The new Walking to Lose Weight is about the lifestyle skills learned from adapting your way of life for health, fitness and joie de vivre.

I’m writing from this perspective. Studies reveal that the behavior such as exercise and eating style required to lose weight is the basic behavior required to keep it off.

The original impetus for me to start was walking to lose weight. This process of integrating walking and pedometer steps into my lifestyle turned out to be a significant change to my  approach to life.

This blog, and others, enabled me to use the turnaround process I had developed elsewhere for my own well being benefit. If you have read since the beginning of this blog, August 2008, you may have noticed a new emphasis develop. It really was a personal attempt to make walking a consistent part of my life. Over time I moved from the regulation technical and fact oriented regurgitation of well established (although not undisputed) theories of weight loss. I realized that more than that was required and it had a lot to do with how I viewed my life and the world as I saw it.

OK that’s a big jump, and there are a lot of steps in between. I hope to make the leap easy for you.

Lifestyle change is not easy when it is voluntary. It allows wobbling, changing your mind, not taking the harder decision, getting confused along the way.

We (humans) seem to feel better with a simple answer, such as change only one aspect and get the whole problem resolved. This makes it seem achievable. This is good. If you don’t start with enthusiasm it is even harder to change.

Walking as a weight loss process tends to be the preferred option for those with issues around exercise and maybe diet.

It is so simple to make the time and do it. But then it requires doing more to continue the weight loss impact. Then it requires solving issues such as injuries or stress, tiredness, time conflicts. And doing it every day seems harder than you thought. Why is that?

Walking for weight loss and using the 10000 steps program for instance, requires a considerble lifestyle adaption.

It means looking for support from people other then friends and family or in addition to them because their goals may not complement yours that well.

It can be done; but it requires a period of time to blossom into its full potential as little bit by little bit you find your issues are resolved and some even disappear.

OK now it is practically possible but what’s this?

Sometimes you don’t feel like it. Sometimes you’re distracted, bored, off color.

What do you do then?

One day or even two doesn’t matter…unless you give up and decide its too hard, you’re not up to it, it works for others but not for me.

Keeping to a lifestyle change which is voluntary, and most of us prefer our changes to be of this type, requires more of something we don’t always have consistently over long periods and that is unfailing enthusuasm.

This is no different to other issues within our lifestyles that we know we can change for the better… but it seems too hard, others disagree, maybe it isn’t possible… Your lifestyle at the moment probably grew over time with changes integrated haphazardly until now it is what it is and mostly it seems unchangeable. Inertia has set in and the momentum is towards keeping it going in the same way.

Any lifestyle change of significance, done over time, requires a perseverance and positive attitude. There is a transition necessary and if this process is seen as failure than you may give up before the success you so desired.

Dramatic changes such as the sudden onset of illness or winning the lottery are quick disruptions to old patterns but dealing with, or coping with them in your life, takes time for the new adaptations to be comfortable

Longer term processes such as weight loss require these adaption tasks ahead of the overt change.

Necessary now is a way of thinking and attitude to support the change.

Weight loss is an example of life style change. Another example is starting a home business.

Now we’re getting to the connection to your personal and world views.

Having what it takes to make and then keep to these changes requires a mental and emotional outlook which keeps you up for it.

These abilities are distinct to the individual but exist in each of us. Whether we can access them depends on our own limits and aspirations. That is your world view and your attitude to life.

This is a big concept for some and a non-issue for others. My work life involves mentoring those who would like me to help them make the connection to making the big changes over time.

I will continue writing abut the connection your view of the world has to your success.

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That’s when pedometer steps helps! By wearing a pedometer daily it is easy to get started. In fact the busier the day the better. Make a game out of fitting in extra steps especially when it seems difficult. Walk while waiting, fill in time with picking up toys or clothes (bend and take each item back to its spot individually), walk from the back of the house or the office instead of shouting or phoning.

Walk to the shops. Walk to the other side of the car park. Walk down the stairs instead of using the lift.

Walking for weight loss can be taken too seriously. Walking or exercise can be taken too seriously.

Make it easy on yourself.

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The number one complaint of those who are willing but unable to exercise is because it is hard to fit into the busy day.

Walking for weight loss can be done in a  number of ways:

take a 10 to 20 minute walk once or twice each day;

take a longer walk of at least one hour, once, twice or three times a week;

count pedometer steps.

Each will appeal or be successful because of the circumstances and preferences of your life.

The ritual of a regular, preferably daily walking schedule can contribute to its’ success but the two or three times a week ritual can also work.

Walking for weight loss becomes  familiar and benefits many people who can fit a walk to work or walk after school, into their lifestyle. It is less easy for those with more stressful routines which generally means a lack of regular commitments which allow planning. For these people the flexibility of counting pedometer steps becomes a real advantage.

Couple this with the established incentive of having a target against which to challenge yourself.

Many programs aimed at increasing exercise or walking for weight loss include a pedometer as the main weight loss tool.

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And while I know people who swear Pilates is the only thing which keeps them functioning, the same is claimed for walking from those with back problems.

It is  more likely to be that both have major benefits and are not direct substitutes for each other. Walking has weight loss and strengthening effects on the muscles of the lower body but does not do much for the shape of your bottom.

Pilates is dedicated to strengthening the core muscle groups and this is obviously a very effective when tightening and toning rather than trying to lose weight.

Each is of benefit however walking for weight loss is an every day and life time commitment. Counting pedometer steps is a very easy way to include activity of all sorts in your lifestyle!

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Walking to lose weight can become a part of participant’s lifestyle however to do it successfully your lifestyle must adapt. The type of walking must be what suits you and over time this will probably alter as you move through a series of life changes.

Setting up your own business can also require a major lifestyle change.  It may happen gradually, but eventually it changes your life. Keeping in balance during this process is a major benefit.

This is why I am a fan of one hour walking. If I am feeling anxious or annoyed about a work-related issue, have been stymied in some way from direct action, awaiting resolution of a problem, etc. then a walk often lifts me totally-creates an inspired solution, calms me or creates new ideas, enough to re-focus and bring renewed creative energy and success-thinking to what I am doing. In a new home-based business some activities are less diverting than others and often the support of colleagues is not there in the same way as within an organisation, where it can be taken for granted. Or some aspects of your business through confidentiality or technicality, are best left unshared.

Even with weight loss there is division over whether walking alone or with others is best. Much research supports both arguments but successful long term losers tend to do it alone. The focus and commitment is theirs. Supplement it with others but remember where the responsibility lies. See the benefits of walking for weight loss as also benefiting your business in direct ways: That solution that came during your walking for weight loss; The even tone you can maintain as stress levels decrease.

Focus on your business but walk for one hour and you are soon weighing less and working better. One hour of dedicated walking is 6,000 steps extra added to that day. Anyone targeting 10,000 steps daily, can appreciate how much this contributes towards that goal. Yesterday was my regular shopping, bank, pay bills, day and combined with the one hour walk I did over 17,000 steps. The day before was less active although I prudently put in a few extra steps when I could, and with the one hour walk, did 11,000.

I have gradually built up walking to lose weight to one hour on most days. Occasionally there may be reasons why this slips, either deliberately or not, such as sickness, but this one hour is bringing a lot into my lifestyle and I miss it if I’m not doing it. However just adding in a one hour daily walk is not an overnight accomplishment for most people. It requires changes in discipline.  It requires ensuring that it adds value to your day.

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