One of the many aspects of my post-lap-band-surgery program that fell by the wayside was exercise. I was supposed to walk at least 20 minutes three or four times a week, but I'd done exactly nothing.
About the end of last month, I finally pulled myself sufficiently together to make an effort at walking. I dreaded it, because walking causes me major back pain. So on the first evening, I only walked about a quarter of a mile. It didn't hurt much, but I figured I'd be sore the next morning.
I wasn't, though. So the second night, I walked twice as far -- with no problems at all. I concluded that the 20 pounds I've lost so far must have been enough to almost eliminate my back problems!
I kept increasing my distance until, ten days later, I walked three miles in forty minutes -- a miracle for someone so hopeless as I had been! After that, I started carrying a bottle of water as a weight to exercise my arms while I walk.
And tonight, even though it was hot and humid, I walked for 45 minutes, and only stopped then because a thunderstorm hit!
I'm just amazed at how quickly I've gotten stronger, how much muscle I've built in my legs, and how much sleeker my lower half is now -- in just 25 days!
The key, I think, is that I'm walking every single day. They always tell you to exercise every other day, and I know that's better for you in some ways -- but somehow, an every-other-day commitment is easier to slip out of. Goodness knows I've never managed to follow through on that kind of exercise program.
But by requiring myself to take a walk once in every 24-hour period no matter what, I've been able to stay committed. So for the first time in my life, I've followed an exercise program for 25 solid days -- and now I find I actually want to walk, I like it, I'm eager to do it!
It'll be hard to maintain this during the summer, because the heat will soon be unbearable and I'll have to go someplace to walk indoors, or find other forms of exercise I can do inside the house. But I really believe that as long as I do something every single day, I can be faithful to this commitment.
Just thought I'd share my breakthrough, in case it might work for you too!
About the end of last month, I finally pulled myself sufficiently together to make an effort at walking. I dreaded it, because walking causes me major back pain. So on the first evening, I only walked about a quarter of a mile. It didn't hurt much, but I figured I'd be sore the next morning.
I wasn't, though. So the second night, I walked twice as far -- with no problems at all. I concluded that the 20 pounds I've lost so far must have been enough to almost eliminate my back problems!
I kept increasing my distance until, ten days later, I walked three miles in forty minutes -- a miracle for someone so hopeless as I had been! After that, I started carrying a bottle of water as a weight to exercise my arms while I walk.
And tonight, even though it was hot and humid, I walked for 45 minutes, and only stopped then because a thunderstorm hit!
I'm just amazed at how quickly I've gotten stronger, how much muscle I've built in my legs, and how much sleeker my lower half is now -- in just 25 days!
The key, I think, is that I'm walking every single day. They always tell you to exercise every other day, and I know that's better for you in some ways -- but somehow, an every-other-day commitment is easier to slip out of. Goodness knows I've never managed to follow through on that kind of exercise program.
But by requiring myself to take a walk once in every 24-hour period no matter what, I've been able to stay committed. So for the first time in my life, I've followed an exercise program for 25 solid days -- and now I find I actually want to walk, I like it, I'm eager to do it!
It'll be hard to maintain this during the summer, because the heat will soon be unbearable and I'll have to go someplace to walk indoors, or find other forms of exercise I can do inside the house. But I really believe that as long as I do something every single day, I can be faithful to this commitment.
Just thought I'd share my breakthrough, in case it might work for you too!