Walking Off the Weight 2

Hello all!

I credit my taking up walking, in conjuction with the awesome cc, with my weight loss success thus far this summer..... I know there are many others out there, walking away the pounds, the stress, the stuff in life that needs to be sweated out, so join us here! We had discussions in WOTW1 from where we liked to walk to how to improve the walking work out after it had gotten too easy, blisters and bras, to how to get the SO to come along with you, so if it's related to walking, it can go here! ( :

Just FYI, but I think I am offically a "wogger" now -- I almost can't say that word without laughing (credit Jess who found it). So let's say walkers, wanna be walkers who need encouragement, woggers, even joggers if they promise not to make fun! =P Hope to see allmy old friends here + and a lot of new ones too!

So---Rock on with your walkin', girls and boys!    --Olivia

hey olivia i put a picture of my two dogs on my profile just for you...
vcooper...i spent my college years up around your area over at oberlin...
amaresmom...i'm not that hard core of a walker...we should meet in CP and take a short stroll sometime...i would love that!

Before dinner tonight I'm going to put on a raincoat and hat and walk with a friend north of here for a mile or so...As for what to do when it gets cold...I think I'll just put on my parka and mittens and go for it!

Well, I headed out for my first walk in several days this morning. It has been so unbearably hot that I just couldn't get myself motivated. But, after I got back, I had that feeling of accomplishment. At this point, I have already lost 12 pounds, and I have to say that there is a difference between the speed and regularity of weight loss with walking and without.

I hear you, V -- it was amaresmom who asked about 5 lb weights because her hubby gave her crap that she should be able to walk with 5 lb..... that's nuts-ola!!!!! I just know how my elbows, forearms, and shoulders fell with 2---I think I could do 3, but no way to 5. At least until I look more like Arnold.... =P

south --- your dogs are FREAKING ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ( : I am so jealous...... I love the little dog I walk!  He is what I picture in my brain when I don't feel like doing a wog---his "smile" and excited self make it all worthwhile!

YAY for lori!!! ( :  Don't you just feel great after a good walk???/ I too totally believe I can tell a difference in how fast the pounds fall off, with and without the walking.  Keep it up! ( ;

I DID IT! I walked in the beastly heat and humidity with the big kids trailing me on bikes and my little one and one I babysit in the jog stroller and all went... well, I don't know. My foot doesn't usually hurt right after I walk, it's the next morning that is awful. So far, so good, though and in general my foot has been much better so here's hoping! It was just nice to be out there burning off some of my mommy aggression. =)

Just wanted to add that I love all your pictures. I don't know why but every time I try to upload some I get an error. Could it be because I have a MAC?

First,   HURRAY!!!!!!    I busted out the noisemaker and funny hat ( : 

And I will be crossing my fingers that the morning is still good too.... ( ;

I don't know if it'd be because of a Mac or not.... I keep getting errors too, but somone at cc finally emailed me and said, hey, error girl---what are you trying to do?

lol, I think maybe my problem is because the file size is too large or something. Read the rules---that was where that tech pointed me (not that it helped so much on my end, but hey, they tried.)

If all else fails, meg, post a question on the calorie-count forum and ask. That's what that one is for, I think. ( :   ('cause we really need some pics, you know...)

 I've been walking for 3 months now, anywhere from 7 - 10 miles a day.  In several 35 minute sessions, not all at once. I noticed today that my back  legs, both seemed to have a slight bulge, which threw me into tizzy for a minute.  But then I realized I'm getting  slightly muscular legs, yikes!  I can't have this! 

 Before, they were just shrinking in size and everyone had been commenting on how small my legs are.  Actually I've always had small legs, but lost a few inches since May.  I don't want big muscles on my legs.  :(  The scale was oddly up two pounds today, when against my rule to weigh on Sunday, I weighed today.  I imagine my fat is turning to muscle.

So I wonder if I should back off on calories and the walking for a while, or keep going?  I don't know what to do.  I still have 15 pounds to make my goal, so I don't dare stop.  But these muscles are making me a little uneasy.  I've never had muscles before.  But then again I have never been such a serious walker either.

Rachel

I will be fascinated to hear what others say, Rachel.... I don't know the answer to stopping muscle appearance.

I wouldn't --stop-- walking, but that;s me. ( :

Walking really is good therapy! I awoke this AM with a very stiff, sore lower back (too much computer time yesterday, me thinks). It was all I could do to get down on the floor to stretch, but I still wanted to try walking. Perhaps if I take a Motrin, I thought, I could at least make it to the track. First time around, I was so slow, but the back began to loosen. By the second lap, back felt pretty good. By the third lap I found myself pumping up, fourth lap really got the ticker going! By the 5th lap I was adding arm stretches and pulls, and then the sixth lap was a cool down. All together, I managed 40 mins including 1.5 on the track and about .75 miles to and from...and I'm so glad. Today is gonna be a big calorie day...a friend won big at casino and has invited us for Steak barbeque with all the trimmings!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thanks, Olivia, I woke up this morning with LESS stiffness in my foot and no pain, so I think my new orthotics and the 3 week break worked. =)

So, I completely agree with Kris that walking is good therapy!

Rachel, walking is NOT going to give you huge muscles in your legs. It will define and tone your legs, but you will not get a bulky, weight-lifter look from walking alone. Make sure to stretch before and after walking so your muscles are long and lean and sexy. If you do any sort of strength-training for your legs, you could back off of that and just count on the walks to tone your legs... but if you have small legs, a little muscle definition is only going to make them more shapely and even sexier. ;)

Happy walking, all! I'm leaving for the beach for a week tomorrow. I'm looking forward to those long walks down the shoreline in the evening and the invigorating walks past all of the beautiful beach homes in the morning with my sister-in-law. We love gawking at real estate. LOL

Hurray for meg!! ( :

I am SO GLAD to hear that the foot is heeding your bidding, girl.

And I totally agree with you, kris---walking is therapy for the soul, mental, physical, emotional.  ( ;  Walking and wogging really helped me kick evil Flo out of my way this month. And I would have smacked someone across the head if they had suggested it to me with mood I was in, but OMG, every bit of work out during that time just made me feel better and better, like all my PMS was doing me some good instead of spreading nastiness for a change.  LOL   Isn't funny how the things we used to avoid are now the things that uplift and inspires us????

HURRAY!

Well I didn't get to walk last night, going to try to get some in today, at a firends house but I think I may try while the kids are in the pool.  I agree with megmc- it's just going to define the muscles and not bulk them up - I think if you are lifting weights with your legs then that's when you are going to bulk up, I need to start stretching more but I feel great when I walk, I think it becomes addictive. My thighs have alway been bigger, I have a friend at work that's like you complain about your thighs but when you walk you can see the muscle definition so you just have to accept what God gave us and go on, as long as you feel great you will look great.

I think i'm going to look for an elliptical trainer for the yucky weather, want to get one to be able to work upper body too.

Thank-you for your responses.  I weighed this morning and was back down,  it was just a scale fluctuation.  I was so glad I rushed right out for my first 35 minute walk.  I don't do any leg exercises, just the walking.  But I never stretch.  OOPS.  I just don't take the time, but I had better start I guess. I definitely do not want to stop walking.  I am so much happier when I get my walks in, and it is so exciting to see the pounds slowly slipping away!  :)

Rachel

lol, I agree with srogers's smart friend.  Keep changing it up, Rachel, until you find some newly fashionable wogging ( : or walking HIIT, jog in short, intense bursts? I don't know--I like to see muscles myself. I'm never going to be ripped after two major, idiotic surgeries probably, but that's ok.  I can suck my pooch in further than in a long time, lol, sad but true. I put on a pair of shorts to move in today, knowing how they fit in June and they were milimeters from falling off. Nice.   I think keep walking and maybe try and find something new and fun too maybe? Where do you walk now....?

To lament my own motivations, I just put on a sleeveless dress that wouldn't have fit, gosh.  I don't know how long, and it fit which is nice. But......  my arms still look fat and mushy. THe bodice and skirt fit, well, decent and I was happy from the side too  (minus the super fat sucker I will wear to, oh yeah, I am mentioning this because my numero uno reason for getting healthy besides just .. getting healthy was for my awesome bf's cousin's bridesmaid gig on September 8th. EEK!!   I have been walking with the 2 lb hand weights since May 25th, dang near every day--although for a good ...3? weeks now I have been skipping the weights in favor of wogging my butt off with Bandit the Wonder Dog and my new mp3 player which rocks my world!  Nothing quite like jamming out to, oh, say George Michael and Alanis seem to be popular on the shuffle today.  But yeah, I have been attempting to do 50 (god, I hate to admit this because I'll get a little crap =P  girlwimp) pushups a day for the whole summer, building up from maybe 30 to start with, I'm pretty perturbed.  How does one force a bride to get all the girls a simple wrap to match the robin's egg blue sash? (I made my own for prom last year when I wore my black Marilyn Monroe dress--2 yards of satin and stitch witchery, $7. Heck, I'll make 'em, but try harder and actually sew them. (I never thought to offer to do that until just now........ do you think?) I really like the look of a very simple piece of pretty fabric--- gathered arm cover, off the shoulder, tied in the back with a little hang or bow... I am so the no sew queen---

I got a little off topic. Forgive me. (  : I woke up and can;t sleep. ( ;

I hate to admit it, but I don't stretch either. I know I should, but I just get up and   go      .....  Well, take my vitamins and then go.  ( : When I first started and was wearing my old, lawn mowing shoes, my shins and ankles hurt, so I went and tried to buy a better pair of walking/running shoes...  So the clerk was maybe 18 and clueless, so I ended up race walking around the empty store and going with the ones that felt the best.  I got terrible blisters and not even blisters quite yet in places on my heel that are just miserable, so I kept trying different things...  I still a lot of days end up wrapping a toe or two, just in case. ( :  Such is the glory that is being me!  I do find, for any new walkers out there, doubling up on your socks if you're rubbing blisters will usually help if the problem is not that your shoes are just too tight or fit incorrectly...   I ended up getting desperate too after a HORRENDOUS hole in the heel of my sock + new, rubber insole = huge-mongous blister pokiong out of said hole...... oi vay!  lol  I can laugh now, but it's only because I finally broke down and got a pair of the padded heel insoles called Heal My Heels I think, for use with high heels for comfort.... Works for me.  

I think you have a great attitude that I try and live my life by as well.   I am so much happier when I get my walks in, and it is so exciting to see the pounds slowly slipping away!  :)   I know my beloved boyfriend is probably tired of hearing about how life changing my work outs are or how ecstatic I am that I made a kick ass veggie soup for only 40 cals a cup, so I can have 2 cups of soup, a huge salad, AND an openfaced sandwich---golly gosh gee!  LOL I am a food dork officially along with being extremely proud to admit I am a fully converted, exercise addict --errr, in a good way.  

I didn't get in any walking yesterday like I thought I would, I'm not going to beat myself up but I sure feel like I let myself down, never before would it have bothered me so that makes me feel like I"m doing something right if I don't feel as good as I do when I walk.

Olivia- can I have that recipe for your veggie soup!!!!

I was just totally bad yesterday with my eating and everything, just sla[ my hand and I will have to do better today.

I feel a million times better when I get out and get my walk/wog on.  I have more energy and feel more motivated all day----like if I already worked up a good sweat, why would I waste all that hard work with crap food? It's a good mental trick for me.....  I will have to be extra diligent once I go back to work, eek---Tuesday!

veggie soup recipe link : http://www.calorie-count.com/recipe/51048.htm l
Can be tweaked to your heart's content or to fit in with the leftovers/veggies you have on hand..... I also do not include spices like chili powder and a little Tobasco because I figure everyone will do their own thing. ( :  I'd have to admit---nost of my soup efforts are pretty similar, but always delicious, freezeable/reheatable, low cal, and super satisfyingly filling.  Basically the jambalaya I made was the same soup base plus more spice and shrimp for a protein kick. I think that would make a great, quick lunch at school with a half sandwich or some Laughing Cow and crackers, a big salad, etc. (I only have 20 minutes to eat, pee, refill my water bottle, run to the officeto make copies and get mail, you know how it is.)   ( :

I'm a firm believer in increasing the peace and stopping the violence, so no self-slapping =P  lol  Was there an inciting event or reason for the eating yesterday? and hey, even if not, just do your best to get back on track.  I always feel a ton better when I know I am eating healthy and fueling my body with the good stuff.

Hi everyone...i just got back from a nice long walk, and I sure do feel better when I get in my 30-40 minute walk...The last two days I had gone out for only a couple of short bursts (in addition to walking those cute dogs!) which really didn't do it for me,  but today was so pretty outside I walked north on 5th Av past the Empire State Building and then up to 42nd and over to Grand Central Station where I could take the subway home. It was just a little over 2 miles.
Olivia, I am doing my resistance band exercises to strengthen the back of my arms so they don't jiggle. I think it's helped my arms tone a bit. I have to do strength exercises, because I am 53, post-meno, and need all the bones and muscles I can still keep.

Thank-you Olivia, for your comments.  I appreciate the fact that you really take the time to visit with those who are committed to walking, and to this thread.  :) 

We live out in the country, with several acres, so I'm able to walk our property line everyday.  My husband keeps my path mowed, although he really doesn't need too, lol.  I have practically burned a path since the beginning of May when I jumped right into a strenuous walking program. 

I got my ten miles in yesterday, and it looks like I will today as well.  It's a little cooler here in Montana.  We have lots of fires however.  I think about 10 at least.  I hope we get some rain to help out those poor fire fighters.  It's been rather smokey here in Montana, but hasn't affected my walking. 

I got on the scale today and was the same as last Sunday, 110.  But I seem to have 2 week plateau's consistently.  I should see a 1 or 2 lb loss by next Sunday I guess.  I decided a little muscle on my legs is ok after all.  My husband asked me what the heck I expected, when I am walking 10 miles a day 7 days a week, lol. 

As daylight savings time approaches, I'll be shortening my walks no doubt.  I do not look forward to shorter days, and definitely not winter.  I'll have to get out my resistance bands and use those faithfully this winter.  Living so far out in the country, it's too costly to have a gym membership.  I don't get into town that much.  Gas prices are just to high!  Well back to my walking!

Rachel

Amen to staying healthy and fit as we girls grow older, southfork!  ( : 

Hope it's not too much, Rachel--- I tend to be a little wordy and over the top sometimes, forgive my excitement!

I would love to walk/wog in the country!  I am blown away by your efforts---10 miles a day 7 days a week? WOW!  I can only imagine you are getting stronger and building some muscles----muscle does burn more calories too, right? So it's like a double bonus---you're stronger and your end approaching weight loss efforts will pay off in the long run!  What got you going at the end of May? Me too......

I could drive to a gym or something too, but who needs to do that when I can walk out my back door for free? I did invest in a bunch of stuff when I kicked off this summer, so I will have some exercise helpers once it's so dark so early---a fitness ball, various weight dumb bells, resistance bands, etc....  I actually found a couple of cool, free websites that you can watch work out videos on....  Good stuff!

How did I not discover that working out made me feel so good a long time ago?   ( :   like,  duh

I got motivated in early May, because here it was almost summer........and * sigh*  another summer I wouldn't be able to fit into boxes and boxes of summer clothes.  I just couldn't stand it another second.

I probably eat too much, 1500 calories somedays, but I need the energy, stamina to keep up this strenuoous walking program.  I just can't wait til I reach my goal, so I can start to maintain.  I am so anxious to find out how much I can eat, and how much exercise I need to look and feel good at my ideal weight too.

I absolutely hear you on the clothes too----I got down to an 8 and have gobs of stuff that is so cute in 8, 10, 12 I'd love to wear again and will soon!!!!!!!!!!   ( :

Heck, rachel---what are you buring in 10 mile a day--at least a 1000 cals, I bet, so really 1500 isn't that much!  I would for sure make sure you feel good and strong, and if not, keep fueling.  Especially as hot as it has been this summer...  ( ;  I think I'd die if I didn't drink a ton of water right now.