Um, well, I’ll concede that it certainly sounds crazy, yes……..

But here’s the thing – I hate the gym. I really, really loathe it and the way I feel so out of place there. I’ve tried going to different classes and I’ve tried the running machines and I’ve tried just going for a swim and a sauna but I can’t quite shake off the feeling that I shouldn’t really be there.  It’s more than just the weight thing, it’s the feeling of being ‘forced’ to do something at a time that suits the aerobics teacher or leisure centre manager rather than when it suits me. It’s the absurdity of jumping in the car, trying to find a parking space, handing over (a not inconsiderable amount of) money, finding a locker, getting changed, bouncing around for 50 minutes to some bloody awful music, negotiating a lukewarm shower, getting changed back into the clothes you came in and then driving home. Life is too short, surely?

Not that I love walking with a huge amount of passion either, it is after all e.x.e.r.c.i.s.e. I love the idea of it very much though, especially when I’m flicking through ‘Country Walking’ or ‘Trail’ or dreaming about frosty winter mornings on the summit of one of the Wainwrights, hot chocolate in one hand and flapjack in the other as a reward for all the effort of the climb. However, actually getting out of the house (or even out of bed) and just walking is something that has seemingly been beyond me for a good two years now.  It’s ridiculous really because regular walking (both hill and on the flat) does do wonders for me. I lose weight, my skin feels great, I look younger (hurrah!) and just getting out there seems to make me, well, a better person. I know in my heart of hearts that it’s walking will get me fit, both mentally and physically – I just need to put on my walking boots again and start using them.

So, the two hour a day thing – bit extreme, no? Yes, but I do have a lot of weight to lose and as I am in the extremely fortunate position of being able to work from home then I can just about spare that two hours a day (which I just waste in front of the tv at the moment).  At my current pace, two hours equals approx 6 miles which is a round trip into town and back.  If I can aim for 5 days of walking that 6 miles plus two days of hill walking (I live 30 secs from the South Pennine Hills, literally) then that should give me a kick start for the first 3 or 4 months. Also, although I am (I swear to God) going to cut out crisps, chocolate and diet coke I don’t really want to have to cut down too much on food as dieting just makes me want to kill everyone around me. Two hours of moderate to fast walking a day plus a sensible diet (based very loosely on WW Core) seems pretty achievable to me, and it’s certainly worked in the past.

Roll on Jan 01 2009.

Tags: Walking

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