I MUST point out that exercise is NOT strictly for calorie burning purposes (even a half hour of exercise per day may only burn about 100 - 200 calories which could easily be cut out of a diet), but has SO MANY other benefits to the cardiovascular system and just about every other system in the body: blood lipid levels (like raising the good Cholesterol, lowering the bad Cholesterol and decreasing Triglycerides), improved insulin regulation (it may be even more powerful over all than diet regulation--probably the single best thing that a T2 diabetic can do for their body--a body that exercises can forgive a lot more carbs), improved bone density (from weight lifting), decreased appetite, increased good endorphins that lift mood and banish depression, improving digestion, combating chronic pain, increasing flexibility, and more than likely increased metabolism from maintaining a good muscle mass, etc.

Even Dr. Atkins says that exercise is essential to a healthy way of life. IT IS NOT OPTIONAL. He was a brisk walker himself, and wrote about how disappointing it was to see that people do not embrace exercise.

Exercise should be FUN. We should look at exercise the way we looked at RECESS as children. It's a time to CELEBRATE our physical bodies and sense of well-being, not a punishment or something to deliberately avoid. That's poor advice for any diet plan.

Our bodies are not designed to sit down all day long. We have legs to walk and run and kick, hands and arms to wave, move, create. Those of us who are healthy enough to use our arms and legs should be grateful that we are able to exercise.