[fogarty]

Perhaps your case is unusual, but I can tell you for a fact that EXERCISE is the best way to become fitter and healthier - and the best way to lose weight, bar none. This is established over DECADES of research, not just on one or two studies. Notice I did not say FASTEST way to lose weight, because the fastest weight loss is not necessarily the best way to lose weight.

Here's a challenge for you: Go OFF the Atkins diet for 1 month. See how much weight you gain back.

However, if you start a dedicated exercise routine (one that you can maintain) for a year or longer, you will see 50 pounds can be lost over a year and you WILL NOT put on those 50 pounds again so quickly. Your cardiovascular system will be healthier, your immune system stronger, and your skeletal-muscular system improved many times over.

[Mamzelle]

Much depends on age, I believe, in your assertion. My own routine, four times/wk, involves a treadmill or strider to the tune of a mile and a half which burns (the machines claim) about 150 calories. Then some weights and stretching, just to tone and stave off the aches and pains of the pushing-fifty crowd.

In my twenties and thirties, this was plenty to keep my weight under perfect control. Didn't think anything about it, and had my occasional slice of chocolate layer cake.

Suddenly in my forties the weight happened, a pound or two a year. It was almost twenty pounds I had to lose. Tried several things, found that facing a life being always a little hungry was most discouraging. Add to that--I loved to cook and bake.

When I was thirty, I didn't know what all the fuss was about because it wasn't a problem.

[chilepepper]

I did this once when I went on a cruise and gained back about half of what I had lost.

Am still recovering from that, haven't matched my lowest yet (e.g. - weight about 240 now, all from Atkins. The problem with Atkins are the "plateaus". I was stuck for months on a plateau and couldn't seem to break it, have recently done so and have lost 6kg in the past 6 weeks...

[chilepepper]

I rode my mt.bike 125km a week for about five years and never dropped below 255#. I LIVED for mt.bike riding, still have a KLEIN Mantra, a Raleigh Technium and a Panasonic (!!) mt.bike which i miss like crazy. Since my hip is so bad now, I ride motorcycles instead... can't use my Nordic Track anymore either (once a week during those five years I'd do the Nordic Track for an HOUR straight -- a real trip and a real high which I also miss)