Walking, Fitness, Weight Loss and Me

I feel that walking has had a bad press among exercisers. After all, it can’t be real exercise, can it…

if you don’t have to get yourself to a gym

if you don’t have to learn complicated moves with state of the art equipment

if you don’t have to get showered immediately afterwards

if you don’t even need to change your clothes before you begin ?

Yet regular walkers are some of the fittest and healthiest people around and they rarely suffer the injuries and set backs of runners, joggers and regular gym goers.

Usually at this time of year I am thinking about starting to run as training for an annual charity race – the Race for Life. Then as I get going I decide I hate running and never run again after the race until the same time next year.

This year I’ve decided to add a regular walk to my fitness routine instead and see how I like that as a “rest of my life” activity. It feels right as I will be following in the footsteps of my Dad who walked every day of his adult life until he died last year aged 86 – staying fit until the very end.

Walking is great for weight loss too of course. Though that’s not my primary motive in taking up this form of exercise, I have some clients who follow a weight loss walking program I put together and find this the very best way to lose weight and keep it off. It will do me no harm to join them – especially as I have eaten so much after Christmas….

December 28, 2008 | Filed Under Fitness | 1 Comment

Running (Again)!

I told you with the (slightly) warmer weather I’d end up running again (see Sporadic Running).

I can feel my knees and ankles protesting already – but it IS for a good cause.

Last year’s running spurt was caused by entering the 5k all ladies Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research encouraged by a few friends. And the same friends have persuaded me it’s a good idea this year too. As my Dad died of cancer in October last year, it will be especially poignant.

Thing is – I haven’t run since last year’s race – so I’ll be starting my training plan from the beginning again with the cool running couch to 5k plan – I only have the 8 weeks so I’d better get to it.

Anyone care to join me? Actually Race for Life takes place all round the UK at around the same time so it’s something to aim for if you live here in the next 2 months (and if you live elsewhere there will be tons of events no doubt too).

March 31, 2008 | Filed Under Fitness | Leave a Comment