Walking to lose weight!
This is not just about walking to lose weight though it is about loving walking!
I have got to the stage where I want a lifestyle that is healthy and happy. There are a number of things which can help me do that. One of them is walking. Oh you can choose other ways to feature exercise but unless you have an active life where you take pleasure in playing sport or have a very physically active day, fitting in a healthy movement program can be a challenge? In all my years of “dieting” the exercise aspect was sporadic. In fact it took too long for me to finally realise that what was missing from my life was not a gene or a guru but regular use of my muscles!
Then after all this time I was finally at a point where I awoke to the fun benefits of walking to a healthy life. It is the easiest, cheapest, socially acceptable method of losing weight, gaining health or economising. And it can be a happy time which you look forward to, is easy to fit in, you miss it if you miss it (!) and it can be social when you want. It prepares you for joining gyms, dance classes or adventure treks.
Yes, I’m expecting to lose weight and it’s not just about the calories burned walking. A recent study showed that stressed mice can become twice as obese over 3 months while consuming the same calories, as an equivalent group! Activity, even walking, is a stress breaker. I read about the stress study here: http://www.bclocalnews.com/entertainment/25947994.html. You just can’t go wrong walking.
I find an attitude of fun and the motivation of feeling good are essential to my long term commitment to walking. Forget power walking or marathons, all I want is to enjoy walking to lose weight. In addition once I reach the weight I want, I can live and eat with pleasure, as long as I continue to walk.
In my ongoing quest to keep walking a rewarding activity, I am always looking for advice from experienced coaches to supplement what I already know.
There are 2 things in Mark Fenton’s book The Complete Guide To Walking:For Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness which I really like and appreciate from him.
He says :”Trust walking.” I couldn’t agree more. I know how it can seem as though ‘it’s not working’ when we get mentally down or frustrated and want to give up before the results become blatant. But walking works! Even if that understanding is all that keeps you going, just remember that walking works for weight loss.
He also says that the exercise that works for you is the exercise of your choice, instead of some generic ‘right’ way. I build into my walking as much variety as I can. This is usually some sort of outside walk or mall walk, which allows me interaction with my community.
I like to cherry pick ideas, motivation and advice which will fit in with my desire for a satisfying walk. Fast track to everything you want to know here.
One Response Leave a comment