I've now walked 10,000 steps or more for 6 days in a row, a total of 74,247! This averages out at 12375 per day, last week Thursday my steps for a normal day were 6675 this gives you an idea of the amount of walking i was doing prior to this lifestyle change. I am now walking 47% more than the median average for men who are 35-40 and obese and 33% more than all age, weight and gender groups!
I am a walking machine, i can feel my muscles in my calves and thighs strengthening, my stamina is increasing, i am finding myself becoming more flexible and to top it off i am sleeping better on a night time and actually getting out of bed on the first alarm in the morning.
And the amount of physical effort i have put in is close to zero, the effort is mentally getting on with it and adding the extra steps needed to break 10,000, finding time to go out and walk, making changes in routine to allow for periods when steps can be taken, for example i generally find myself sat on the patio after work, smoking (i will stop this year), bored and glued to my cell phone brain dead to the fact that there are better things to be doing with my time, but now my early evenings have more purpose.
I would urge anyone on a weight loss program to invest in a pedometer, even if it is an app on a smart phone, aim for 10,000 steps a day, you'll not only find yourself getting out the house for a walk but also offering to do things around the house because it entails adding valuable steps to your total, i've even taken to walking round the back of my car rather than the front when i park because it is a longer distance.
Yesterday i wanted to walk at lunch, i also needed to get something from the mall, so i parked at the far end of the car park as far away from the shop as is possible within the mall grounds and walked to the shop in question, i even found myself taking the long way round the stalls and restaurants on the walkways. Unbelievably the walk covered 3km, 2000 steps and burned 327 calories all for a 26 minute stroll through a mall!
I don't know if you will see this comment or not, since I am reading all of your posts over a week after you posted them. I just wanted to tell you that by sharing this blog, you are inspiring me to walk more. I too am considered sedentary and have been reluctant to start the walking program that my doctor has suggested for me. I am not strong, but perhaps as much from inactivity as I am from arthritis and aging and whatever. Your commentary about how many steps you can count as a result of consciously choosing to take a different path, or suggesting activity with your family has really made me stop and think about how often I choose to take the easy way, rather than the healthy way. I am preparing for weight loss surgery in the spring and still need to lose another 11 pounds over the next 4 weeks to meet my doctor's requirement for me. Activity is certain to play a big role in this. I have to run now...or should I say WALK. time for work, but now I have a plan for what to do after quitting time. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Jill
DeleteThank you for your kind words, i wish you the best of luck with your weight loss, it is not easy i know, but i am positive if i can do it anyone can,
I also considered barometric surgery as an option, i'll blog my thoughts tomorrow.
Go out and walk Jill it is easy if it is on your own terms, you don't have to march at the pace of an army, take as long as you like and walk as far as you comfortably can, some is better than none mentally and physically, if you can't walk every day walk every second this gives your legs time to recover,
You can do it, stay in touch.
Andrew aka The Baggy Cantona.