Last April I was getting to the point where my pants barely fit.  I refused to buy new ones (at least in a larger size), and I was tired of packing myself in them like a sausage in its casing.  I’d tried exercise programs in the past, but my problem was I’d be really into it for a couple of weeks, but then, like most people, something would come up.  I’d get sick, and I couldn’t handle the cardio.  I’d get too busy for a week or so, and then I’d just forget to go back to whatever my current plan was.  I depended too much on Josh, and it was hard for us to both be motivated at the same time.

Despite all of that, my plan still wasn’t for me to lose weight.  I was content to be discontent and just deal with it because nothing else had worked for me.  What really triggered me to start walking was a 5k for my aunt, who has MS.  My aunt, uncle, cousins, and I, along with many of my aunt’s friends, were going to be walking in a 5k to benefit MS research in late April, and while I intellectually knew how far 5k was, I physically didn’t.  I wanted to practice a few times because I was afraid that it would leave me exhausted and embarrassed. 

I went to the store and bought a pedometer.  Then I just started walking.  With the pedometer, it was easy to see how much (or little) I walked.  While before the pedometer, I found that I only walked 1-2 miles a day, I found that the 3.1 miles (5k) I was aiming for was no big deal.  I found easy ways to add more steps to my day–I walked around my classroom more; between classes I’d do a lap around the building; take the long way to get somewhere; instead of carrying a whole load of something, I would do one thing at a time.  All of those little steps added up, and without even intending to, I lost seven pounds in 2 1/2 weeks!  I didn’t do any other exercising, and I didn’t change what I ate; in fact, I probably ate way too many calories–we were going out to eat far too often.

In May I decided to walk 125 miles.  I tracked my miles every day on an excel document.  It was tough, but I made it (barely).  By the end of May, I had lost a total of 20 pounds.

Unfortunately, my motivation dropped over the summer.  Josh and I got married out of state, and we spent a few weeks staying with his family, so Josh and I were in an environment where exercising and eating healthy were mocked.  As a result, we kind of just let it fall to the side.  Plus without the structure of school and having a set schedule, I found that I was not very productive.  I’d go on occasional walks, but nothing like May or even April.  So in that time I only maintained my weight, but that itself for me is a victory, because in the past, every time I lost weight, as soon as I stopped working hard at it, it immediately came back with some friends.

Now school’s back in session, and I’ve already lost 3 pounds.  My goal is to have lost another 10-20 pounds by Christmas.  I don’t want to set an exact number because now that most of my flab is off, it’s harder to lose weight, and while walking is easy enough, I’m not going to commit to a hardcore workout routine–I’m just too exhausted by the end of the day.  Walking is great because I can incorporate it throughout my day.  Plus more and more studies are coming out saying that walking is the best exercise you can do to lose weight–it keeps you moving, but it doesn’t cause you to work out so much that you’re exhausted and super hungry, which causes you to compensate by moving less and eating more.

I’d like to know what has worked (or what hasn’t work) for other people.  Any motivation tips to share?  Exercise ideas?

Lindsey