My bus was on a detour for a couple of months, and the detour meant I had to walk about five blocks at the end of the day. At first, the walk was difficult and it seemed so long. It wore me out. The last couple of weeks, though, it hasn’t seemed bad at all. But now they’ve ended the detour until spring comes, so I only have to walk a block and a half to catch the bus.
I’m bummed. I was starting to lose weight, and it was so easy. I didn’t change my diet at all–just walked a little further five days a week. I want to keep that up. However, going to a more distant stop downtown means I might not get a seat on the bus. Therefore, I’m trying to make myself get off early when we get into my neighborhood. I did this evening, and it was a further walk than what I’ve been doing. However, I managed it, and I’m going to try to keep it up as long as the weather allows.
That won’t be easy, of course. Walking because you have no choice is one thing. Choosing to get off the nice warm bus when you’re hungry so you can walk for fifteen or twenty minutes in the cold is something else. But darn it, I liked that I lost some weight, and I want that trend to continue. I’m not getting any younger, and I want to maintain my body well into old age if I can. It’s easier to maintain than regain, that’s for sure.
I’ll just have to come up with ways to amuse myself while I walk. Tonight, I was singing the song “Monday, Monday” in my head and that helped to pass the time. I could wear my iPod, and I just might do that to keep up my motivation. The only problem is that the earbuds tend to fall out when I’m all bundled up, and I don’t want to fight with those during the walk–it would get frustrating. Maybe if I wear my iPod under my coat it will work, though. I’ll have to try tomorrow and see.
Hubby was just saying that the bigger earphones need to be made with fuzzy warm fabric so they can do double duty as earphones and earmuffs.
I always find it hard to motivate myself to get started but once I get going making it a regular part of my day its not only easy but I look forward to it. I lost 12 lbs over the 3 months walking a mile or 2 a day. I didn’t start out going those distances but I saw results quickly and it made me feel so good about my health and my body that I was eager to keep going just to see what the scale would say the next day.
My routine is to walk after dinner. I have an audiobook account on Audible.com and if I’m not listening to music I listen to a good book. During the summer there were days I walked 4 to 6 miles regularly because I wanted to keep listening…so I kept walking. Last year I bought a treadmill off of Craigslist for 50.00, now that it’s cold I turn on my audiobook and walk 2 miles each night.
Good tennis shoes will prevent cramping in your legs and prevent unnecessary leg fatigue and I just gradually added distance until I was in good enough shape to walk endlessly.
Good Luck!
I think it’s terrific that you’ve walked and lost a little weight. It is also very hard to make yourself do something when nice and warm with our winters here. I don’t find the cold as bad and I find the wind. It tends to be very windy out here where I live. We have no buildings to block anything. But I think it’s terrific that you’ve started that pattern.
I do have an iPod but I’m not “in love” with it like a lot of people I know. I do think it’s because of those “earbuds” or whatever they call them. I have very sensitive ears and the really bother me. I feel like they are always going to fall out so I’m always playing with them and then my ears get so sore. When I used to run, I really liked the little Walkman I had. Maybe you could try and find some different headphones that would work with the iPod. Music really helps keep you going.
Good luck Amy.
Mary, your hubby is brilliant. I bet iPod earphone earmuffs would sell like crazy! I did wear the iPod when I walked today and the earbuds stayed in, so hopefully that continues to work. Much easier going with music.
Jody, 12 lbs is fantastic! I can’t walk as far as you–health problems complicate my attempts to exercise. But every bit counts, and I find that I can gradually lose some weight with the amount I do. I’m determined to keep getting off the bus early until it gets too snowy and cold. If I can lose 10 from where I’m at and keep it off, I will consider it a success. 15, and I’ll be ecstatic.
Joy, at first I thought you meant your ears were sensitive to sound. I can’t use the earphones that come with iPods, because they are too loud even on the lowest volume. I found earbuds that have a volume adjuster, and I like those much better. I’m not sure they would help with your problem, though. That would be frustrating!
What I meant Amy is when I put something like that in my ears, they itch and then I move them and they come out. I’m so used to moving them around that even when they aren’t itching, I still play with them. Sorry about the confusion.
That would drive me nuts too, Joy!
Amy…when I first started walking I was recovering from lung surgery. Believe me walking a block was hard work. I’ve been at it on and off for about 7 years, make no mistake…I didn’t start out there. Am surprised however at how far I am able to go without getting tired, tts such a contrast to where I started. Good Luck!
Jody, I dropped you an email. If you didn’t get it, let me know!