Exercise… and I say this sadly because I too have my lazy moments …. is a strictly do-it-yourself business.
If the very thought of getting pink-cheeked and sweaty is enough to make you feel exhausted, and retreat to the TV, you’re in good company.
A lot of good folk just aren’t that into exercise. And that’s OK.
Because here’s some wonderful news…
Step 7 in the Simple Steps to Permanent Weight Loss Series
You can still find your thinner sparkle, lose weight and look absolutely fabulous – without strenuous exercise.
Here’s how.
Researcher, Dr James Hill has discovered that the average daily number of steps taken by women is about 5,000 steps.
Intriguingly, his study shows that overweight women take 2,000 fewer steps per day than their happy-weight sisters.
Think about that for a moment.
Only 2,000 steps separates those who are overweight from their happy-weight counterparts.
Like to know the distance of 2,000 steps? Four city blocks!
Four city blocks stand between you and your happy weight. Incredible.
Just so we’re clear, Hill isn’t talking about extreme exercise here. He’s not talking about pavement-pounding, iron-pumping or sweat-inducing exercise….he’s talking about walking.
Good old-fashioned, one-foot-in-front-of-the-other: walking.
All you need to do is get yourself a pedometer (they’re about $10 from a sports shop). From the moment you wake up, attach it to your belt and discover how many steps you currently take in a typical day.
Aim to increase your steppage by 2,000 a week until you hit a comfortably, maintainable target. Hill’s study suggests 10,000 steps per day is a good ball park figure.
The beauty of walking is its accessibility as most of us have a pavement just outside our house.
It’s safe, simple and you can fit it around your lifestyle. Anytime, anywhere.
No fancy kit required
You don’t need a gym membership. No specialist Lycra kit required.
BTW: If you adore your spin classes or you love lifting iron…rock on with your bad self : ) This missive is for the non-exercisers amongst you. You know who you are….
I get there are personal trainers out there who argue that “you must exercise with continuous motion for one-hour to get fitness results”.
And once upon a time I’d have agreed with this traditional notion.
But I’ve also witnessed many a client who’s eased-up on sweaty gym sessions (that they hated but did because they ‘ought’ to) and have incorporated more walking, and have shifted pounds.
As a former regular marathoner, I have replaced my 100km weeks with small daily walks and have never been happier with the fit of my jeans.
Keep it simple
There’s no need to do all 10,000 steps in one walk. That can lead to all sorts of inventive ways to avoid getting out the door. We overwhelm ourselves and do nothing.
Instead, take a bunch of 15-minute walks throughout the day. It’ll feel good, and by nightfall, you’ll have achieved your 10,000 steps.
Take the stairs instead of the lift. Walk your dog. Park your car a block from your office and walk the difference. Disembark the train a stop early and take a stroll. Leave the car in the garage and walk the school run.
Move.
Dance.
Play.
You only have one body. It was designed to move. One foot after the other. It’ll thank you for it.
Love etc, Avril
PS: If you’re sitting there reading these words thinking, “I knooooooooooow I need to move my body, I just don’t do it!”, feel free to drop me a line. Hypnotherapy can help you do the doing that you know you need to be your happy weight.
