Walking around
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Not sure if this sub is still active but i wanted to post my progress and and journey so far..
Start of January last year i decided to give exercise yet another try, over the years ive attempted to and pretty much each time got bored, gave up and quit after just a couple of months. Always had an excuse
This time i wanted it to be different, being single living alone, apart from sharing custody with my daughters, i had all the time in the world to make it work this time
Started small, just a couple easy 3-4km walks at a not to brisk pace. Didn't put any pressure on myself to go too hard, Which is likely why ive failed in the past. I throw myself hard into a new endeavor and it quickly runs its course.This time i grew into it, walking regularly 3 - 4 times a week and slowly upping my pace and distance,
Going from an average of 10.00 -10.30mins per km to where i am now which is normally 9-9.10mins per km. Often doing 1km splits in the mid to late 8mins per km.
Last year i set myself a goal of reaching 1,000kms in total by the years end. I fell just short with 944km walked.
Struggled in the winter-early spring months but overall very happy. The occasional month i broke 100kms in total, averaging 25kms a week
Ive since started 2026 with a bang with having nearly 170km's last month. My pace is increasing too.
Im at a point where i look forward to it and get slightly anxie if i cant get out there.
It also does wonders for your mental health, not just your physical.Speaking of the physical turn around, i didnt weigh myself at the start. I didnt want to become obsessed with weight and getting despondent over slow progress. I had a reasonable idea what i weighed and figured id see the changes in time.
it felt very slow to start but by mid year it was noticeable pants were getting looser, and discovered i had ribs instead of just a round tummy and torso. Then later in the year i started getting comments from people i hadnt seen for a while. Like actual surprised looks on their face and 'oh wow you look so different'. Felt fucking amazing
Im not a BIG guy but i have a small frame, had the classic spare tyre and belly that goes with it.
Went clothes shopping just before xmas last year, needed some new shirts to wear when out walking. Have only ever been wearing L for a number of years. Tried on a M and it was actually loose...so on a whim i tried a Small. A fucken small and it fitted! I can not recall the last time i comfortably fit into a Small shirt, probably when i was a teenager.Next were pants, have generally worn 36-38 inch. Bought some shorts and comfortably fitted in 32 inch but even now they are feeling lose. I suspect i need to drop down to 30inch maybe even smaller.
Have since gone through my wardrobe and chucked away all my dress shirts and most of my t-shirts.
All my long pants/jeans are all too big now as well.This week i decided to fuck it and weigh myself on a set of scales.
last time i did weigh myself i was around 95kgs. Id imagine i had maintained that weight ever since.Jumped on the scales and it read 73kgs.
20+kg lossFucking stoked
Still have a little bit more to lose, most of the belly is gone but some is still there and the look of a spare tyre is gone.
Not running, no expensive gym memberships. Just walking and some diet changes. Nothing drastic, just moderation, cutting out snacking and eating anything after dinner etc.If you have managed to make it this far i appreciate it and for reading my not so exciting story.
Hopefully plenty others out there are in better places with their health and fitness too
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@Virgil said in Walking around:
Im at a point where i look forward to it and get slightly anxie if i cant get out there.
It also does wonders for your mental health, not just your physical.Awesome work, you should be stoked with that!! I havent weighed that much since last century haha
That is one sign IMO that shows you are on the right path, when your body is telling you it wants/needs to do some activity.
I'm still really active, although after weighing in at the most I have been in about 4 or 5 years just after Xmas, have upped my Cardio activity, swapping out 1 gym session for cardio only and adding a 2nd cardio only session, so including golf, I'm doing something 6 days a week.
But whole-heartedly agree on the mental health aspect, when I've had a tough day at work, I am always so amped to go to the gym, put my headphones on and physically thrash myself!
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@Virgil said in Walking around:
Not sure if this sub is still active but i wanted to post my progress and and journey so far..
Start of January last year i decided to give exercise yet another try, over the years ive attempted to and pretty much each time got bored, gave up and quit after just a couple of months. Always had an excuse
This time i wanted it to be different, being single living alone, apart from sharing custody with my daughters, i had all the time in the world to make it work this time
Started small, just a couple easy 3-4km walks at a not to brisk pace. Didn't put any pressure on myself to go too hard, Which is likely why ive failed in the past. I throw myself hard into a new endeavor and it quickly runs its course.This time i grew into it, walking regularly 3 - 4 times a week and slowly upping my pace and distance,
Going from an average of 10.00 -10.30mins per km to where i am now which is normally 9-9.10mins per km. Often doing 1km splits in the mid to late 8mins per km.
Last year i set myself a goal of reaching 1,000kms in total by the years end. I fell just short with 944km walked.
Struggled in the winter-early spring months but overall very happy. The occasional month i broke 100kms in total, averaging 25kms a week
Ive since started 2026 with a bang with having nearly 170km's last month. My pace is increasing too.
Im at a point where i look forward to it and get slightly anxie if i cant get out there.
It also does wonders for your mental health, not just your physical.Speaking of the physical turn around, i didnt weigh myself at the start. I didnt want to become obsessed with weight and getting despondent over slow progress. I had a reasonable idea what i weighed and figured id see the changes in time.
it felt very slow to start but by mid year it was noticeable pants were getting looser, and discovered i had ribs instead of just a round tummy and torso. Then later in the year i started getting comments from people i hadnt seen for a while. Like actual surprised looks on their face and 'oh wow you look so different'. Felt fucking amazing
Im not a BIG guy but i have a small frame, had the classic spare tyre and belly that goes with it.
Went clothes shopping just before xmas last year, needed some new shirts to wear when out walking. Have only ever been wearing L for a number of years. Tried on a M and it was actually loose...so on a whim i tried a Small. A fucken small and it fitted! I can not recall the last time i comfortably fit into a Small shirt, probably when i was a teenager.Next were pants, have generally worn 36-38 inch. Bought some shorts and comfortably fitted in 32 inch but even now they are feeling lose. I suspect i need to drop down to 30inch maybe even smaller.
Have since gone through my wardrobe and chucked away all my dress shirts and most of my t-shirts.
All my long pants/jeans are all too big now as well.This week i decided to fuck it and weigh myself on a set of scales.
last time i did weigh myself i was around 95kgs. Id imagine i had maintained that weight ever since.Jumped on the scales and it read 73kgs.
20+kg lossFucking stoked
Still have a little bit more to lose, most of the belly is gone but some is still there and the look of a spare tyre is gone.
Not running, no expensive gym memberships. Just walking and some diet changes. Nothing drastic, just moderation, cutting out snacking and eating anything after dinner etc.If you have managed to make it this far i appreciate it and for reading my not so exciting story.
Hopefully plenty others out there are in better places with their health and fitness too
Good work Fella.
Walking is great, definitely a part of my regime. ( I'll leave that long distance running shit to the other half, I'll make do with a few sprints instead )
It's a wonderful way to get out in nature, have a think about life, stop and post something on the fern, listen to music, have a perve etc.
It should be something everyone who lives in NZ does whether urban or in rural areas. No shortage of great spots to do it in.
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@taniwharugby said in Walking around:
@Virgil said in Walking around:
Im at a point where i look forward to it and get slightly anxie if i cant get out there.
It also does wonders for your mental health, not just your physical.Awesome work, you should be stoked with that!! I havent weighed that much since last century haha
That is one sign IMO that shows you are on the right path, when your body is telling you it wants/needs to do some activity.
I'm still really active, although after weighing in at the most I have been in about 4 or 5 years just after Xmas, have upped my Cardio activity, swapping out 1 gym session for cardio only and adding a 2nd cardio only session, so including golf, I'm doing something 6 days a week.
But whole-heartedly agree on the mental health aspect, when I've had a tough day at work, I am always so amped to go to the gym, put my headphones on and physically thrash myself!
No one on earth has ever said "gee I really regret doing that workout" even if it just about kills you at the time. The endorphins and good feelings are real even if it might be more tempting to get on the piss with mates to forget your troubles ( this is still recommended in moderation ).
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@MN5 Cheers
ive tried running in the past too, the knees never appreciated it.Ive realised too with the uptick in distance and pace i need to better fuel myself, up the protein intake etc
Have also worn out my first pair of sneakers, on the prowl for another pairAll this exercising, losing weight replacing your wardrobe doesnt come cheap!
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@Virgil said in Walking around:
@MN5 Cheers
ive tried running in the past too, the knees never appreciated it.Ive realised too with the uptick in distance and pace i need to better fuel myself, up the protein intake etc
Have also worn out my first pair of sneakers, on the prowl for another pairAll this exercising, losing weight replacing your wardrobe doesnt come cheap!
Fuck running, jeepers that reminds me I need to get up early in a couple of weekends to drop the girl to the start line for round the bays......
Given we're friends on FB I have to say I'm slightly disappointed my feed isn't full of gratuitous posts about how far you've walked each day. ( complete with maps, times, elevation etc )
Do better.
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@taniwharugby i was shocked when i saw the 73 come up.
did it a couple more times just to be sure. I was expecting maybe 80ish at best.agree re your body wants to get out there. Ive always taken a no pressure approach. Theres been the odd evening when im just shattered too tired. Could have pushed myself to go but i hadnt. Also be times when i was out walking but was struggling and would call it a day.
I think that has helped, now its just a part of my routine and i enjoy it.Also realized too late listening to audio books while walking isnt that ideal. Switched back to music and the increase in pace was hugely noticeable.
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@taniwharugby said in Walking around:
@Virgil funny, I recently just bought a pair of running shoes (usually only went for cross-trainers) and the comfort level is much better, so is def worth spending money on good shoes.
i can imagine, just starting noticing recently how the soles of my feet would feel a bit tender after a long walk.
Might check out for any sales this long weekend
