Tuesday, June 24, 2008

i'm fat

I'm fat. I've been fat for some time now and I will in all probability be fat for some time to come. I was thin through childhood and adolescence and started a slow weight gain in my mid twenties. I always thought it was a temporary condition because my self image has always been a thin one. I'll be 63 yrs old soon, so I think it's time to take action. Diets don't work so I'm not even going to consider that route. Very few people have lost weight by dieting and kept it off permanently. Actually, I'm seeking health more than thinness. So here's my plan: I'm going to increase my core strength and endurance; this will have a side effect of burning more calories. I've started doing push ups. This is an exercise that works a large number of muscles; pectorals, biceps, triceps, deltoids, and trapezoids, and others. I chose this exercise because I will need no equipment and can do my routine wherever I am. I don't like the idea of treadmills and other fitness machines because they would just end up in a yard sale within six months. The other half of the plan is to increase my walking. When I was delivering mail I walked about 9 miles a day. Since I retired I've been walking whenever I can at walking tracks, and at Walmart, but with the increase in the price of gas I needed to start my daily walk at my front door.
From where our driveway meets highway 62 there is a .85 mile stretch where there is a paved shoulder wide enough to walk on safely. So down to the end and back is 1.7 miles. I would prefer to walk along the many country roads, but farm dogs are fierce and have big teeth. I carry a long walking stick along the highway just in case.


Here I am with my trusty walking stick jut back from the walk. I walked at 6pm and it was 83 degrees and humid. Dorothy walked with me and she looked as fresh after the walk as she did before. I don't know why that is.

5 comments:

dawn said...

Guys just sweat a lot...women "glisten" :)

Lorna said...

I'm confused---that walking stick looks 10 ft high.

Unknown said...

I guess I should have called it a staff. It's only about 6' 6".

Envoy-ette said...

EVERY person I've ever met from Oklahoma says they're fat..which cracks me up because I don't see it. Am I suppose to compair you to the staff? =D

ml said...

This is about the most realistic weight-loss plan I've heard of. It must be all the experience with failed diets that's accumulated by the time we're in our sixties that makes this one sound so much wiser.
My husband and I do this too: we fast-walk with our dog every morning from 5:10 to 6:30. And we try to make it to the gym for moderate weight-work three days a week, but more like two or one. If we keep to this program, we're able to pretty much maintain our weight and eat whatever we want. It's been good to happen onto this plan because we're both over-eaters who can't seem to diet or control our portions.
Good luck to you, Wally, and you still look strong, healthy, and determined.