Week 2: Get Into Gear and Stay Safe

 i just got myself a new pair of walking sneakers as well! i have to get new ones every 4 - 5 months or i get terrible shin splints.  i only walked 1/2 mile 4 days last week. but i am going to up it to 1 mile a day starting today.

i am lucky and live in a community that is not very busy at the time i walk, but i always make sure i walk on the correct side of the road! facing traffic!

When I started the diet I weight 226 (not the 220 I put in initially, which was just a "bad" guess). I have really only weighed in once, last Fri., 9/18...when the scales showed an unbelievable 218. I was delighted. But the Weight Tracker continued to show my initial weight as 220. So because I changed that, all the other weights were adjusted accordingly. Whew. I never did weigh 232...but I guess none of this matters, does it? I have lost a glorious 8 pounds and I feel wonderful.

Somebody pinch me, I think I'm dreaming that I can actually LOSE 60 pounds this way. I had been toying with the gastric bypass route, except my nail tech. did that. She had a terrible time initially. Nothing to eat for a long time. She has lost 100+ pounds since last October, but not through a healthy weight loss plan like this one. Plus, I don't like my body cut into except for emergency procedures. The kind of elective surgery she had sounds too risky to me. 

I'm glad I decided to try SB just as the Fall Walk Challenge began.

My best tools are pepper spray I hold in hand and my cell phone in my fanny pack.  I walk by myself on a fairly busy street, but I feel better with my "tools."

I have found that proper walking gear is a must, as there is nothing worst that aching feet after a walk.  Five months ago I purchased new walking shoes and two months ago I purchased a second pair w/ my birthday money. I tend to use one pair of walking shoes during the week and the second pair of walking shoes for weekends, I feel that this will slow down the wear/tear on my shoes--making then last longer in the long run.  I've also bought walking shorts for the summer and found that they were very comfortable to wear in the hot Atlanta weather.  For fall/winter I've purchased a new pair of long walking pants and a headband as I hate to have cold ears.  I'm ready to continue this fall walking challenge and feel I have the right gear to wear for it!!!!

My biggest challenge this last week has been needing rain gear, Atlanta has had tons of rain w/ no end in sight.  So, I had to find my walking tape, learn how to use the DVD and learn how to walk indoors.  So my tip for the week is to have a back up plan in the event the weather doesn't allow you to walk outside, i.e. use a walking tape.

So far, so good, for my first week on the fall walking challenge!!!! 

Good luck everyone and keep up the good work on the fall walking challenge!!!

Update on my week 1 goal.  I had set out to walk 30 minutes a day.  I met that goal on 4 out of 7 days.  On 2 of the days, I walked 60 minutes, but even if I did try to make that count in my own mind, it doesn't work out mathematically.  On to week 2, with the same goal in mind.  Wish me luck!

In terms of gear, my favorite shoes are ASICs running shoes.  Yes, running shoes, even though I'm focused on walking.  They provide great support, and with my orthotics for my orignial diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis, I'm virtually pain free.

My shoes are great, but my very favorite gear is a pair of Thorlo walking socks.  I've done the 2-day breast cancer walk, and while it was recommended that I switch socks half way, and I had two extra pair, I went the entire first day, a full marathon, without switching the socks.  I love them, and continue to wear them for my every day, or as many days a week as I can work in, workouts.  I agree with Gwenn B that it's good to keep one earbud in and one out when walking, even though, I have to have my music:)  Good luck to everyone this week, whatever your goal is!