So…I’ve been power walking for about two weeks now. I don’t have a lot of weight to lose and I don’t like running (hurts my knees) so I thought this would be a good aerobic workout. I’m doing about 2.5 mi. in 30 minutes, and I’m walking as fast as I can. How long will it take to see some results? So far, I’m not seeing anything.
Also, I’ve got my little MP3 which has music I like, but I’m not sure the beat is condusive to maintaining a good walking speed. The beat varies (Santana and The Eurythmics). Do you guys work out to energetic music or music you just plain like?
I went to my school’s camp the summer after 10th grade. Every two days we’d hike up a mountain and come back down, sometimes running into “high budget mountaineers” who stared open mouthed at the bunch of teenagers and couple 40sh priests who’d just climbed without ropes a 100-ft vertical. On “rest days” we only walked 28km: it was 7km to the nice bathing spot and we went morning and afternoon.
I gained 10lb and lost 2 sizes. Lemme tell you, I’ll gladly take 20 more pounds if they’re the kind that shrinks my jeans!
A couple of years ago, I started on a walking regimen. I wanted to lose those 10 pounds that had somehow sneaked on me. I can’t run because I lose my breath too easily, and walking seemed easy enough. I walked an average of 3 times a week, for an hour each time. I started out at 3.8 mph, and over the course of 6 months increased it to 4.2. My weight stayed the same (123) until about month 3, then it started dropping by a pound a week. I plateaued around 114 and stayed there until I stopped going to the gym for a while. I got bored with it, I think. I gained maybe 5 lbs back over the winter, then I started going to the gym again, with a similar routine. I got back to 114-115 and have stayed there, as long as I keep up with the walking. I have a treadmill now, so it’s easy to do with netflix and my laptop - I just watch movies while I walk. I could probably push myself more, but I want to rule out asthma before I start running.
As long as you keep up with it, you’ll see results!
Damn! I don’t think I have it in me to do that kind of walking! I’m weighing and scoping the fit of my clothes, but not actually measuring. I want the belly fat to get the hell away from me.
I am definitely doing hills. The music thing…I just started using my MP3 today. Prior to that, I’ve just been walking. But I get lonely! Isn’t that weird? I know Carlos Santana isn’t actually walking with me, but I feel less lonely when I’m listening.
Also, I’m a smoker, so the heart rate is definitely up. I am huffing and/or puffing, but not clutching my chest. I maintain the huff/puff for the entire 30 minutes.
I’ve noticed I’m recovering faster after only two weeks.
My mother claims* that the first 30 minutes of exercise/walking are good for your heart but don’t do anything for weightloss. It’s the walking you do AFTER that first 30 minutes that will help you lose weight. So if you don’t see any results from 30 minutes, consider upping the amount of time that you exercise.
*I have no idea where she got this information and I’m not vouching for its accuracy. She may have heard it from somebody at Weight Watchers.
I’ve been living on under 1000 calories (except for a splurge or two each week) for a long time. I don’t eat desserts, but I’m into peanut butter sammiches (one a day…not fat-free) and cheerios. I eat dinner about half the time. No pop, no chips, but 1/2 pot of coffee with 0% trans fat creamer. Dinner is maybe hamburgers with no bun, fried/baked chicken, baked potatos, corn or green beans, pork roast with mashed potatos…probably not such a good dinner diet, but my husband likes it, so…I’ll do it half the time. Also, Mexican food. I know that can’t be good. But not very often, and I always use 95% lean meat. I also do steaks at least once a week.
Cheerios and skim milk, with 1/2 teaspoon of sugar.
I’m 5’ 2" and my normal weight until the last 5 years hovered around 95 lbs. I’m hoping to get down to 105. I think that can account for the need for less calories than most people, right?