Pedals, Running and Pedometer Steps

This month my exercise is running using the Start Walking Get Running Lose Weight program. I’m advising you as I go what I think of this program for an ongoing way to even out the life stage effects on our bodies and in particular our weight.

This post today will give you my background relative to the author’s of the program.

David Tiefenthaler in Start Walking Get Running Lose Weight describes his own and his wife’s history of running and his decision to make a program that would work for him, essentially someone who once ran, still in his mind was able to run easily with just a little practice only to find that not to be the case and that he required a complete program to take him from the start.

The start for most people is not running even in the past and walking or even counting pedometer steps can be a mental as well as physical, trial. I’ve written extensively on why pedometer steps’ counting is a great walking for weight loss tactic particularly for anyone who is recovering from illness and inactivity.

My history includes a period over several years of almost complete inactivity. I know how low those pedometer steps can go when you do not function normally on a daily basis.

I have become an avid walker over the last few years not only for weight loss but also for health and wellness. With the extensive inaction I wasn’t always overweight yet I was weak and unable to fully function. Using the pedometer steps’ method I was not only able to get an idea of what was necessary for weight loss but also what ‘average’ and ‘active’ categories meant. This gave me a better understanding of the benefits associated with different levels of daily activity associated just with living as well as the associated benefits of exercising for health or weight loss.

For me then Start Walking Get Running Lose Weight is about making an exciting new step on my way to a lifestyle that supports my ideal weight and health. Even considering running is a major change of expectation on my behalf. Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone is a good way to tell if your changes are real. This is not a spontaneous decision but one that developed over a period of a few days. I realized I was still on the automatic ‘I do not run’ mindset. It has become a rite of passage for me now to be taking this on.

So far I have concentrated on preparing. I’m already walking, I’m looking at the ‘get running’ part. I just started with Wii jogging on Mondays. I’ve now added some strength and conditioning exercises to prepare my body for the unusual use of my muscles. I’m strictly adhering to the calorie equation and reducing calories while intensifying my exercise as running burns more calories than walking, in particular as an addition to normal daily activity.

Once I have created a base of core muscle strength I can and will increase the intensity of my running exercise.

Technorati Tags: activity, calories, calories burned walking, counting pedometer steps, exercise, health, pedometer steps, running, walking, weight loss, Wii

The new routine for introducing running with pedometer steps has required some change of emphasis on old tools. I’ve written about my use of the Wii previously however I’ve found that it fits even better with running, than with walking for weight loss.

• I have stepped up my Wii Fit jogging! Yes now I do a daily Step Plus for warming up and then jog around the island for a total of 15 minutes. Finish off with a few stretches.
• I do that first thing and then a shower on the cool side helps lower my blood pressure.  See Walking in Summer to Lose Weight.
• The Wii keeps track of how much energy I put into that run. I now pass lots of other joggers, and really enjoy it as long as I put music on to accompany the jog.
• I’m reintroducing the distance pedometer rather than the pedometer steps counter only.
• I then walk later in the day. Usually I do two short walks of about 15 minutes each followed by some exercises in front of the TV at night.
• Pedometer steps has become a great way to ensure balance in my daily ‘at home’ working life. The routine has added extra discipline that has successfully helped me keep perspective and gain insights at times. Walking is a type of meditation for me, and I gain stress relief and other health benefits that can also be achieved with meditation.
• Having come through a period of injury that did not fortunately restrict all types of exercise I did find I regained some weight.
• This is why pedometer steps and walking for weight loss are ongoing. I am now revising some of my diet habits to focus on ways to improve these. This is such an individual thing that it really requires each of us to fine tune our own ‘diet’.

Technorati Tags: pedometer steps, running, walking, walking for weight loss, Wii