Walking it off

10 08 2008

Walking the neighborhoods this summer is not without risk. You stumble across all sorts of people. Still, there is some value to it. I’ve noticed that if I walk more than 5 miles a day for a couple of weeks that I WILL lose weight.

Which for me is always a goal.

When I don’t walk regularly my weight creeps up. Mister says: Just don’t eat so much! HA! Like it’s really that easy.I know the formula as well as anyone. Eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.

And I’ve got a secret formula to make that easier. I don’t eat between meals and I don’t take seconds (most of the time.) Controlling when I eat goes a long way toward controlling how much I eat. But, it’s just not enough. If I don’t walk regularly my metabolism slows to a crawl and I’m not sure it’s possible to eat fewer calories than I’m burning.

Ah, But if I walk 5 miles a day . . .

Walking — especially if I take 3 moderate walks a day — has a power way beyond the calories I’m burning. Most obviously, if I’m walking then I’m not eating. So my trick (when I’m on a roll) is to walk when I’m inclined to snack. Sometimes I end up taking way more than 3 walks!

The thing is that these walks don’t have to be that long. It’s amazing how the miles stack up just walking around the block once every couple of hours.

And on this lovely Sunday in August let’s share our walking experience. Take a camera with you and send me photos of whatever strikes your fancy at katiebird@gmail.com. I’ll post them later this evening.


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Categories : Setting Goals, Walking

Just 4 Today, Degaussing my brain

4 07 2008

Just today, I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. And I’ll weigh myself and use Nutribase and the tools of The Hacker’s Diet to help me reach (and keep) my goals.

And Just 4 Today, I’ll drink my fiber twice (done once), drink 2 liters of water (I’ve drunk about 1/2 liter), walk 5 miles (yesterday, 5), NOT eat between meals & NOT take seconds.

To no one’s surprise but mine, this has been a very confused week. I’ve been very, very sleepy — to the point where I can hardly make myself do anything (although I have been taking regular walks.) And the week has flown by faster than I could have imagined. You’d think I’d be bored with time-dragging since I’ve got so little to show for myself….

Yesterday, I defied mister (who has heard about my regular walks but, never actually witnessed how it works) to actually take my 3 walks (not just one long one with him.) That last one was wonderful.  I felt like I was degaussing my brain.  As I walked all the random splotches and odd colors were sorted out.  The patterns were normalized.  And I could think clearly again.

So that’s my biggest plan for this holiday.  Sure, there will be plenty of patio blogging, hamburgers and baked french fries.  From this Independence Day forward:  I will walk alone (at least once a day.)


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June 17, 2008 — Just 4 Today

17 06 2008

Just today, I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. And I’ll weigh myself and use Nutribase and the tools of The Hacker’s Diet to help me reach (and keep) my goals.

And Just 4 Today, I’ll drink my fiber twice (done once), drink 2 liters of water (I’ve drunk about 1/2 liter), walk 2 miles (which I did yesterday), NOT eat between meals & NOT take seconds.

This is the sort of morning we usually have in May - not June.  The temperature’s on the cool side and there’s no humidity at all.  It would be a perfect time for patio blogging.  But, I really do have to get ready for work.

I’ll be doing my 3415 routine again today — it worked like a charm yesterday! So once again, Just Today I’ll take a short walk around the block (it’s a city block) at 10 and 12 and 3 (ish)

What are you going to do today?


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June 16, 2008 — Just 4 Today

16 06 2008

Just today, I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. And I’ll weigh myself and use Nutribase and the tools of The Hacker’s Diet to help me reach (and keep) my goals.

And Just 4 Today, I’ll drink my fiber twice (done once), drink 2 liters of water (I’ve drunk about 1/2 liter), walk 2 miles, NOT eat between meals & NOT take seconds.

Today seems like a good day to mention the 3415 club — walking 3 times for 15 minutes each time. I’ll aim for around 10 & 12:30 & 3 to head out. Can you join me?

What are you going to do today?


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The 3415 Club: What it is, How it works

12 06 2008

Walk 3 times a day for 15 minutes each time and with hardly any effort we’ll be walking 3 miles a day.

Here’s my original post from February 2007 (wow!)

3415, Walk 3 times for 15 minutes

I’ve come up with a cheap memory aid — the 3415 logo you see near the center of the screen.

We all know that walking regularly is a great way to get exercise. I’ve found that the more often I walk, the less I eat. I start thinking that I don’t want to “waste my walk” on a high-calorie snack. And sometimes I even take another walk to distract myself from my distructive craving. In fact, that was the first “thing” on my list of 6 things you can do to avoid snacking for the rest of the day!

Keep it short

I think the trick is to keep the walks to as close to 15 minutes as you can. We expanded them a little yesterday so we actually walked for over 1/2 hour each time. And it did seem to take a lot of the day. It was a holiday, the weather was good and we had fun — but if I was doing that on a work day, I probably would have felt guilty. The point of the 15 minutes is to make it something that can fit into your break or lunch hour.

Hey! Look at the time — I’d better take my first walk. Can you join me?


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Categories : Walking, Weight Goals