Like most North Americans, I could very easily stand to ramp up my fitness level and lose a few pounds, so I chose to do a 4-Week Walk for Weight Loss program.
Inspired and guided by Prevention’s online tools and resources for walking, I decided to try out their 4-week walking program for beginners who just want to lose a bit of weight and get in better shape.
Four weeks of walking, with the occasional day of rest? Yeah, I think that’s do-able!
To take advantage of that new-school-year feeling, I chose to do my 4-Week Walk for Weight Loss in the four weeks from September 1st – 28th, 2007. But you can start your own personalized walking program at any time, if this looks like the kind of exercise program that might suit you and your lifestyle.
4-Week Walk for Weight Loss
Day 1: I don’t think I’m allowed to count the strolling time that went into my Saturday morning errands, am I? …the key concept for today is intensity…
Day 2: No walking. This is a day to prepare to get serious…
Day 3: This is what they call interval training, designed to give a kick-boost to your metabolism and help burn fat…
Day 4: I’ve picked up a walking buddy to help keep up the motivation, and it’s all about a bit of body shaping today…
Day 5: Yeah, I said that I wasn’t going to weigh myself until the end of the week, but curiosity got the better of me…
Day 6: Nothing too fancy, today — just a good brisk walk, and a whole lot of water…
Day 7: We’re 25% done, already! Give yourself a small reward for sticking with this Walk for Weight Loss…
Day 8: Rest…
Day 9: It’s surprisingly hard to get back on track after a day without walking…
Day 10: A funny thing happened in the middle of that second fast/slow walking cycle, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t just delirium due to oxygen depletion…
Day 11: Feel the burn! — but then slow right back down and walk at a sensible pace…
Day 12: Exercise can sometimes make us feel more hungry than usual, but regular walking is no excuse to pork out…
Day 13: Today it’s about endurance — going for distance, not speed…
Day 14: I don’t know how my walking pals are feeling today, but my butt is sore!…
Day 15: Rest…
Day 16: To start “second-guessing” the program at this point would just be an excuse to slack off…
Day 17: I borrowed a heart rate monitor gadget from my scary-athletic older sister…
Day 18: Lessons learned…
Day 19: Something is mixed up here, because yesterday was most certainly not a rest day…
Day 20: How to burn off fat more quickly, and fit walking into a busy day…
Day 21: It’s about moving around more quickly, and moving a little bit more ….
Day 22: Rest…
Day 23: It’s hard to believe that I actually forgot to weigh myself…
Day 24: I’m going to suggest just taking a few minutes today to read up on all the good things that walking can do for your body…
Day 25: Wow, this morning’s fitness walk has got to be the most intense on the program yet! …
Day 26: They say it only takes 3 weeks to make a new habit…
Day 27: Today was, if anything, more busy than yesterday — but I learned my lesson …