You might remember the Thoughts from the Treadmill posts here on the blog. Well, the old, sticky treadmill I was using went the way of Freecycle, after gathering dust in the shed for many months. Apparently just having it in the shed helped keep the weight off, because, no lie, I’ve gained five pounds since giving it away a couple of weeks ago after being the same weight for a couple of years.
Of course that’s not true, but I wish having a treadmill in the shed and not under my feet could help keep the weight down. Instead, I guess I have to admit my knitting has played a part. Rather than taking the place of another sedentary activity (can you say Facebook?), knitting has taken the place of other activities I might have to actually, you know, get up to do. Not that I had that many active habits in the first place, because everything I do is on my laptop, from writing to bill paying to photos to social connections.
So now, after much pondering over which laptop-centered activity has to go and what the hell would replace it, I’m thinking I need to get a decent treadmill and set up another walking desk. The only reason I stopped using the other one is that it was just too damned hard to push myself on that horrible manual treadmill and still keep my hands on the keyboard. I actually enjoyed the walking when I had something else to do, and it felt like the creativity flowed more evenly as well.
Another factor in my weight gain is my crappy eating. I cook more than I used to, but I don’t think my improvement is keeping up with my metabolism. Oh, and that reminds me, I probably need to get my thyroid medicine adjusted again. That might help. Another thing is anxiety, which I’m working on slowly to alleviate. Stress has been shown to increase belly fat, or so the diet pill commercials tell me.
I think I’ll go look around for a small electric treadmill at the pawn shops and thrift stores. If I can’t find a decent one there, I guess I’ll have to consider a new one, even though the thought of spending the money sends me into fits of anxiety.
And there goes another button.
You know, there is extremely good evidence that weight loss is about 80-90% diet and exercise can actually sabotage your efforts. Just an interesting counterpoint to consider before shelling out money for a new treadmill, I guess. Of course, to each their own and anecdotal evidence is just that. What works for you may or may not work for someone else. If you had success with this before it's not going to hurt to try it again.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, my weight loss isn't doing jack sprat, so what would I know? If my back weren't as jacked over as it is I'd walk too, but that's absolutely out of the question for me. More than about three minutes walking really starts to become crippling.
Good luck, and may your weight loss odyssey be much more fruitful than mine!
I didn't lose any weight while walking, never have throughout my life, and it hurts my back, too. I felt stronger during my walking time, and the breath comes easier after a while of regular walking. So there's the dichotomy.
ReplyDeleteBut I saw a report about offices where the employees have the option to use a walking desk, where they walk at a very slow pace all day while they're working, and all the people who did it lost weight. And it just got me to thinking about how VERY sedentary my life has become, and I know I need to get moving somehow. It wouldn't hurt my back to walk slowly for longer periods, and in fact might even help it because sitting for long periods like I do hurts it worse than walking. Trying to think of things I would actually do, because a gym membership won't help, for example, because I'd have to drive there and it would be too easy to just not.
So I don't know. I'm still in the looking stage, and I don't know where I would put the thing, to boot.
I vote for putting on some CD's and dancing! So much more fun than walking. :D
ReplyDeleteThat is fun. I think my prob is that I've done all those free, in-my-home things too much. That's why the treadmill might work out, because I can write or read or watch a movie while I'm on it. Still thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteG'Day! Sherricornelius,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the above, The F63, F80, F83, F85, S73, S77 and TT8 are just some of the popular Sole treadmill products. For starters, the brand Sole is one of newest treadmill brand. However, even if it is just a newcomer, it has already earned its title as one of the leading treadmill brands.
Thx.
Hi Sherri,
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. Given the 2+ hours a day I spend at the club (whether on treadmill/stationary bike/stairs) the thoughts that go through one's mind. Mmmm, mmm, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Maybe just a case of a guy and his DNA random brain-to-other-brain misplaced wiring issue. The wild romantic delusions amplify with just about every drop of sweat. Fun, happy, sensual, healthy pulses etc. The thoughts go on for hours later.
Take care,
Cruise