You guys, I just got back from a business trip where I was staying at a hotel with such a nice exercise room, I couldn't use it!!! It was like a night CLUB and the people in there were all sleek and dressed up in the latest exercise gear. They were all next to each other running on treadmills and elliptical machines like hamsters on wheels gone mad and running from the devil himself. A far cry from the usual motel exercise cubicle with it's dusty treadmill and Bill O'Reilley blaring on the tube in the corner...

I made it a point to walk everywhere and take at least 2 flights of stairs before I would get on the elevators. I walked before workshops, during lunch and all evening until dark.

Now, I wish I could say my food was sterling on this trip, but I'd be lying. I ate a little more than usual. No protein shakes, no protein bars. Eggs, fish and a special (read decadent) dinner and drinks each night. I even managed to come home with one day's vitamin container untouched...WTHeck?

Anyway, things did NOT go according to my carefully laid plans.

This morning I weighed in and....

I was down another pound! Woo HOO! 138.

People, I'm a believer. Walking WILL DO IT if you're willing to put in the time. I did not walk fast, I just walked a lot and tried to throw stairs in every chance I could.

Exercise is the miracle you seek. Make it play if you can, enjoy it if at all possible, but do something.

Congrats on loosing that extra # Way to go!! And great job choosing to walk everywhere. Think of how much more active and fit we could be if we did that everyday. Great idea.!

Amen, sister!!! Way to go..... Exercise is my new best friend as well. Six weeks +2 days postop and down 55 pounds. I've been walking from 1 to 1 1/2 hours per day plus riding my bike and I feel great! I sleep well and have more energy than I know what to do with. Great post, Sandi!!! I always look forward to reading what you have to say....

Oh Sandi, every word you speak is so true. I have had problems getting to Curves every day since Jake's car broke down but I still take my walks through the neighborhood ( ) no matter what. I know that as long as I am going round those 1.5 to 2 mile blocks in the neighborhood at least two or three times a day, I am okay.

Just one more post that let's those of you who don't exercise know that it is KEY to SUCCESS! Thanks Sandi and GET UP AND MOVE PEOPLE!

Excellent work with your way of living and thanks for sharing it here. In my opinion, the free-weights are for LOOKING better. No matter how much you walk, you wont get toned arms and shoulders. So when I do use the machines and such at the gym, I always try to do my cardio by just plain old walking the dogs. That is what I've done since day number one! Daily dog walks for exercise...faster now than before, but the same form of exercise.

It's key!

Awesome Blossom Sandi!!

Huge pat on the back and a great big smile!!

Great Sandi! Point taken! Congratulations on another pound gone for good!
And you did it on alien turf! What an inspiration!

AMEN SISTER!!

WALKING is MY BESTFRIEND! There ya go! Just goes to show you...if when we are NOT perfect, we gotta KEEP ON MOVING!! I'm a FIRM BELIEVER IN THAT!

I think that is the one thing since surgery that amazes me!! BEFORE wls I complained if I had to walk 5 feet or if my husband parked too far out from where we were going..I'd COMPLAIN!

Not anymore... THIS IS LIVING!!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

Julie

I wanna go for a walk! I was planning on going tonight after work (7.20am Tuesday here) but it's pouring with rain at the moment. If it clears by tonight I'll have my shoes on sooooooo fast!

Since I broke my am I have only been for 1 walk because I am still only in a partial cast until Friday so my hand can move which causes pain if I'm not careful. I NEVER thought I would be saying I miss exercise but I'm feeling really cooped up. Once I have my full cast on I will going the gym and get on the cardio machines. Roll on Monday!!

Happy walking everyone

I couldn't agree more. I always throw in other forms of exercise but that is just for the fun aspect. I always end up back in my neighborhood with the dogs or on my treadmill. Its the one form of exercise that I can always do no matter what injuries I have had!

WOHOO congrats on getting 1 lb closer to goal!

smooches xx

Right thats it!! I'm gonna hold my breathe until this rain stops so I can go for a walk!!

((((GASP)))) hmmmmmmm not the best option I'm thinking. Oh well, maybe the sun will come out tomorrow

I guess this rain and a drop in temperature is a sure sign that summer is nearly over. I'd better start shopping for my winter wardrobe since I have absolutely no winter clothes that I can fit. Oh dear what a dilema

Walking is wonderful! I can hardly wait for warmer weather so I can get out. Until then, walking around WalMart works. The exercise guru w/ my hospital's bariatric program told me to go to WallyWorld and push a cart around.
Good post, Sandi. And good choices on your trip.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Walking is THE best thing we can to to get our bodies moving and losing!

I began daily walks -- maybe 20 minutes a day -- at around 220 pounds, I guess. In the evenings during the summer, I would walk up and down the culdesac -- 25 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes! And the neighbors called me the "Walking Lady" and probably snickered. But by the next summer, they sure weren't laughing anymore!

By controlled eating and walking alone as my form of exercise, I went to a healthy weight. I've maintained a healthy weight for 11+ years now!

It is important to build up your muscles -- it builds up the metabolism which helps you burn fat faster, makes you look better (as Kim said) and protects your joints and bones from injury. You should definitely work to include toning work (weights or weight machines and other resistance work) as part of your regular fitness routine.

Walking is something we can ALL do. Outdoor walks when weather allows, mall walking, taking the stairs, walking the few blocks to the store instead of driving. Pump your arms, move quickly, breathe and enjoy!

You'll love the results. Good post, Sandi!

Judy

WOW..inspirational!

I'm so glad I read this post, Sandi! I've hit some sort of wall with working out....I hate the elliptical, the bike and treadmill are boring. I think it's a gym phobia I had. But I live in the hills and you can't get anywhere in my neighborhood without either going uphill or downhill so I decided to just start walking around my neighborhood. I had in my head that if my heartrate wasn't at 150+ and I wasn't sweating my butt off then I wasn't doing myself any good. Just goes to show you the duration is just as important. So now I definitely will hit the hills around my house and hopefully things will start happening.

Thanks for the post!

Sandi,

I'm a visual person and truly appreciate the picture you painted of the exercise room at the hotel. LOL! This post reminds me of the 10K I did one day after my one-year surgeversary. I'd trained for the event and was plugging along when I looked across the medium at the runners coming not far behind me. The very last person was walking and being followed by two police cars to ensure her safety. I've no doubt she weighed between 400-500 pounds. She inspired me, and I think about her each time I walk and/or run. Countless people were so impressed that I was running a 10K and expressed their inability to do so. I challenge that based on the determination of the woman who inspired and still inspires me to go the distance. So . . . who's lacing up their tennies?

Doug ~ Congratulations on the weight loss, dude! Way to work the tool!

Kim & Judy ~ high5!!!

Jeanie ~ I like your bunnies. LOL!

Sandi,
You're so right!!!!! Walking is the only exercise I don't get tired of!

I just seen this post sorry so late. But anyhow I also can see those people in the exercise room in my head...LMAO. Oh my goodness what a good discription I want to get out and walk but I live here in PA and we got freaking snow AGAIN lastnight. I am so sick and tired of this weather!!!! I think it doesnt help with my depression eighter. Is walking on a tredmill the same as walking outdoors? Just wondering...I have a tredmill but it is full of dust right now...hehehe. I do exercise at curves (dont get me wrong) I am getting my exercise but I always wondered about the tredmill thing vs outdoors walking??? Thanks Michele

Walking on a treadmill is different, but still excellent. The point is to move for as long as you can. If you set the incline up even a little, you don't have to go fast to get an excellent workout. If you cannot face the cold outdoors, use your treadmill by all means. My trusty old rusty old treadmill GOT ME TO GOAL, and I still use it when I'm just having "one of those days".

I'm so glad that so many of you could relate to this post. MereCA, living with hills is so great. I LOOK for hills now. You'll get the best possible work out for lower body walking your neighborhood. Throw in some upper body work (tennis? push ups? kayaking?) and you're going to have the long lean sculpted look every woman wants!

Carry on my friends. We'll get there one step at a time! Oh, and I love my cheap little pedometer. Someone gave it to me for eating more veggies every week last year. It's very inspiring and motivating to try to get my steps in...10,000 steps is just about 4 miles for me.