Talk to me about exercise and healthy eating please (not as dull as it sounds, honest!)

[littlebrownmouse]

So, I've decided to do weight watchers diet during the week, relax at weekends and eat a bit of what I fancy and walk briskly for about an hour at least three times a week (I can just about have a conversation but not sing when I'm walking, so reasonably brisk but not over quick). I'm not over weight (5'7'' and weigh 10stone 9 lbs) but weight has been creeping up on me since I stopped obsesively walking around with a buggy containing small children and started working more. I would like to lose half a stone or nine pounds at the most. So, will I A) lose half a stone doing what I'm doing? B) Get fitter? C) Do something about my flabby thighs and muffin tops? and D) How long will it take?

Purlple - just read your post about a 3.5mph being a good walking speed!!! Maybe I should slow down a bit!

My above post should read 'four miles in forty minutes' still gives me reason to be a bit pushed for a conversation I'd say.

Fell off me sofa when I read '4 miles / 4 mins'!! Still, means I can have a glass of wine for the shock

OOh and hope you don't think I was trying to teach a mother to suck eggs with WW (but well done - it does work, doesn't it!)

LBM- I am sorry but I cannot see how you can possibly walk at 6mph- which is what 4 miles in 40 minutes equates to.

Fast walking is defined as 3.5-4mph and anything over that is power/speed walking - wiggling the hips and so on!

Have you actually measured the route?

walking.about.com/od/measure/f/howfastwalking.htm

definitions of fast walking etc.

4 miles in 4 minutes roffle

Umm Purple maybe she IS speed walking?!

Purple - check the WHO stats on female body fat % (aged 18-39.) Basically 20% to slightly over 30% is perfectly healthy.

For a balanced view BMI, plus body fat, plus hip to waist ratio are useful.

And apparently the healthiest BMI to have is around the 22 mark - most resistance to disease.

Purple, you've accused me of being overweight, unfit and now a liar! How very dare you!
Yes I've measured the route, yes I've used a pedometre (which I know how to use by the way), yes I walk fast. Faster than you, faster than most people I know and certainly faster than DH can keep up with. There's certainly no hip wiggling, I have arthritis in my hips and walk a bit stiffly. I come from a family of fast walkers, I don't jog cos of arthritis, I just walk very fast, hence getting out of breath. Actually, I always thought that speed walking was walking, at speed, hence its name and that it involved putting your heal and toe down in a certain order.
Now, please, no more comments about my fitness, truthfulness, ability to cook from scratch (actually, it may have been someone else who accused me of eating processed food) or prefered walking style - YOU'VE NEVER MET ME!!
So now, its my bedtime, and before Purple tries to convince me that I can't possibly go to bed at this time, I'm off. Night night!

LBM- calm down! Noone is accusing you of lying- but you asked for help/advice and sometimes people overestimate their exercise and underestimate their calories. Asking you to consider both of those is not saying you are lying- maybe just not being accurate- big difference!

The reason I queried the walking is because I am a regular walker- 3 miles everyday over hills, including about 3 very steep gradients for half of that distance. This takes me 45 minutes. My average speed is around 3.5 mph, and more when it;s not hilly.

When my DH walks with me he has to jog when I speed-up on the flat.

So, the reason I queried your speed was that walking at 6mph is really power walking- it's VERY fast- not just brisk, and could be a slow jog.

If you are walking at 6mph then that's great and the weight should fall off as long as you keep a deficit in calories at the same time.

Message withdrawn

I have just started powerwalking, I can hardly breathe, let alone speak whilst doing this.
Also have big blisters on both feet.

Riven - something to do with electrical impedance. It sends waves through the body and measures a certain type of impedance that shows up body fat.

www.johnlewis.com/Electricals/Health+and+Personal+Care/Health+and+Personal+Care/Body+Fat+Scales+and+ Monitors/636/ProductCategory.aspx

FAT SCALES.