walking the burbs

After today's walk, I'm less than 50 miles from "Nome" in the Idita-Walk. There is a small part of me that wants to go out there and just finish it. The larger voice keeps yelling, shut up and sit down. You've got a poop-load of work to do. I guess I need to listen to that voice.

Lydia was up to her eyeballs in paperwork today so she didn't go. However, she wanted to share some great news this weekend. She was chosen for the Bariatric Support Group fashion show, and she's down to a size 16. She is now officially thinner than me. That stings just a little. But I'm not willing to have surgery, so it is, what it is.

She also signed up for the First Stride program at the Bethlehem Township Community Center. I hope she learns a lot and burns lots of calories. Sharon and I did the program. If you finish all 12 weeks (Lydia there's homework!) you get a performance shirt and a pin. Our shirts were red. Graduation is a 5K.

I planned for a 4, 4.5, and a hair under 5 mile walk today. We ended up doing the four. Pretty much starting at Wegmans, heading down Stokes Park Road, a loop thru the subdivision that used to be Kohler's farm, up Jacksonville, and back Crawford. Bonnie needed the restroom so we didn't do the 1/2 mile or almost mile extra loop.

Walks in the 'burbs are fairly flat, rolling hills, so we could do some speed walking.

After walking, we shopped. Carts full of fruits and veggies and other healthy things. It begs the question, why are we still fat girls?

and so it begins ...

Today was my initial meeting for Walk Your Butt Off.

I was in the second group, reporting at 7:30. First thing the weighed and measured me. Yikes! My weight was up about 3 pounds. But I guessed that. I've been eating like a pig in preparation for this. Storing up the calories.

Most of the measurements didn't shock me. I was already prepared after filling out the forms. What did shock me was that the fancy computer scale said my body fat was 50%. A full HALF of me FAT. OMG is an understatement.

Then we went to orientation. Filled out the waviers and the photo releases. Standard stuff. There wasn't a confidentially agreement, so I guess I can talk about it. Maybe I should ask?

We went thru the walking part of the program. Basically it is interval training just like we did at First Strides. But kicked up a notch, or five. They issued us a Timex sports watch to do the timing. Now if I could find a rocket scientist to set it, I'll be in good shape. Sadly I bought one before the Relay for Life, and haven't used it since because I can't set it. Guess I'll give it to Lyd or Sharon.

Another component is strength training. Scares the heck out of me. I'm not good at strength training. I can't do a push up to save my soul. And these knees were not meant for squating. We'll see how that goes. 

Diet isn't a diet. It's a bunch of behavioral changes and portion control. But no measuring.

Then the before and after photo shoot. I wore a 1x. Which was great. I even got to keep the socks.

I have to tell you when I was taking off the shoes, they were reviewing the pixs, and at first I didn't recognize me. The hair was one thing. I've only had this cut a little over a week. But the person on the screen was "regular fat" not ginormous like I see myself.

I didn't see everyone. Maybe about 10 of the 30 people. Nobody had a person to lose. Everyone was overweight.  I guess because more morbidly obese people would not yield the same results in only 12 weeks? Or maybe they need to be medically monitored. I don't know.

Friday is my walking test. Yikes.

i'm new to 5ks ....

I'm just a fat girl who likes to walk with people. That's why I started every two feet. The idea remains, but I took down the FB page because only "family" posted and it was kind of silly. I could talk to them one-on-one.

A week or two ago my niece Lydia, asked me to "friend" someone on FB. Michelle wanted to try 5ks. So I did. And she signed up for the one in Nazareth on the 24th.

Then I got a message from her. "Since you do so many of these, what is an approximate time for finishing?"

That's a really good question. 

For a newbee? 55-65 minutes. To get Lydia moving, I had her try a 1-mile fun walk.  Her first 5k with us and her friend Kathy, the Jingle Bell Run/Walk last December, was about 62 minutes. (I hate saying hour and two minutes. Sounds so long.) Kathy was about 64 minutes. Both have been doing them about a year now and are down to the low 50s. I come in now (after 3 years) at about 49-51 minutes. But I don't walk nearly as much as I used to. I could be closer to 45 minutes I bet.

The more you walk the better and faster you get. Especially if you do intervals. (1 minute quick, 3 minutes slow. Slowly it turns upside down that you're doing 1 minute slow, 3 minutes quick.)

But it's not really about time, is it? It's about starting and finishing even if you're the last one over the line. Don't compete, just complete. I was that person a long time. It wasn't until I started walking with Bonnie, who has a quicker pace because of all the gym time, that I sped up. She's also very competitive. It was good for me. Even if I do call her "Jillian".

I suggested to Michelle that she keep a  little notepad in the car so she can write down the time and date (and race name of course) so you can see your progression. I'm sure a phone has an app for that. Or you could write it on your bib if you save them.  Also write down challenging terrain or severe weather so if your times are way off you know why. I know when I see a gravel trail it will slow me down. (53 minutes!) The Parkway kills me.

I forgot to tell her to take pictures.  Drats.

I am not a trainer or exercise coach. Any advice I give is based on a mere three years experience. A little of that came from being a training walk leader for the 3-day and the Avon and a 12-week First Strides class. It could be totally off the mark. It could be right. If you're serious about starting an exercise program "talk with your doctor". I know nobody does. But I don't want anybody suing me for bad advice.

But the fact remains that Lydia is now moving, and I'd like to think that it's because I helped her. Sharon is also moving much better. When I started with her we stopped 3 times every walk.  So I have a tiny track record with family.

I'd love if there was a half-marathon just for walkers. Or a 10K or a 15K. I need challenges to keep me motivated.

I'd love for every two feet to be a viable walking group. I'd love to have a competitive 5K for walkers only. Or even better a noncompetitive 5k-10K-15K. You pick how far you want to challenge yourself.  It would be a clover leaf so that each circle finished and started at the same spot. That would be so cool.