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I don't feel hungry like I thought I would. I think the walking makes you less hungry.

6-8 miles is fantastic - few adults could do that.

And the walking does not take away your appetite, only your appetite for garbage. When I'm exercising (I've been lazy lately), healthful food tastes incredible.

I should have known better all these years because when I was in the Marines, I was in incredible shape. I would run 3-5 miles every day. I also used to walk 10 miles or more without even breaking a serious sweat. When you live on base and have no car, well, you've got to get around! So I just hoofed it into town when I couldn't catch a ride.

After the Marines, I let myself go to pot. The big shocker was when I realized I couldn't even keep up with my kids anymore without getting out of breath. So starting the beginning of March, I put myself "back in boot camp" and started getting up at 5AM to walk. It didn't take too long to build up to my current 6-8 miles a day. I'd walk even more but I do still have my job and kids to attend to! The first few weeks were sort of painful. Blisters, shin splints, rubbery legs, etc. But over the past month, I have been virtually gliding on my walks. I now bound up and down stairs and feel just great. I think the diet I described in my earlier post has a lot to do with this as well. But you are right, all the exercise makes me crave healthy foods. Just the thought of putting a candy bar or a jelly donut into my mouth disgusts me. I want fuel, not garbage!

Once I achieve long-term results, I'll say a lot more about my "modified" Atkins plan. I just think the Atkins diet is too strict. With some regular and vigorous exercise, I believe the Atkins plan can be modified to something more reasonable that people will have no problem sticking to the rest of their lives.