Tired, lethargic, unfit, overweight, and overstressed? Recognise any of these symptoms? I certainly do.
Before I wrote The Walking Diet with Les Snowdon, I suddenly realised I was beginning to slow down. I was unfit, I didn’t have as much energy and I’d put on weight. At one time I played tennis, squash and badminton regularly, and as a busy teacher, I considered myself a fairly active person. But the passing years were starting to take their toll. I found it hard to include exercise in a busy life and very easy to find excuses. I’m sure you know them all:
· not enough time
· too tired at the end of the day
· you’d rather relax than exercise
So I decided to exercise more and get fit. I installed an exercise bike in the bedroom. I tried following umpteen exercise plans in women’s magazines. And I must have tried every exercise fad going, from going to the gym, to yoga, callenetics, skipping, aquarobics, and jogging (Oh, my poor knees!). You name it – I tried it. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of these exercises – but how many people do you know who keep them up, week in, week out throughout the year.
I was desperate for something that actually worked, something that I could keep up, and something that was FUN! And then it dawned upon me. Why not walk more often. I’d always loved walking, from being a child. So I decided to step up my pace, leave the car behind a bit more often, and just get out in the fresh air. And it was a revelation.
The first thing you find is that you don’t have to spend hours in the gym to get fit. Getting fit and keeping fit can be as simple as walking out of your own front door. All you have to do is step out at a brisker pace and step out more often. That’s what I did – and I’m still doing it!
Walking is simple and fun and it’s the most natural exercise in the world. After all, you’ve been doing it since you were around a year old. It’s safe and almost injury-free and regular fitness walking does more than keep you fit – it provides a marvellous feel-good factor. And it’s inexpensive – all you need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes.
But don’t forget that healthy eating is as important as regular exercise. By combining fitness walks with our Healthy Eating Plans, you will soon begin to zip off several pounds a week and your diet will be much healthier.
I have always loved everything to do with food – choosing foods in shops and markets, cooking and, not least, eating! I particularly enjoy cooking for family and friends and there is no way I want to follow an eating plan that concentrates on cutting out foods – I prefer one where the emphasis is on eating delicious, fresh foods and making balanced healthy choices. So you will find that I have adapted my favourite recipes to a healthier, lighter version.
Once I had started to combine fitness walking with a balanced, nutritious eating plan, I soon found that I was losing those unwanted pounds and I felt fitter and healthier and I had more energy. Research shows that people who combine healthy eating with regular, moderate exercise like fitness walking are more likely to keep weight off in the long term.
So step out now, begin to eat healthier and you will never look back!
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