A brisk walk

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I am tired of being a fat bastard, and whilst I've been saying that for ages NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION! So, I've got a little diet worked out (sort of) but I need exercise, and it must be said that NO FUCKING WAY am I gonna be one of those fat wheezy dudes down at the gym, so I decided the best form of exercise for me was a regular nice brisk walk. So, for those who know about fitnessy things:

1) Is this really an effective and efficient form of exercise?
2) How far do you reckon I should go?

My current plan is to get a lift from my dad into Ilford when he goes to work and then walk the 2 miles home every day. I would walk into town and then out again but the boredom might drive me barmy, but anyway, is 2 miles enough or not worth the bother (you'll have to trust that I won't stuff my face when I get home, which I won't I promise)?

― DG, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

New aching feet answers!

― DG, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Two miles should take you about 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes (I think) which is pretty good if you walk it every day. Just make sure that you walk fast enough so that you get your heart rate up. If you can get it up to about 140 bmp (it varies depending on your age) you'll go into "fat burning" mode. Take a walkman to ease the boredom and play fairly upbeat music on it to walk in time to.

― Penny Lane, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My walk to university each day is 25-30 minutes, and combined with the cupboards not being stuffed with snacks and cakes and biscuits (NB I do eat proper meals), I've lost weight worryingly quickly with no real effort.

get a lift from my dad into Ilford when he goes to work

Does this mean getting up extra early? If so, I can't see it lasting long.

― Graham, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Walks = good things. Need to do more myself.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

bicycles! cycling is more fun than walking. check out the highly entertaining norman k-rad guide to extreme cycling here

― geeta, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm sure it is. Never had the patience to learn how to ride one...

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fat bastardom is so relative. Walking is great for general health, but it's not the swiftest weight loss program. I think walking is on the order of 350 kcal per hour, so you'll probably go about 175 cal extra per walk. If you don't change yr intake, you can lose a pound every 4 weeks (if you walk on weekdays only). Wow, I guess that's really not too bad.

I was gonna suggest "Smoke Yourself Thin", the Trey McClure cure.

― Hunter, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Smoking oneself thin doesn't seem to work all that well. Unless one is smoking instead of eating.

― electric sound of jim, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I do believe that's the concept.

BTW DG, stuff I've seen suggests that walking vs. running doesn't really matter, the calories per mile works out about the same i.e. if you run the two miles, you burn at a higher rate, but for less time. As you get up near your anaerobic threshold, you do start burning at a higher rate/mile. But who needs to go that fast? Just walk briskly. We'll say smoking optional then.

― Hunter, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sounds like a great way to start a diet. Really, 2 miles is a pretty good distance, especially if you haven't been exercising almost at all lately. Your body will get a higher metabolism, making you break things down faster and more efficiently.

I would definitely suggest this. But make sure you're going at a steady, relatively quick pace...otherwise it's just like ambling.

― jen, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Walking is good. Just keep gradually increasing the distance, and vary the routes you take etc. Scenary is also important!

― jel --, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the key is to walk in interesting places, then you are not focusing on the walking per se. get a bus somewhere, and then explore. romford- the thames, ilford-walthamstow, stratford-clapton etc

one i planned to do last summer, but didn't manage, was highbury to greenwich. one i did do, was along the grand union canal, that was fantastic, did it in january of last year, got loads of good photos, route: limehouse-mile end-victoria park-south hackney-kingsland rd- angel. i recommend that one

― gareth, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Of course...the grand union canal is best when it gets to West London :)

― jel --, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

it's a bit weird when it goes through the Heinz factory though, the smell of baked beans is overpowering!

― chris, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

scenery is important, but I think a set route is fine in moderation -- don't do it for EVAH -- and there must be landmarks/milestones, that way you know how far you've gone. sense of progress is v imp.

― Alan Trewartha, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I am going to be one of those fat bastards that goes and wheezes down the gym! I went to have a look round one yesterday and EVERYONE IGNORED ME! And everyone was IGNORING EACH OTHER! Ace!! And you get free shampoo and conditioner - I SHALL NEVAH WASH MY HAIR AT HOME AGAIN EVAH!

― Sarah, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think that sounds like a good plan DG. As said upthread just be sure to walk fast enough to get your heart pumping and shoot for about 30 min.

I'm with you here. I tried on some clothes yesterday -- hideous. I plan on running at least every other day although I overslept today. I shall not be discouraged though! I have to run b/c if I walk I'll just go to slow and talk to all the animals. no good.

― Samantha, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm glad to hear of this plan as it will allow DG great opportunites to observe and report on Romfordian activities = more great posts, more fodder for his book. Everybody wins.

― fritz, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A serious alternative, if you're up for it and especially if you live near greenery or organised cycle routes, is to get a bike. For the last couple of weeks I've been cycling round Richmond Park most days, and it's glorious. I get about 50 minutes of really quite decent exercise (probably a bit too vigourous to be ideal for fat-burning, but being fitter is nice and it ups your metabolism for the rest of the day), and it feels just like life is meant to be.

― Mark C, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Whoa there, I'm not planning to do the Romford walk just yet that's another couple of miles, though I will do eventually. I used to walk it every Monday back from Hollywoods cos me and LC couldn't afford the bus fare home.

Mmm, almost dinner time...what do I have to look forward to? A JACKET POTATO? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! I will have to invest in plenty of low fat spread horror. Is 'lite' Philadelphia cream cheese any good, anyone?

― DG, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Butter and HOME MADE SALAD = healthy but nice DG! Also you will be a MASTER CHEF like wot I am!! Also it will taste nicer than low fat spreads. It's passable I supose but would go ick on a potato I think.

I shall haf BEER and Burger King tonight NUM NUM no grease!!! GET AWAY!!! Argrhrhrhrhrhrhhrr.

― Sarah, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Of course, fi you jog it, you'll be there in much less time...and the thing about jogging is, the more practice you get, the further you find your natural speed and the further you go. this is fun. somehow. have never experienced it down the gym, though. I have too many nice pavements and things to run around down here.

― Bill, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I will not jog. I have some dignity.

― DG, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was expecting that answer. A moment to be self-conscious: I am a scrawny shit. Do scrawny shits also look stupid jogging?

― Bill, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Scrawny types don't wobble when they run.

― DG, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If you combine the walking with changes in eating habits (which it sounds like you're doing), that will help lose weight. Walking was my main form of exercise when I was trying to lose weight last year.

― rosemary, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Lite cream cheese is what margarine is to butter. Don't expect it to taste as good, or spread as well. You get accustomed to it though. I also hear a good thing to do is cut back on starchy foods, like pasta and bread. If you eat a starch at every meal, try to cut it out of one.

― Anna, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Lite cream cheese roX0rs and no mistake.

― electric sound of jim, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I am normally a staunch opponent of lite-goods, but I actually prefer light cream cheese to the normal stuff.

― RickyT, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

RIGHT - I haf put on a stone in a very short amount of time. Somone tell me the optimum form of exercise to GET THIS WEIGHT THE HELL OFF ME! I haf decided I am going to sign my life away to join the bladdy gym on return to Brixton and now may time to reinvest in one of those eating disorders you read about in the Mail. EXERCISE. THE BEST TYPE. Tell me!

Spam Lite is the best "lite" product, as any fule kno.

― Sarah, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Lite cheese is fine, but don't go near the extra-super-loite cheese that you can get. You just know they're padding it out with something unsavoury in the extreme, so regardless of the taste you just wonder what the fat substitue might be. Probably sorbitol, I expect.

So no-one likes cycling then? I'm off to Richmond Park in a bit with a picnic and the newspaper. Is it complete unrealistic to expect to catch some rays in March? me = complexion of Nosferatu (and similar hairstyle), so this is urgent+key.

Dancing and shagging are bound to be good exercise, though for me the amount of beer it takes before I can do either sort of scuppers that one.

― Mark C, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I would cycle but:
1) I'm not riding in the road, I'll be killed
2) I don't think I can actually get on my own bike anymore.

But anyway, Marks & Spencer low fat Tuna & Sweetcorn Jacket Potatoes, num num.

― DG, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

SarXor:

I haf put on a stone in a very short amount of time

In fact, what I generally look forward to in my life is drink these days.

hmmm.

― Graham, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Piss off smartarse else I will crush you with my awesome weight.

My stepmother is bringing me kebab and chips before I go to the pub tonight ha ha.

― Sarah, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Today I walked into Romford and now my feet hurt.

― DG, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You need better shoes. More sole support, man. Maybe those ones that light up when you step? The chicks would flock.

― bnw, Saturday, 30 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Haha but I am losing weight hurrah! I am now much less than the 17 stone I was at the start of last week. For lunch I had some Ryvita things with (LITE) cream cheese.

― DG, Saturday, 30 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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