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(Motivation was the key)
Sounds to good to be true? Well not really, but just changing my daily habits also changed my shape.
I had been feeling "stale" for a couple of years with no real purpose in life apart from the same old things every day. Nearly every night before going to bed, I would promise myself that tomorrow I would get up early (well I do that everyday anyway) get dressed and go for a quick 10 minute walk to start my day. Of course, next morning came and I would forget and get on with my day (which for the most part involves sitting at my computer and working online).
As the months passed by I found myself getting more lethargic and thinking I should really make an effort to get the old body moving, as gravity was starting to take it's toll and the kilograms were starting to sneak on to my body while I wasn't looking. My bones were starting to creak and muscles seizing up.
Then one day I had a brainwave! Every week day my daughter is in my area dropping her 5 year old at school, so I figured I could make use of that. So I called her up and asked her if she would like to do something for us. My first suggestion was that she park the car here and we would all walk to the school (it is about 10 minutes walk from here). The idea behind it was to have something to aim for daily. In order to do that, I had to be showered and dressed at a certain time each day.
My first idea didn't appeal to her as it was a battle getting the little one ready and out the door as it was. So she actually suggested my next alternative. When she dropped off her daughter she would come here, park the car and then we would go for a short walk. It was to be of benefit to her also, instead of hopping back in the car and going home to do her same ole.
So we started the following day and decided to go "around the block", which took in a nice beachside bike track walk along with the streets. It turned out to be a longer block than we thought but there was no turning back once we realised that, because whichever way we went, we still had a ways to go. I guess it took us 45 minutes because we weren't hurrying. The following day we did a shorter walk after mapping out the area a bit more carefully. As our bones and muscles got used to the unaccustomed workout, we set a 30 minutes a day plan. We would head off in a different direction each day taking in streets and alley ways we didn't know existed, nearly always aiming for 30 minutes, (15 minutes then turn back).
There were off course days where something prevented us doing the time, but remember, it was the "getting up and getting going" that we were trying to achieve. So if one of us was pressed for time or not feeling 100% we would still walk, even if it was only 5 minutes.
After a while people started commenting that my daughter had lost weight and I started to realise that my shorts were feeling a little loose around the waist. So that gave us an added boost! What started out as an excercise for mental health was turning out to be beneficial physically too. It is now 5 months since we first started and I have had to buy a smaller size in shorts and skirts and my bra size has dropped by a cup size. I have also been able to buy snugger fitting tops instead of wearing loose ones that disguised my bulges. Several people that I ran across comment on my weight loss.
So people, if this old girl can do it, so can you. Find a friend or relative who would like to get involved (or even a group of friends). Set aside a certain time each day (we only walk weekday mornings) and stick to it come rain or shine (easy for me to say as I live in the tropics). After a while, it becomes a part of your daily routine. Evenings might work better for some, but no matter what you choose, it isn't hard to find some spare time daily that is mutually agreeable.
I might add that I didn't change my eating habits one bit during this time. Which is why I titled this article "How I lost weight without really trying". I always associated weightloss with controlled eating and exercise so that's why I didn't set out or expect to lose weight. As mentioned, it was a need to get some routine to my life and get the old body moving before I ended up with circulation problems or worse. I feel better about myself and have a more positive approach to things now.
© JanS