a stroll in the park?: Is anyone else a... - Weight Loss Support

Weight Loss Support

114,537 members60,871 posts

a stroll in the park?

26 Replies

Is anyone else a bit overwhelmed by the people doing 20 kilometers or more per day for the Round The World challenge?

Walking briskly for 30 minutes per day is my level, that's about 1.5 miles. 5 times per week that would 7.5 miles. If 7 of us did that we could do London to Brighton in a week :-)

Would anyone else just starting out and getting into the habit like to join me? We could log our distances on Mondays and see how far we get in the month of January.

Hope that isn't stepping on anyone's toes, but the 80 days thing feels like being the only fat girl in a gym full of skinnies, too much for me to cope with just now.

26 Replies
sueper profile image
sueper

Hi Sammy,

Just add what you can and don't feel you are underachieving. Some are cycling which is easier to clock up the kms. I only contribute about 2kms a day and today I have done none!

I try to walk a bit further at the weekend but that is for me and not the challenge - as I was already that before.

The point of the challenge is to encourage people to get a bit of exercise and for a bit of fun so try not to feel overwhelmed. It is inspiring that many people can do a lot but I will never be able to get anywhere near what they are doing and that is fine. I average about 10 miles a week - if the weather is good :)

Just add what you can no one will make you feel bad.

moreless profile image
morelessAdministrator7 stone

I'm very sorry you feel like that Sammy, because that certainly isn't the intention of the challenge.

Everybody that joined had their own baseline and it was hoped that people would be encouraged to contribute as much as they were able, to a joint goal and be motivated to maybe do a little more, rather than sit on their couches and watch the telly.

As one of the fat girls, I have been motivated and encouraged to go from barely being able to get out of bed, to being one the of people who has managed to do over 20K's in a day.

I am still obese and need to lose 6 stone to reach healthy BMI and am very grateful for the motivation this and other challenges have offered me. If they hadn't been there, I may still have been wheezing away in my armchair.

I hope that one day you'll feel up to joining us and that you'll enjoy your walk from London to Brighton :)

Dave1961 profile image
Dave196125kg

There are a few key things to remember here.

If someone walked 20 k's a day that means they would be walking for at least 3 and more likely 4 hours a day - thats insane :)

I think like someone else said some of that maybe cycling etc.

I have a fitbit and try to get to my 10,000+ steps a day. thats about 8 k's a day but only about 2 or 3 k's of that is intentional exercise, the rest is incidental but I would still log the whole 8 k's.

So you are doing about the same exercise as me but I log a full day of walking whereas you log just your active minutes - hope that helps make you feel better :)

in reply to Dave1961

Dave :-) Good to see you back !

Dave1961 profile image
Dave196125kg in reply to

:) Its great to finally BE back!

in reply to Dave1961

So lovely to see you Dave. Are you joining the round the world challenge?

sueper profile image
sueper in reply to Dave1961

Hi Dave,

Good to see you back. You are completely right, I only log intentional exercise as I have a GPS watch so definitely doing more than I log.

Elissy profile image
Elissy3kg in reply to Dave1961

Welcome back Dave

Missed you and hope you are well 😊

Always. I only ever going to do what I can. I do 30 mins cross train, 30 mins walk three times a week. Plus a long swim. All I can do.

If people are enjoying doing more then that is fine.

Prin profile image
Prin

Hi Sammy I hope you haven't left us! I can't see your name it shows hidden, cycling is what clock up the Kms, and it's encouraging us to do more, if you look for my before post you will see how looked before I started my journey I still did spin but not that far, I was 15.5 stone and Trafford pic is around too she was around 18 stone this time last year, no doubt our weight loss has contributed to our increased exersise but that's not the point it's about encouraging us to do more as Moreless says what ever your baseline it's a group effort so put on that sari and join the party,! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE👌

Lexi_1812 profile image
Lexi_18122 stone in reply to Prin

As another one often over 20k, I was 13s 10 when I started the NHS plan in September, now 12s 4 with still another stone to go before "normal" weight. And I know all about being "the fatty amongst skinnies" (such a horrible expression :-(). And a lot of mine & Prin's is cycling & spin. Do whatever suits you & fits into your lifestyle as x.xx km is better than 0.00km!

Keep_on_going profile image
Keep_on_going

It's because some people add cycling miles so a lot of ground is covered.

I only walk or run so even though I do a fair distance by foot, it pales in comparison.

I sort of get what you mean though.

I have a Garmin watch which tracks my steps and have connected with a lady on here who does a similar amount of distance as me. It's almost a little challenge within a challenge as I can see how much she is covering and that motivates me to do more (she's kicking my butt at the moment!)

What I'm saying is, don't feel disheartened. The idea is to get you to move and any contribution is welcomed and valued. If you can, find someone who covers the same ground and connect to motivate each other.

Elissy profile image
Elissy3kg in reply to Keep_on_going

Don't worry, it won't last ,😁

Today's run really didn't feel nice 😞

It was raining hard and my legs were aching - time to re-run until it feels better.

Keep_on_going profile image
Keep_on_going in reply to Elissy

Oh no! 😕

Maybe you need a couple of days break to recoup. What are you on now: week six?

I had a fairly good day today. I managed a run, walk, hula hoop and tidy the house. Shattered now though.

Elissy profile image
Elissy3kg in reply to Keep_on_going

Oh, trying to get ahead today 😏

Keep_on_going profile image
Keep_on_going in reply to Elissy

You know it! 😝

Elissy profile image
Elissy3kg in reply to Keep_on_going

🏃😎

Don't be disheartened. I wear a Fitbit so mileage is high because my steps are measured from the moment I get up until midnight. I might only do an hours walk with my dogs but it clocks up every step. If you wore a pedometer all day you would see that in a day you walk a lot more than your walk in the park. It's just to motivate us all to move more that's all.

Hi Sammy,

No no no honey, you are doing really good and as the others have said we are at different levels of fitness and activity.

How I record my kms is by using a pedometer, it gets stuck in my bra when I get up in the morning and comes out when I go in the shower at night !!! Lol😃. My kms are what I walk and move around in the day not all focused exercise.

I am retired but do have a dog and we are out twice a day, if I was still at work my kms would be very different I can tell you🤔

So be very proud of your dedication to 30 mins in a busy day it's all good😃😃😃hope you will stay with us on the trip we need you😃

Have a lovely weekend

😇

Zest profile image
ZestHealthy BMI

Hi Sammy,

Your profile indicates you're 'hidden' now, and I really hope you've not left the community, and that you're able to read the replies to your post.

I believe that The Around the World in 80 Days Challenge is intended to be motivating to us all - and speaking personally, in just a week, it has helped me to increase my exercise significantly - i.e. I don't normally go to the gym more than once or twice a week, (and only recently re-joined the gym in mid December, so hadn't been for a few months as I had not renewed my membership before then) This week, thanks to the Around The World in 80 Days Challenge, I've been 4 times (astounding myself) - and enjoyed cycling, running, and cross training, plus some walks. Purely comparing total kms, without taking account of how they are produced, can be misleading, but I notice that most people have indicated how they did their kms, i.e. broken down the various activities they've done. I have found reading other people's results extremely motivating, and that has been regardless of absolute total - it's the commitment and enthusiasm of the people contributing - it is fantastic to see. All the kms count to the total, and it's a virtual tour of the World - we're on some great Adventures!

In terms of my weight loss journey, I started out at 18 stone 8 pounds at my heaviest and rarely did much exercise at all. I was happy when I joined this forum in January 2013, as this community forum has really helped me, and I know I'm fortunate to be in the healthy BMI now, and I am still trying to get off the last few pounds to get to my ultimate goal weight of 12 stone 7 pounds. Over Christmas, I was considering 'giving up' trying to achieve that goal weight, as I just can't seem to get into the 12's - but the support and enthusiasm from other members of this community, plus the Around The World in 80 Days Challenge are both motivating factors that have helped me to continue pursuing that goal. I believe I need to up my exercise to achieve the results I want, so I am trying to achieve as many as I can. WeightWarrior made a good point in a previous point that she felt that people were ending up apologising for when they didn't do a certain number of kms, and I agree that none of us should be apologising (i.e. not apologising for doing lots, and not apologising for doing fewer), it is all relative to our own personal goals and achievements.

I have noticed that Lizzy and Moreless have been giving such positive feedback to people within the challenge, and I believe have been recognising each person's achievement and applauding and valuing it. Each of us has our own baseline that we want to improve upon, or maintain.

I am so sorry that you've found the challenge to be de-motivating for you. I know that it was never intended to be like that.

Please do reconsider, if you happen to read all the replies to your post, as I believe we would all want to support and encourage you, just as we hope we support and encourage each other.

Wishing you all the best whatever you decide to do.

Lowcal :-)

Midnight-munchie profile image
Midnight-munchie in reply to Zest

Woah lowcal 18.8 to 12.7 is phenominal !!!! That gives me a little shove in the right direction!!! :-) makes me realize that with time it comes off !!

Zest profile image
ZestHealthy BMI in reply to Midnight-munchie

Hi Midnight-Munchie,

I've not got to 12 stone 7 pounds yet, I've got over half a stone still to get off to reach that, but I'm working on it!

Yes, with time it definitely does come off. You can do it! :-)

But get better after your bug, so you can be fighting fit .

Lowcal :-)

Midnight-munchie profile image
Midnight-munchie in reply to Zest

You have done amazingly well though Lowcal you must be feeling lovely and that next bit will soon be off, you have worked so hard it is so worth it , and hearing how well you have done gives lots of people inspiration to plod on going forward . :-)

I have spent years going up and down with my weight and have so many different sized clothes I am looking forward to gradually getting into the smaller clothes again eventually !!! :-)

Zest profile image
ZestHealthy BMI in reply to Midnight-munchie

Hi Midnight-Munchie,

Keep going, and all being well, you'll get there this time, and be a 'maintainer' before you know it! But there's no rush, as slow and steady weight loss is more sustainable, and it's a lifestyle change rather than a 'diet'. Hopefully no more 'yo-yo' dieting for us from now on, and clothes to fit our ultimate goal weight - looking forward to hanging on to those!

Lowcal :-)

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716

Hi "hidden" please don't be put off, it's meant to be fun and motivating at the same time, not a competition. I'm one of the ones who doesn't add large numbers. I work full time and often work over so only do any distance on one of my days off as the other day gets swallowed up with chores and other responsibilities. I know I can't do much more so I don't measure myself against others, just try to fit in what I can when I can. ☀️

Hi Hidden - please don't worry about the longer distance people! They have their reasons for fitting in lots of yomping about, and I have mine for doing a LOT less (work, commuting, projects, family, epic lists of things I have to fit in each day, exhaustion!), but the long distance people are still nice to me when I log my daily 2000 to 3000 paces. No-one has done anything other than congratulate me on my tiny contribution to the epic voyage.

I don't even know how many Kms my 3000 paces are - but I can assure you that it's not a lot!!! I'm sure no-one would want to see you leave the challenge - but equally no-one would want you to feel obliged to keep doing it if it's not motivating you. That's the point of being on here for me, I can pick and choose what works for me.

Good luck for your weight loss goals what ever you decide to do!!

You may also like...

Familial hypercholesterolemia

about 10 miles a day. I am 5 foot 2 inches and weigh less than 119lbs I'm wondering if anyone can...

Hi everyone, been to see the nurse regarding weight loss today & found it quite unhelpful

the nurse would have been more helpful, given me some info to take away maybe. Has anyone else had...

So far so good. Just one question?

Sunday and I’m trying to stick to under 1400 per day as per the NHS website. So far I have managed...

Weight is a weighty problem

each day and manage at least 10k steps per day I would like to part with 10kg although I would...

Week 13 Too Comfortable

which has exceed my limit of 1200 to around 1350 per day which is too much for me. I can't lose...