Anyone interested in joining a power-walking thread for New Year??

LOL v. lapsed - I now have a very clear image of you in jogging gear trying to stay upright while a small dog "dances" the may-pole around you!

Nordic walking is increasingly popular over here in Belgium - but it has stayed in the country rather than come in to town ... you might see the odd person with poles in an urban park but not many ... I'm sure it's great exercise though ...

How is everyone doing? I have to confess that I am pretty underwhelmed by my progress so far - it's just a tough time of year - dark, cold, everyone's dc are ill - but let's give ourselves a break and try and get out tomorrow ...even if it's just for 30-40 mins ...we'll feel better for it ...!!

Yes, Nordic Walking is very popular on the continent, that's where I started. I find I walk much faster with my poles, I did an 8km charity race last year and overtook quite alot of runners/joggers . That being said I hardly do it at the moment. DH is working abroad and I have a dog to walk 3 times a day and dogs, leads and poles just don't mix..I've tried!

Walked 2.5 miles this morning. And went into our local pool/gym to see about membership. Still intend to keep walking though, but will be nice to swim as well. If I go twice a week then it's cheaper to have membership, so as I try to take her every week (though it's more of a splash than a swim as she's just 19 months) then I have an incentive to go for a proper swim by myself each week, because if I don't then I'm effectively losing money! (IYSWIM)

I met someone who tried to show me how to do nordic walking (apparently it's very popular in Germany) but I couldn't get the hang of it! Not very well co-ordinated! But it's supposed to be very good for you.
Should be on the wii fit tonight but had no time before cooking and now am too full

Well done Jammy - I'm plodding along right with you - after dark tonight as well (once dh comes home and can baby-sit) which has the advantage that the general populace is spared the sight of me doing it ....

Thanks for the link Verylapsedrunner. There are some outdoor classes in Nordic Walking quite near me actually but I have never quite plucked up the courage. It does look good though ....

Why not give this a try www.nordicwalking.co.uk/.....you soon learn to ignore the rude coments such as "have you lost your skis?"

Well, I walked for just over a mile from work to DD's nursery. And I will take a "detour" on the way to our group tomorrow, aiming to add an extra mile and half to the direct half mile walk. But I can't get up to 5 miles an hour! I'm more of a plodder than a power walker, I'm afraid.

Well done on your 10,000 EXTRA steps Tilly

There's a good range on here:

www.pedometers.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

Thanks Counting - the links are interesting.

I think we are doing about 5 miles in just over an hour when we go out training,so I guess that's about 10,000.

I would quite like to get a pedometer just to see how many steps I do in an average day, not counting extra exercise. I was looking at this one Anyone got one? Any good?

Fantastic! Everyone's back!

And you've all been plugging away brilliantly .... well done on your progress ... am obviously going to have to get stuck in a bit more seriously here ....

Hi Mad - thanks, dd 5 yrs so home from school, am on my 17th game of snap ....grrrr.... very good point about the all-weather wii but I don't have the discipline to exercise indoors somehow ... have lots of Rosemary Conley dvd's sitting unused on my shelves as evidence!!

Mrs Mattie - you are an example to us all - you make me feel ashamed about my previous posting actually ... it is really impressive that you have managed to get out every day for an hour with a newborn ....

A warm welcome ThingsCanOnlyGetBetter (I like your upbeat nickname btw). I know what you mean about walking with intent - it does help - although I love being out doing circuits in the park ...congratulations on your great start ...

Hello Silent Terror - that's really impressive too !!

Yo Jammy and BigTilly ...

Tilly - not sure about 1,000 step question ... it takes 2,000 steps to walk about one mile (does a human walk about 5 miles an hour or I am getting mixed up with a horse???)

anyway ....!!! ....here's more info:

www.dietandfitnessresources.co.uk/fitness_exercise/10000_steps.htm

www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html

BTW - I can't seem to get my pedometer to work for more than about 5 mins - it's so unnecessarily complicated ...I suspect it was designed by a bloke ...

Tilly - mine is a lovely pink Lonsdale one - don't really care if it's accurate - it the psychological thing of looking at it when I get home and seeing how far it says I've walked . Would be harder to keep it up without one. It makes me want to beat the previous days record!!

I only managed a few short (5-10 mins at most) walks today, running errands. Will have a nice 20 minute walk from work to collect DD from nursery tomorrow though

Have walked or jogged every other day for two weeks now,and have lost weight.
Am really enjoying it,don't go very far,about 1 to 2 miles at most,but feel fitter.

OOps

I meant what make is your pedometer? Do you thik it is accurate? Lots of them don't have very good reviews!

Well done TCOGB.

What make is your best frien? I'm thinking of getting one

Jammy - I know exactly where you're coming from. It is a chicken & egg situ - I have been depressed since I put on weight with my first DC and continued putting on weight because I was so depressed about it!! I also feel that it is helping with my eating as well, actually left 2 potatoes on my plate at dinner (highly unusual) as felt full!!

The reason I have taken up walking now is that pre-DC I put on (not as much as now) weight because I was too contented in a relationship but started a new job and had to walk about 2 miles each way and I remember that the weight came off without me really trying. Hoping it will happen again and actually really enjoying it (quite surprised that I look forward to it and feel that I have achieved something when I get home).

Hi TCOGB. I understand your situation. I am about 5 stone overweight. I lost 6 stone a few years ago through healthy eating and lots of exercise (mainly walking). I also felt that the walking helped with managing my depression and that in turn helped me eat more healthily so it was a very positive circle. Unfortunately I have fallen back into bad habits and put on weight and the depression is back (it's a chicken and egg situation my weight and depression) and I hope to take control again this year and hope that walking will help again.

Well done to you, too@ThingsCanOnlyGetbetter!

I'm similar to you. Overweight, have bad back, struggled with depression in the past. I've found walking great on so many levels.

Keep it up! xx

Hey can I join pleaseeee .

I have just started walking to help with depression and flab. I am very proud that I am now on Day6 and am walking into the town centre and back daily (about 5 miles and approx 9000 steps). My trusty pedometer is now my best friend!!

Am very unfit and quite (5 stone) overweight and my legs and back (strangely?) killed me for the first 3 days but have carried on (despite 2 days of getting absolutely soaked with chaffed thighs) and feel so much better already. Am going at a good pace and have shortened the time from 45 mins each way to 30 mins (as of today!), get very red faced though so try to hide if I see anyone I know. It helps walking into town as I need to be going somewhere, can't be doing with walking round aimlessly. I do it straight after the kids go to school and leave housework til after lunch otherwise I know my motivation would run away!

MrsMattie - well done for doing it with kids - the only reason I can do it now is that I'm off work and the kids are at school!!

Hey all. Haven't got a pedometer but have been walking minimum 60 mins a day and feeling GREART for it. I recommend getting out in all weathers, with buggy/kids if necessary. So good for the mind as well as the body. If i can do it 9 weeks post section, with a newborn and an extremely challenging boisterous 4 yr old boy, I reckon anyone can!

poor you, CTGH.
how old is dd?- is she home (from school) or home from much farther away?
this is why I like the wii fit, I can do it without going out if circs dictate.

How long would it generally take to walk 1,000 steps? I haven't got a pedometer

er that should have been 5 or 6 times ..

This is week 4 btw for anyone following this particular programme:

WEEK 4

Entry and Advanced level Repeat week three:

Entry level Aim to add 2,000 steps to your baseline on five out of seven days.

NP Walk an extra 15 mins on top of your daily activity on five out of seven days, broken into two bouts if necessary. Make 3 mins of the total 15 mins at OWP.

Advanced level Aim to add 4,000 steps to your baseline on five out of seven days.

No pedometer Walk for 25 mins continuously on top of your normal daily activity on five out of seven days.

At the end of week three, complete FWT again and record results.

Hello everyone - sorry for radio silence - Hospital ward 10 here in the Counting household - just recovered from flu/cold/cough virus last week only for dd to come down with stomach bug Friday night - 'tis the season!! She's still at home now although much better ...

So my walking has been a bit sporadic .. although if all else fails I just leave the house at 10pm (once dh is home) and rush around the block 5 or 5 times which is better than nowt.

Well done MadLentilEater - you are getting younger by the minute!

And to you Jammy for not letting a w/e away interrupt your training routine ...

Where is everyone else I wonder?