Hi there
As a member of the "unfit but trying to change" crowd...I can tell you that your post about waiting 4 months is certainly true for me. Here's some history...
Last Father's Day 2003 my 18 yr old daugther invited me to come to the track with her to walk around while she ran....I am embarassed to say that 1/2 way around the quarter mile track my hip bones were on fire...not the muscles or tendons but the bones actually were hot and in pain....my lifestyle had become so sedentary that they were not used to the motion of walking any further than livingroom to kitchen...bathroom, etc. I'm 5'2" with between 65-75lbs of excess weight. Menapause depleted me of any traces of energy or optimism...rather than wanting to kill others (hehe as some have done) I basically wallowed in my own misery and wondered 'what is left?' 'why am I here?'....I seldom left my home as I was so ashamed of my appearance. After that humbling experience at the track...I got out my tune belt and dusted it off and popped in my Kathy Smith walking tapes 5-6 days per week and went from 23 minute miles to 17 minutes miles...during those first weeks I had horrible pains in my hips and shins of all places. I guess I am telling you all this as I was surprised at how difficult sustained walking had become for me. I walked through the pain....but I didn't lose any weight. My diet did not change during this time...I didn't keep track of what or when I ate. I expected the walking to make some changes and hoped it would give me the incentive to change my eating habits.
Last fall my friend Rhonda invited me to walk with her in the evenings. We both needed to lose approximately 65-75lbs to be within a healthy weight range for height. As I had dropped to walking alone 2-3 times per week, we both felt it would be fun to have each other for motivation. It was sporadic for awhile, however after Christmas we made a commitment to walk 6 days(nights) per week. We started out at 2 miles and it took us 40-45 minutes (sometimes because of high winds and blowing drifting snow hehehe) but are now up to 3 miles minimum (4 on sat/sun) and walking 15-16 minute miles. We glow with pride lol.
I learned about FitDay here and began logging my food intake. I was shocked...even foods that I assumed were healthy were not so great if eaten in momentous proportions (lol). I now try to eat 4-6 times per day to keep my metabolism moving~it's amazing but I gained all this weight eating once 'maybe' twice per day. However I could pack in as much as my husband at a sitting. I never felt hungry throughout the entire day....maybe around 3 I would begin to think of getting something to eat. I had to force myself to eat a packet of oatmeal within an hour of waking up....then maybe some yogurt a couple hours later, etc. Finally at 45, I'm learning how to listen to my body and feed it when it's hungry. That food is fuel not fun. (although a few weeks ago I had McDonald's Sausage Biscuit & Egg with Hashbrowns and now know what a food orgasm is...)
Anyway, in conlusion (sorry so long!)....I have only lost 16lbs. I didn't measure myself until March 1st and the statistics were so humbling I wanted to curl up with a New York Cheescake and never walk again. On April 1st I measured again and lost 6 1/2 inches overall. I still have 59lbs to go and I just realized that this will probably take me a year or more. This post reminded me of my initial dream. Seven and a half months at 2 1/2lbs per week would be 75lbs right? NOT...I need to focus on the changes taking place under the layers of fat. Six months ago walking from the parking lot to the back of Walmart to get my Cinammon Hazelnut Creamer (which I refuse to give up and you can't make me!) I was sweating and out of breath, heart pumping loudly in my ears. Now I can cruise to the back and up to the check out without a THUMP THUMP THUMP or a drop of sweat! I can do 25-30 minutes on my Nordic Track as compared to 5 minutes of agony....and I think I might be the most excited woman in anticipation of Cathe's beginner/intermediate workouts!
I am saving my penny's to purchase Cathe's strength workouts. I know it's the next step for me! I have my Troy Lite and I'm ready to rock!
~kandy~
