The New! Walker: The New Walker and Runner is Fantastic!

Friday, October 1, 2010

The New Walker and Runner is Fantastic!

I am so impressed by the emergence of walkers and runners into the everyday world. While the media and medical authorities are obsessed with obesity the rest of us who are doers are out there doing!

Taking up regular walking a couple of years ago-probably by starting my blog Walking to Lose Weight, I am interested in other walkers and in the new running phenomenon.

My experience is that walking for weight loss or fitness not just strolling around or sight seeing, is increasingly public. Yet even more exciting is to see the runners. Not all training for marathons, but those who like to keep fit and those who like to keep weight under control. Starting from a sedentary life to increase fitness requires a program. This is just the way it is. Grit and determination is the harder way to do it.

Getting started on the running is another step up. This article: The Secret to Running for Weight Loss on some ways to add incentive, motivation and success to your walking and running for weight loss program is gold. Counting pedometer steps is a great start. Look for ways to motivate that extra step from pedometer steps to running.

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Oni Raynbo on Weight Loss

Often when asked for tips to enliven a tired exercise routine trainers will suggest a training buddy. When considering this option it is not automatic for it to be a productive change - this depends upon expectations and focus.

Your best training partner is someone who has similar goals and preferably some skill in this area which inspires and stimulates you to greater performance. This ability or success such as weight loss, training program, figure or fitness, must be enough to cause you to want it yourself. This then self-motivates you to copy them in this particular way or ask their advice. Hopefully you then are also similarly offering incentive for their increased performance with some aspect of your successes. This is often unstated or even not consciously noted.

However this is not something to be worked at-generally 'trying too hard' (to contribute to another's routine) can be annoying for the other person. Just being normal will reveal whatever you have to offer over time. This is for the non-professional relationships of course.

Criteria should be someone who:

is positive and solution oriented;
is committed and flexible;
has compatible goals.

Generally there are 3 options:

family or friends;
someone with a similar interest;
professional trainers.

The best partner may be several partners or the occasional partner. Someone who is specifically aligned to your best walking as it is also in their best interests.

This often means that they are not likely to be bosom buddies. They may not have the same politics or worldview. You may not immediately, or ever, want them as close friends. You want the benefit of a joint commitment which you are determined to keep.

There is obviously less risk in a more emotionally distant relationship. Choices then become more clear cut. For instance, a close relationship, will have pre-established guidelines and expectations of how this relationship works. To change that in ways which support your new goals of weight loss and fitness may create issues.

This is something you can try if you can get out of the arrangement easily. If, however you have begged a close friend to 'support' you in this way and they have sacrificed to do it, then their expectation is probably to receive your gratitude and your commitment becomes one of meeting their expectations for this training relationship.

You may not be a match on fitness. There are ways around this of course. This is why a co creative attitude is vitally important.

Some sort of professional assistance is most likely to become a part of your lifestyle change. This is not necessary to start with but over time the desire to increase the fulfillment in this change causes a passion for learning and appreciation of expertise. This may not mean a professional working with you but perhaps choosing some of the options for continual motivation such as provided by online programs.

It tends to be that the long term successful weight loser, use as many sources of inspiration and motivation that work for them. Even your personal trainers will attend professional training sessions of their own.

Over time it is to be hoped that you have training buddies from the 3 categories. Some of your social life will include exercise, you will have intermittent professional assistance and a range of exercise or walking relationships from various sources.

In the meantime while sorting this out for the future but keeping going effectively in the short term, there are many non-person options. Walk or exercise with an audiobook or podcast, music or your cell phone. Train yourself to look for what you enjoy about your exercise and others who also appreciate thee things will be attracted to you. Blog or comment on forums, track your walks, etc.

Empower yourself by looking at options. In future e-letters we will address more issues around relationships for this lifestyle change. It is better to start out by taking a softly, softly approach with closer friendships until you are able to keep strong to both, the lifestyle change and the friendship.

Oni Raynbo

About Me

While I have just been through a very hot summer in Australia, the USA and Europe have suffered through a winter of extreme cold. Frequently our lives lead to challenges , including weather conditions unsuitable for walking outside, that may cause a hesitation about walking to lose weight.

I have always found that adding exercise into my daily life, and limiting my eating opportunities, has been the best weight loss practice for me. It's that simple.

I hope you enjoy The New! Walker and will look forward to your feedback.

The New! Walker

2011