do the occasional workout on the Wii fit but we both seem to be losing so we must be doing something right. I don't feel guilty at all, I just do what I enjoy

heidimt2003

If what you're doing is working then why should you feel guilty?! Personally I prefer the faster paced cardio stuff (except running. I hate running. It hates me back and tells me so every time I run.) like Tae Bo and Kickboxing. But that's a personal preference!

Exercise is hard enough - might as well do something you enjoy!

Have a great day. :-)

heidi

mandylooo

If you enjoy it, you're more likely to do it long term. As long as it is working for you and you're doing enough activity to keep healthy, then why change it?

stfuriada

Do what works for you.

It's better to do things you like that will make you keep on doing it, and eventually increase their difficulty as your body gets used to it than do things you'd hate which would make you stop exercising altogether.

HauteP1nk

80% of what we look like stems from what we eat (or so I have been told). Any exercise is good exercise...it doesn't need to always be high intensity.

You need to do what is right for YOU and what will help YOU achieve YOUR goals.

Good job!

jenlarz

Go to youtube and search for Arthur and yoga. INSPIRING!!! (if you can't find it try adding Diamond Dallas Page Yoga)
Here, I did it, this should take you to it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448&feature=relmfu

ChaseAlder

I used to do pilates 3-4 times a week and it made me SO strong and toned. I was lucky to have an excellent instructor and a great class, neither of which I have anymore which is why I stick to running these days.

I highly recommend pilates, expecially if you can mix it up with some wicked cardio (I alternated days doing pilates and turbo kickboxing... I was in great shape).

MizSaz

I did a lot of that when I first got started. I was physically incapable of doing anything more high-impact. 30 pounds later, I'm running and doing Insanity, and I NEVER thought I'd be doing those!

invisibubble

I lost at lest two thirds of the 146lbs I've lost by doing soft exercise only. As time's gone on I actually WANT to do the higher impact things. I like lifting and hard elliptical these days.

CherylGardner

I am not a runner. All I do is walk (although I walk fast - usually 4.5 mi/hr 13:30 min/mi on avg). I also do a pilates DVD a couple days a week.

I've lost 42 lbs that way. I have a fitbit and it encourages me to move more than I had been for everyday activity (not really countable exercise).

mineboy

I just do walking, walk about 50 kms a week, eat right but i enjoy what i am doing..

mgero212

Yoga, fast walking, pilates, swimming, walking in the pool and I have toned from it.

PeaceCorpsKat

Yep - all I do is walk.

Hellbent_Heidi

It really depends on your fitness and weight loss goals. If you aren't seeing the results you want, you probably need to step it up and get more serious about sweating!

That being said...you can absolutely lose weight and keep in halfway-decent shape by just doing "soft" exercises, but if you want to get stronger and build muscle, it usually does take more....and who knows...as your fitness level progresses, you might surprise yourself and end up liking some things you didn't expect!

jumatwins

Oh my...thanks so much everyone ..I feel relieved...and not so alone anymore :-)

sewerchick93

Yoga, walking, strength training here!! I tried the running thing, but after a week had inflammed the arthritis in my knee so bad I had to have a cortisone injection to relieve it, so now i just stick to the walking.

Bekah1125

I am not doing anything hard either, I walk on the treadmill for an hour, and then do some strengthing, but that is all.. I am getting results too

scythswife

i have lost 33 pounds by watching my food and doing workouts at home including wii fit plus, leslie sansone walking dvds, occasional Jillian Micheals dvds and some basic strength using hand weights and body weight. also i walk in the neighborhood sometimes when i can get away without the 4 kids.

sarahharmintx

Let me ask you a question. If you were to change to something else, like heavy lifting or cardio class or running, how long do you think you would keep at it? My guess is not very long bc you dont WANT to do it. I couldnt stick with Atkins or no caffeine or any other specialized diet bc I dont want to. I want to be able to eat what I want and that is why I lose weight. Youre sticking with what you want and it seems to be working for you.

And Im pretty sure that if I ever tried a specific diet plan, I would last about 48 hours and be grumpy for all 48 of them. Do what you like and what works for your body.

determined2lose89

I take power walks and do Leslie Sansone work out DVDs. I find that anything more 'hard core' just generally turns me off of exercise. I enjoy walking and make sure to tackle hills to add intensity. I get about a 300-400 calorie burn per 35mins of power walking or the workout dvd while wearing my HRM.That's fine by me.

KansasRain

honestly i do my exercise through yard work, house work, and wandering the stores. when i first started my weight loss i wasn't doing ANY of those, i was literally just sitting around do absolutely nothing more then going to the bathroom and getting food. NOW i mow my lawn which is 1 hour, my grampies lawn which is another 3-4 hours, i "spring clean" about once a week, and i drive out to the mall or Walmart or some other store so i can walk around with out getting bored, but i also take the dog on 20 minute walks, and i make sure to park as far from the buildings i go to as i can to make more work. for me, i also do my elliptical 30-60 min every couple of days. i don't plan to do any hard core work outs until i can manage to do these things with out feeling the burn from them. i figure, if its working for me then i will stick with it until its not working, so don't worry about what every one else is doing, do what works best for you even if its "soft" work outs

zaithyr

Most of my exercise is walking. I'm building good leg muscles and my abdominal muscles seem to be getting a bit tighter too. I do some dancing occassionally too when I have time and that's a good workout, but I find I enjoy walking a lot more than hard core stuff. Especially since I still have so much weight on me that it's really hard on my joints to do more high-impact stuff on a regular basis. I'm still losing weight so obviously I'm doing something right lol

mdsjmom98

Hi, I'm the same as you, I just walk and do the occasional workout on the Wii fit but we both seem to be losing so we must be doing something right. I don't feel guilty at all, I just do what I enjoy

^^This^^ I'm doing exactly the same thing, walking every day and wii fit about 3 times a week. I'm down 40 lbs so far, so something is working. I'm sure I'd get better results if I amped it up a bit, but with my foot being in constant pain, I'd rather not do anything that is high impact. I can't do zumba or anything because I'm a clutz, and look like an elephant on ice skates.

Bob314159

I do lots more casual walking than I used to, plus at least 1 hour exercise walking a day (non-stop and try to include some hills to get my heart rate up) - My step count has gone from an estimated 2500 per day to over 10,000 on most days.

I climb at least 20 flights of stairs a day.

I do some strength exercise, using my body as resistance or kettle bells.

My trainer says I should not run till till I lose more weight, too much stress on the knees.

I do a modified Tai Chi sequence for mobility as well as stretching after exercise.

I used to do more strength work, but for the last 2 months I have been targeting the walking - which in my opinion has more weight loss benefits. In 2 weeks - I will be adding more intense strength work and HIIT.

I have lost 16 pounds - 2 pounds per week, and gone down 2 belts hole sizes, but its mostly from reducing what I eat, The exercise has other benefits that make it important. I can tell my stamina and strength has increased from climbing some specific hills, that used to leave me gasping.

44by44th

Nothing lazy about it - if it's working for you, keep doing it. For me, just moving more (walks & occasional bike rides) and eating healthier, smaller portions is working great. Arthitis pain in my wrists and ankles keeps me from "high impact" excerises. It may take longer to reach my goal, but I'll get there eventually. You will too, if you just keep at it.

cfieds

I am also a low-impact exerciser!

I have some spine issues that can get gnarly if I'm not careful -- absolutely no running or zumba or 30 day shred for me. I do a lot of yoga (which has helped my spine a ton!) and take walks.
That and watching what I eat has led to the 9 lbs I've lost and an inch or two total.

As much as I'd love to try some of the high-impact exercises out there...my body just isn't built for doing them. (:

Charliebarleymo

Walking and swimming for me, plus an odd session on cardio machines. Lost 25lb, and many inches. I figure anything is better than sitting on my backside all day :drinker:

ednawhatnot

I walk virtually every day and swim a couple of times per week. While I do try to add other cardo in occasionally, I don't really enjoy it. As for whether it works for me, I started MFP mid January and look at my ticker! I haven't been this thin for a decade

spotofdirt

I used to be a runner and then gained about 80 pounds...thought I would be able to go right back into running. Big mistake. I injured both achilles tendons with the high impact after 4 months now, they are still healing. As a result, I have just been walking instead. I have to say...its almost as effective as when i was running...just takes more time out of my day. I've lost about 35 pounds so far just watching my calories and walking. If you feel you aren't ready for high impact or don't enjoy it, there is nothing wrong with "soft" exercising. A calorie burned is a calorie burned.

MeMyCatsandI

Most of weight loss is calorie restriction NOT exercise. Exercise is good for your body of course, but it isn't necessary for weight loss. I've lost 55 pounds by watching my calories and doing what you call "soft" exercises. I do yoga (which is my strength training), I walk at the lake (granted I walk pretty fast), and I do a stationary bike (moderate pace, not intense). I hate exercising but I do it because it makes me feel productive??? Or because if I don't I feel lazy I guess. But, I only exercise 3 times a week at the most. Last week I didn't work out at all. Do I feel guilty? Heck no. Did I gain weight? Nope! Do what you like and don't worry about what other people are doing.