Walking

[Alexia]

You know when 'er indoors asks you to get another bottle of red from the cellar? It's the bit you do between the initial nag...er...request, and returning with a corkscrew in hand.

[Gavin Scott]

This last week I've started walking to and from work again. I was doing this last year and keeping my weight down, but it fell apart a bit at the end of the year when mum got poorly.

My holiday snaps, and the pics from sister's wedding the other week were a bit of a wake up call - and also being called "some fat cunt" by a now ex facebook acquaintance.

My route gives me about 3 miles a day, and the main benefit is (instantly) that my metabolism increases drastically. I'll spare you detail, but suffice to say it encourages me to visit the bathroom much more regularly. This is a GOOD thing.

Despite enjoying my long weekend, I'm genuinley bothered that I'll lose momentum - so I'm going to take a long walk this afternoon.

[Jovis]

I enjoy walking, and do try to do it quite regularly - but I often only manage once or twice a week for half an hour each time. This is, quite frankly, dreadful - but then again it can be tricky to fit it in. Still, sticking an iPod on and focussing on the possibility of losing the pastiness from my skin once again makes the time goes by.

The hardest thing is sweating once there. I'm not so bothered by the armpit perspiration, but the consequences for the face and hair. I generally walk at a pretty decent pace, and this, along with definitely not drinking enough water, is probably the reason for it.

[Gavin Scott]

I enjoy walking, and do try to do it quite regularly - but I often only manage once or twice a week for half an hour each time. This is, quite frankly, dreadful - but then again it can be tricky to fit it in. Still, sticking an iPod on and focussing on the possibility of losing the pastiness from my skin once again makes the time goes by.

The hardest thing is sweating once there. I'm not so bothered by the armpit perspiration, but the consequences for the face and hair. I generally walk at a pretty decent pace, and this, along with definitely not drinking enough water, is probably the reason for it.

I perspire something chronic. It would be better if I took my work shirt etc in a bag with me and got changed when I arrive - something I was doing last year - but instead I make use of my desk fan when I sit down at my desk.

I know this is a bit grotty, so I'll take clothes from next week.

[Chie]

Walking burns about 8 calories a minute. So i imagine if it takes you an hour or so to walk there that'll be about 480 calories. Someone want to work out from that. Also, try doing 2 minutes jogging, 3 minutes walking, 2 minutes running, 3 minutes walking then repeat it, get your heart rate up!

You could lose about a stone in 2 weeks if you tried hard enough using the above method. Also, cut out unnecessary snacking and switch to diet fizzy drinks!

Rapid weight loss is ultimately self-defeating, as it forces your metabolism to slow down and can easily lead to serious health complications. My training buddy ended up with chronic anemia and needed a blood transfusion after losing a stone in four weeks.

Thanks for the advice so far both.... If I've worked it out, that's 3600 calories per week. So so long as I ingest less than 720 calories a day, I should be fine.

720 calories is the equivalent of one meal! Just continue eating normally; the exercise alone is enough.

[Gavin Scott]

You only have to watch the Biggest Loser to know that you can shed a stone in a week - (A) if you're heavy enough and (B) do enough working out. They have them exercising 8 hours a day on that show.

Safe, provided you're surrounded by doctors and trainers and so on. But most people aren't.

You have to wonder how many of the participants of that programme find the regime completely unsustainable after they quit the show.