Walking

I heard somewhere that walking is the best exercise.  It's certainly easy.  You don't have to pay any money to join a gym to walk (although you can), you don't have to spend big bucks for special machines to walk (although you can), most people in most shape are able to walk - it requires no special skill or training.  In fact, that it is so easy makes me kick myself for not doing it all those months I sat on my big fat plateau.

Last week I started up walking to the park and back.  I was trying to get Steven into the groove, but waking him up without the use of explosives is futile.  It takes him a while to get moving once he is awake, and generally needs the time to get ready for work.  So I finally decided I could no longer use him as a crutch to walk - I just had to get my happy rear in gear and do it myself.

Well I'm not all by myself.  Winston has resumed the role of taskmaster.  He makes sure if I don't take him for "his" walk, I'm going to be sorry. 

So last week we managed to make it to the park Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Not only that but I also managed to do Pilates Wednesday and Friday also.  I've got my pedometer on and I'm aspiring to those 10,000 steps. 

It allowed me to cheat a bit on the diet on Saturday.  We went over to my sister's for an impromtu family reunion.  She made filet mignon, real mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheese and corn with buttter.  Amazingly enough, though I indulged in these things my calories only came in at 1900 - which is within my goal range.  What bumped me up is the wine I also indulged in, and that took me to 2100.

Anyway I step on the home scale this morning and I'm the same weight - no gains.  Probably because my body promptly got rid of the bad stuff as if to say, "What's THIS???"

And at 7:30am I was out the door and on my way for another walk.  The plan is to walk this 3 mile trek (this is with the smaller route at the park) five M-F, and do Pilates M, W, and F. 

My sister and her future daughter in law walk about 5-6 miles a day, they haven't much modified their diet and she's lost 8lbs so far.  This confirms to me how vital walking is.

Once I get the 3 mile trek down then I'm going to incorporate the longer route, to bump it up to 4 miles.  Right now, especially with the heat, both Winston and I require a little conditioningbefore we tackle that goal. 

In the meantime I'm burning up points on the Presidential Challenge page.  I've already earned over 12,000 points.  The first award you can aspire to is a patch, and it requires 6 consecutive weeks logging in 30 mins of activity or more a day for five days a week.  My lazy arse has so far been unable to accomplish said goal.  Interestingly enough, I'm more than halfway to the bronze award (20,000 points), so I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I reach that goal before I get the patch.

Either way I'm feeling good, I'm feeling positive, the endorphins are flowing and I'm off to work.