Janet Curtis
Lacona, NY
Two years ago, after my 28 year marriage ended in divorce, I began a walking program to promote a better lifestyle, reduce stress, fend off depression and hopefully to lose weight. Although I had enjoyed walking throughout my life, I never viewed it as part of a healthy lifestyle. I started small, just a mile or two with no fancy accessories, alongside the roadway. Just good walking shoes. Before long, I was easily walking 4 miles daily. My stress level plummeted, I lost 15 pounds and two dress sizes. I also met my new neighbors and learned a great deal about my new neighborhood. As time went on, I realized that to really feel good, I needed to walk more than 30 minutes a day, enough to get the endorphins pumping. On busy days, I would get up before 6AM to find time to fit in my walks. I even had the courage to try my first hike in the Adirondack Mountains last fall. Friends say I look 10 years younger.
I continue to be an avid walker and have encouraged many friends to begin a walking program for their physical and mental health too. Foot care is an important issue for me, as I had a terrible bout of blisters last year. I now spray my feet with deodorant before walking, have walking socks and pretty good walking shoes. I don´t want anything to disrupt my walking regimen. Good luck to anyone that tries to incorporate walking into their lives - start small and enjoy!
Bruce Mallory
Astoria, OR
On September 26th the time had come! I was getting to the point that I couldn't walk carrying the 295 lbs on my frame. My knees were getting so bad that I could hardly get up out of a chair. I had just had a physical and found that everything was going south including the on coming of diabetes. So I hired a personal trainer at our local health spa and started walking and working-out. Twelve years ago I had a walking program where I walked 5.5 miles a day and I got my weight down to 215. I'm determined to do the same thing again, however at the age of 61 I can't allow myself to slip back into my old habits. With the help of the Atkins diet and my exercise program I'm now halfway to my goal of 215, i.e. I've lost 40 lbs since Sep 26th of this year and have 40 more to go. I go back to my doctor on January 5, 2004 for another blood screen and am anxious to find out what positive effect the weight loss has had. I know I have much more energy and feel much better! about myself, so my motivation is there.
Sherie Reeves
WALK! I was pushing over 190 pounds at 5 ft. 3. I have had trouble
with my weight for most of my life. I "fell" into
race walking quite by accident. It all
started with a 5K walk my co-workers and I went on for fun
a few years ago. We attended a few more after that. We were
never really competitive -- just went for the exercise and
to do something together.
I got
interested in how those "other" ladies could possibly
walk so fast. After all, I was walking as fast as my legs
could go. How could I possibly walk any faster? How could
they walk faster? It wasn't long legs because a lady with
legs no longer than mine placed in her age group. I was
intrigued. I bought a book and taught myself to racewalk.
I knocked off over ten minutes off of the 5K walk at first,
then a little more. Last year I won two 3rd place prizes
in my age category! I also lost 50 pounds on the Atkins
diet with the help of walking 3 -4 times per week. I feel
better than I have for years.
Lisa Aidala
Sebring, FL
My name is Lisa and I will be turning 40 this summer. I have always
had a losing battle with the bulge. All my life, I was more up
on the yo-yo than down. Two years ago, this August, I had had enough... I
felt uncomfortable.... my 15/16 jeans were too tight..my
blood pressure was up and I had to go on medication for
it. I had tried many diets during the past year and was
gaining instead of losing.... So....with the help of a friend,
on August 1, 2001, I started a new diet and life. I learned
how to read labels at the grocery store, as well as what
combinations of foods helped burn fat instead of storing
fat..we went to the gym and started a work-out routine that
I could handle ( I've had back surgery) and I did routine
weigh in and measuring. After only one year, I lost almost
50lbs., 15% body-fat, have stopped taking my blood pressure
meds. and now wear a size 6 pair of jeans!!!! If I can achieve
all this, I know anyone can!!!! I believe the secret is
the buddy system. If you have a good support system, it
helps. I also learned not to live my life by the scale....you
can weigh nearly the same and lose body-fat....which makes
all the difference in your appearance and how your clothes
fit! It is now going on two years....I have maintained my
weight and even lost more body-fat....I am down to 20.9%.....I
continue my work-out routine and even added walking (now
up to 5 miles a day) and abdominal crunches....which I could
never do before!!! With my 40th birthday approaching, I
have NEVER felt or looked better in my life.!!!!
Joy Davis
Ontario, Canada
I was 47 when I realized I didn't want to hit 50
being overweight and flabby. It took me over a year to lose
55 pounds but I have kept it off. I exercise an hour and
half every day and have added weight training to my routine.
I started by riding an exercise bike for 30 minutes and
walking for 30 minute. I then started tae-bo and water aerobics.
These are my favorite activities. I can never eat whatever
I want but I can enjoy
life more enthusiastically now. Anyone can do it if I can
do it!
Vicki Gist
Richmond, Texas
My success story started over two years ago. I am pleased to say that I lost 56 pounds and have maintained my weight loss. I have been a treadmill walker for a number of years, but did not always make it a daily priority. Over two years ago on a routine visit to my allergist she noted my blood pressure was elevated and suggested a visit to an internist for blood pressure medication. I decided then and there that I would control my diet, start walking every day and lose weight to reduce my blood pressure without medication. I went home and walked on my treadmill for an hour. I also began to count calories and keep a food journal. I also recorded how many miles I walked each day, calories burned, and time that I walked. I increased my walking to two hours daily, which meant I walked 8 miles a day. Guess what the increase and dedication to daily walking and diet modification insured that I lost 56 pounds! I now walk an hour each day, which translates t! o 4 or 5 miles a day. If I have to miss a day, I feel awful the next day. I rarely miss a day. Once you make a commitment to yourself the rest really is easy. Walking provides a time for yourself, a natural stress reducer, and yes, lower blood pressure. My daily walk has definitely become a priority for me. Trust me - you will feel great. Don't start tomorrow - start right now!
Kathy Kovacsi
Linthicum Heights, MD
I walked at home with Leslie Samson's videos for seven months I walked 7 miles daily, my clothes began to sag but my happiest day came after I began my eighth month and stepped on the scale and realized that I had actually lost sixty pounds. I have successfully kept the weight for six months now and have begun walking from four to ten miles a day for the past month. I believe that in another six or seven months, I can lose at least another forty pounds and arrive at my goal of ideal weight. I cannot stress enough how important it is to just do it daily but don't weigh yourself but once a month. And allow the time to work for you to attain your goal weight. If I can do it anyone can, I'm 52 and proud to say I've beat obesity.
