Conference rocks::weight_control

.0>    Can I hear some results of WALKING as a source of exercise?  What
.0>    I'ld like to hear is how far, how often, what time of day, how much
.0>    weight & inches were lost, and how long did it take to see results.

    	Back around the beginning of the year, I started to change my
    eating habits and exercise.  I gained 30 lbs the previous year mostly
    from working late hours and eating in response to stress and fatigue.
    
    	My exercise consisted only of walking.  I did a leisurely 3
    miles every day of the work week, for a total of 15 miles/wk.  Not
    only did it give me a reason to eat a proper lunch, but it also helped
    me lose about 1/2 lb, almost entirely fat, per week. I lost a total
    of 21 lbs in ~18 weeks.
    
    -mike z

    I find that the only way I can really loose weight "quickly" is
    to walk, swimming (my other and constant exercise) only seems to
    help me maintain. I find it easiest to walk in the morning when
    I don't have so many things distracting me away from it. I love
    the morning when the world is calm and peaceful. It's a great way
    for me to get my day pulled together, also I tend to have much
    more energy. I find that 3 miles/day (I try do them in 45 minutes)
    works great. 
    
    I also would love to know about race walking. My girlfriend did
    it and lost lots of weight. She loves it!
    
    nancy

About 6 years ago (when I didn't have so much weight to loose) I was
going to Weight Watchers and losing about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds a week.  Then
I started taking a brisk 1 to 2 mile walk every evening.  I started to drop
2 to 3 pounds a week.  I couldn't believe it.  Plus it made me sleep better
and have more energy during the day.  

That was when I lived in Florida before I got married.  Now that I'm back in
New England, I haven't done any regular walking.  I hate the heat and
humidity of the summer and the bitter cold of the winter.  But I should 
at least get back to walking every day in the spring and fall.  

There are so many other benefits to walking too, not just loosing weight.
It's great for your heart and your circulation, it gives you time to clear
out the cobwebs and think about the important things in life or nothing at
all, it is relaxing, and it is time that you take for yourself - something
most of us don't do enough of.

Susan

    Absolutely! Walking is a _marvellous_ form of exercise for overweight
    people. Relatively safe, no special equipment, and a real pleasure
    in reasonable weather. Do it with company or alone - if you're like
    me, it may be one of the few ways you can be really alone in a crowded
    day.
    
    Yes, it burns calories too. See Martin Katahn's book, "The 200 Calorie
    Solution" (I got on my soapbox about this in the PROGRESS conference!)
    Recommendations - work up to about 3 miles a day, aim for 4 mph,
    but take it easy to start with, especially if you're not used to
    exercise. Once you're used to walking briskly, you'll _really_ begin
    to enjoy it after the first 20 minutes or so.
    
    It worked for me once before - but I gave up and put the weight
    right back on again. I'm relying on it this time to help once
    more...
    
    - brian

    There is a magazine on the sport of walking.  Their address is:
    
    The Walking Magazine
    P.O. Box 52341
    Boulder, CO 80321-2341
    
    It comes out every two months.  A 2 year subsription is 17.95; 1
    year is 9.95.
    
    Also...
    
    The Rockport Shoe Company has (I hear) an excellent book on walking.
    You can either buy it at their retail store (in Marlboro, MA) or
    order it by mail.
    
    To order, either "Fitness Walking" or "Fitness Walking for Women"
    write to          
    
    Rockport
    Dept. W
    72 Howe St.
    Marlboro, MA 01752  
    
    Send 10.45.
    
    Also, Rockport publishes a free fitness walking test.  For a copy,
    write to
    
    Rockport Fitness Walking Test
    Box 480
    Marlboro, MA 01742

	I also recommend the "The Walking Magazine". There are helpful
	articles on walking of all forms. In the last or previous
	issue they did a series of articles on people who used
	walking to recover from serious medical conditions. One person
	was extremely overweight and used walking to slim down. What
	was interesting was that this guy's wife was of regular weight
	and attractive. After the guy lost the weight the limelight
	turned from the wife to him. The couple got divorce because she
	could not deal with the fact he was in the limelight and
	she was'nt anymore.

	If I remember I'll post more information tomorrow.

Ed Swartz

    also, checkout this months issue of "PREVENTION" magazine. Possibly
    your local library might have a copy. Walking is a topic frequently
    covered and they have a walking club also.

    I walk 3 miles at lunch everyday (Mon-Fri) it takes me about 30-40
    minutes.  I also skip lunch too and it has paid off.  I lost 30
    pounds!
    
    

    Another one who totally believes that you can't diet without exercise. 
    Now walking 4.5miles 5 times a week, but time doesn't permit me to go
    much over 5 miles a day.  This and a 1500 calorie diet a day.  This
    will drop to 1200 in about four weeks.
    
    The days that I don't walk I never feel as well as when I do.
    
    ..dale