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06 February 2015

An hour a day: The benefits

A couple of weeks back I said on here that I had set myself the target of walking for an hour a day, each day and every day until I set off for the TGO Challenge in May.

I had thought that this might have a number of benefits. I need to lose ten pounds of Christmas fat to get down to my 'fighting weight' of 11st 11lbs and by simple maths the calories burned with this programme should do the trick.

Another more obvious benefit will be the gain of a modicum of fitness with the soft tissues being prepared for longer training walks in March and April. As usual, procrastination rears its ugly head and more often than not I find myself setting out for walks as the sun is about to set

And this, Dear Heart, has been the biggest benefit of all. The sunsets have been quite frabjous.




And I am now slightly ahead of target and my pulse rate has already dropped noticeably and wonder of wonders, I have at last lost a couple of pounds.

All is well with my world!
posted from Bloggeroid

20 comments:

  1. Still sitting on my plateau...makes a change from my fence, less pointy.
    But, I live in hope!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you sure it's your plateau you're sitting upon?
      I thought that was the seat of your problem?
      :-)

      Delete
    2. Oooo! Harsh sir. I thought you were a gentleman.

      Delete
    3. You are correct. I am a woeful sinner, fundamentally awful!
      :-)

      Delete
  2. Good show. Last year I lifted weights for about 2 weeks before the Pyrenees. Not as doggedly as planned but still enough to make a big difference. Its alarming however how rapidly you lose the fitness if you don't keep on with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sigh...
      I remember returning from my LEJOG determined to never lose the fabulous fitness.... That determination lasted about three months and then it was a slippery slope to slothdom.
      :-)

      Delete
  3. You could get out every weekend between now and the TGO, and it wouldn't bring you as much benefit as an hour a day, every day. I commend your tactics and doing the same.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aha - I'm talking to a professional bimbler here!
      Yes - I sort of agree, but it's still important to bang in ever lengthening long walks as time goes on, every week or so.
      Enjoy the sunsets, John.
      :-)

      Delete
  4. An excellent plan, Alan. I expect to see a lean, mean but still cuddly machine yomping across Scotland in May.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cuddly - I've always been cuddly (when I'm not being spikey, that is.)
      Mean? As in determined, perhaps, Sir!
      :-)

      Delete
  5. 11-11 is not over weight for someone of your height. Yes, keep fit, thats important to keep the muscles active but don’t worry about your weight. Because of all the advertising at New year there is always that urge to get the christmas weight off but the body naturally puts on weight over winter and we should remember that. We will never beat nature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed Sir,
      11st 11lbs is the target weight, not what I am now, staring down miserably at the bathroom scales. The target is bang in the middle of the recommended BMI for my height. At the moment I'm still within the healthy range, but at the upper end. Not good! not good at all Sir!
      And yes - I agree that we put on weight in winter, but we're now climbing gloriously out of winter at a wonderful rate - we're getting an extra 20 minutes or so between sunrise and sunset every day at the moment.
      It's a good time to get out there in the cool northerlies!
      :-)

      Delete
    2. "every day at the moment"
      NO!
      I meant 'every week at the moment'

      Delete
  6. Alan, the target you've set yourself is about what Marvin Hagler would have weighed when he came into the ring (fighters usually put on a few pounds once the weigh-in is over).

    Hagler was a shade over 5'9", if that's any help; obviously physiology can vary between individuals. Speaking personally, I know I'll never make welterweight again ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marvin only 5' 9" eh? With my advantage in reach I'd have murdered him!
      :-)
      You may not make welterweight Dave, but spend enough in the gear shops and ultralightweight can be assured!

      Delete
  7. The last 2 years I was working I started cycling to work and back each day. The two journeys totalled 1 hour and the difference to my fitness that hour made for 5 days a week was incredible. A good base to build on! Chrissie

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm reading your blog stretched out on the settee with a box of chocs (Lindt as it happens) and the central heating on "boost".

    I may do something next month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where is Miss Whiplash when I need her most.
      Complete, Unforgivable, Bastard.
      Lindt.
      Lazing.
      Happiness.

      This has to stop.
      There will be pain.

      Delete
  9. ...I prefer Green & Blacks... but the lazing, I can do lazing :-D

    ReplyDelete

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