Part of this "Persistent Elephant Year" is looping back to pick up strategies that have worked for me before. The photo above? That's from 1998 when I was getting close to my target weight. It was taken the morning I accomplished my goal of walking the length of the main part of the Great Wall of China (2,000 miles) in less than two years.
I admit it. Even if it may seem kindergardenish to some, I’m motivated by charts. I love the clarity, reminding myself of goals and seeing my progress. Thus when I started speed-walking for exercise and heard the idea of keeping track of the miles, I knew an abstract goal like the length of the Great Wall would be a good motivator.
In 1997 and 1998 when I was working on my 2,000 mile goal, I usually walked at a local park that posted the length of their trails. Four or five mornings a week, I did a 4.2 mile loop. A little while after completing that goal, I decided to walk the length of the Appalachian Trail (2,175 miles), yet this time I wanted to open my exercise options. Knowing that my usual exercise walking speed is about 4 miles per hour, I decided that I'd give myself a "mile" for every fifteen minutes of exercise -- aerobics, shooting hoops, working out in the gym, etc. That worked very well. I kept track of my daily "miles" on my calendar and every month moved a pin up the map of the Appalachian Trail that I kept on my office bulletin board. I was actually fairly close to finishing that goal when the craziness of wedding planning, career change, etc. came upon me. But it was working so well as a motivator that I'd like to pick up the idea again. Now that I have a toddler, I can't always hit the actual walking trail, but I can do Wii Fit, an exercise video, or such during nap time to meet my "mile" goals.
Here's my new goal. Right now I live 2,197 miles from my hometown where I plan to move next year. Let's see if I can "walk" there in two years. Two years is 104 weeks, so I'll need to do just over twenty one "miles" per week. That's a little over five hours of exercise per week and that's do-able. I've got thirteen miles since starting this blog on July 6!
Want to do your own "walk"? Here's some ideas:
--Appalachian Trail = 2,175 miles (www.appalachiantrail.org)
--Equator = 24,902 miles (http://worldatlas.com)
--Great Wall of China (full length) = 4,163 miles (www.travelchinaguide.com)
--Marathon race = 26.2 miles (www.boston.com)
--Here's a handy web calculator to figure out the distance between any two cities in the world: www.indo.com/distance
If you set a similar walking goal after reading this blog post, I'd love to know about it. Or leave a comment to tell us how you keep yourself motivated to exercise.
Love your ticker and your goal, home to Georgia! Mine is less distant, but still far for me, touch my toes!
ReplyDeleteValerie, I love this idea. You are not alone! I have struggled for years with weight. What I've realized is that even when I didn't have a weight problem, I thought I did. Now that I really do, it carries so much power with it. I have given it the authority to carry that power, and at times I feel like I'm drowning under the weight and shame of it. I know, like you, that losing the extra weight can be done. A few years back I lost 50 pounds the good-ole-fashioned way...eating better, drinking water, and exercising. It was hard work, but worth every drop of sweat! Then...I went through an emotional glitch (or whatever you want to call it), and within 3 months had gained EVERY pound back PLUS extra to grow on. Fast forward 3 years and I'm still here...heavier than ever before, feeling more 'blah' than ever before, more embarassed than ever before, and so on and so on. I can't tell you how many times I have said to myself that next year I want to be smaller so I can do _______ with Amberlee, only to get to next year and be in the same boat. I feel like I have let her down in so many ways, but try to tell myself that in other areas I've done well at my job. I can only hope that she sees it that way, too. I applaud you for the courage to do this publicly! I have thought several times over the past year about doing a blog of sorts on my journey with weight, but have never gotten up the nerve to take the next step. I am definitely following your journey and sending hugs and cheers your way! You can do it! :)
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Kristy
Oh, Kristy...I hear you! As I read your comments, I was nodding my head. It all felt very familiar. Isn't it strange how lonely weight loss struggles can feel when actually we have so many kindred spirits around us? So sorry you gained the weight back, but I know you can rally and do it. I know it really is possible to make a permanent change. I'm rooting for you! Thanks for taking the time to write. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteCaro, as somebody who has never been very flexible, I know what you mean. I'll be writing about stretching soon...
ReplyDelete