Man lost more than 90 pounds walking in backyard

jezzie · 03-14-2008, 04:39 PM

The path to health, happiness
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY

Gary Todd's life has been scarred by tragedy.

In 1982, his wife died in a car accident during a severe rainstorm. In 1995, his 18-year-old daughter was killed when a truck in which she was a passenger crashed.

Todd, 53, of Opelika, Ala., says he dealt with his grief and depression by overeating. "It was a rough time, especially the first two or three years after (his daughter's) death. It's terrible to deal with the loss of a child, especially when you don't have a spouse to help you cope with it."

In 2002, Todd realized that he had to do something about his weight, so he started walking around the perimeter of his backyard. He has done that trek (56 laps) five days a week for 4½ years and has a well-worn path and a slimmer body to show for it.

At 6 feet tall, Todd now weighs 213 pounds, down from a high of 305 in December 2002. His waist has gone from 48 to 36 inches.

He is one of more than a dozen readers profiled in the fourth annual USA TODAY Weight-Loss Challenge. This year's challenge, which runs through next Tuesday, focuses on people who have lost weight and kept it off.

Todd, a night auditor at a hotel who helps care for his elderly parents, says regular exercise gave him a new lease on life. "If somebody asked me 'What percentage of the days do you feel like you want to go out there and walk?' it would be probably 10%," he says.

"But if somebody asked me what percentage of the days I am glad I walked, I would say 100%. I'm always glad I did."

He has a routine and sticks to it. "I put my headphones on, and I walk around the fence for 45 minutes. I'm really moving that whole time. It's about 3½ miles," he says. The backyard path is so worn that tree roots have been exposed that could trip him up. "I call them ineffective speed bumps. I skip or jump over them."

The path to health, happiness - USATODAY.com

Zer · 03-14-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezzie

...regular exercise gave him a new lease on life. "If somebody asked me 'What percentage of the days do you feel like you want to go out there and walk?' it would be probably 10%," he says. "But if somebody asked me what percentage of the days I am glad I walked, I would say 100%. I'm always glad I did."

What a great inspirational article. Thank you for this. I need to remind myself that I will ALWAYS be glad that I overcame sloth to move my muscles, no matter how much resistance I feel as I contemplate making the effort to get up on my hinky hip (ouch!) to burn off some calories. I've got a nearby parking lot that is a safe flat surface for me to navigate on feet that do not always balance me well on uneven earth.

oobatooba · 03-14-2008, 05:13 PM

Glad to hear I am not the only one. I now walk around my neighborhood, but when I first started out, I used to walk the perimeter of my back yard. I did not feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood, so I measured it off with a long tape measure and went round and round. I had to tell one of my neighbors what I was doing because he kept peeking over the fence. You can still see the path since the grass has worn away. I came up with a trick to keep track of the laps. In my case 25 laps is a mile, so I would carry 25 pennies in my pocket and each time around I would drop a penny in a cup. Once I am out of pennies, I know I am done. Now I feel so much better, I walk around my neighborhood with my head held high.

Zer · 03-15-2008, 12:45 AM

What a good idea, using pennies to count laps! I'm not sure how to measure perimeter of our parking lot. I suppose I can drive around and get some idea of what percentage of a mile it is. Maybe I can just walk laps and build up my stamina, without knowing what distance it is. Thanks for the penny idea!

Patlaf · 03-15-2008, 01:38 AM

Thanks for posting this Jezzie. The weather here is perfect now for walking, and I just needed a little push to get me started again.

Pat

Briar · 03-15-2008, 06:44 AM

Great article and wonderful inspiration!

RVcook · 03-15-2008, 08:07 AM

This article PROVES that if most people would just get up off the couch and begin doing some form of exercise, it would be very beneficial.

One does not have to pump serious iron and run 20k marathons to become fit! A simple 20-30 minute brisk walk everyday is an excellent way to create a lifetime of good health.

Thanks for posting this Jezzie!

jezzie · 03-15-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVcook

This article PROVES that if most people would just get up off the couch and begin doing some form of exercise, it would be very beneficial.

One of my former employees lost weight without even meaning to by dog walking.

Her vet told her that her Bassett Hound was going to die an early death if she didn't
get him off the couch. He said the pooch needed a two to four mile walk everyday.

She did it every night after dinner ... and was surprised to find she had lost unintentionally
lost weight.

RVcook · 03-15-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezzie

One of my former employees lost weight without even meaning to by dog walking.

Her vet told her that her Bassett Hound was going to die an early death if she didn't
get him off the couch. He said the pooch needed a two to four mile walk everyday.

She did it every night after dinner ... and was surprised to find she had lost unintentionally
lost weight.

Now THAT'S a great success story!!

jezzie · 03-15-2008, 10:52 AM

I do my walking in my basement. It's about 44 feet long.

I try to walk back and forth for thirty minutes each day. Most days.
No inclement weather excuses. No big people with fur on the loose.

I need to be more diligent about it. No reason I can't make the time.
I'm retired. With my posterior in a computer chair - for way too long.

Irishnonee · 03-15-2008, 04:25 PM

i tried that last year. i was too lazy to continue.

2B Me · 03-15-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezzie

One of my former employees lost weight without even meaning to by dog walking.

Her vet told her that her Bassett Hound was going to die an early death if she didn't
get him off the couch. He said the pooch needed a two to four mile walk everyday.

She did it every night after dinner ... and was surprised to find she had lost unintentionally
lost weight.

Just goes to show you that we'll take care of others before we take care of ourselves.

I have jogged around my pool recently. I really should stick to it. It's not a big pool, but the surface is flat and you don't have to know what the distance is, the time spent doing it is more important.

I also ride to school when my dh drives my dd and then I walk home. That way I know I won't be tempted to cut my walk short. I have to get home and the better walk actually is the long way home.

Also, while watching TV, I walk back and forth and side to side to work the lateral muscles or I walk laps around the inside of the house which has a circular pathway thru it.

Now, if I would just do it all more often.

fancyface · 03-15-2008, 10:11 PM

What a wonderful story! No expensive equipment or gym memberships--- just plain ole simple walking. We all can do this! Happy Trails! Will be walking the beach in a few hours after our severe storms and tornado watch has disappeared!! Hopefully in time to see the sunrise.

jezzie · 03-16-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

just plain ole simple walking

Been giving this ''walking for weight loss'' a lot of thought since yesterday

Thinking about Michelle's lazy Basset Hound (and her lazy former boss. lol.)
reminded me about when I was in a cast ... from foot to knee.

I gained about fifteen pounds and absolutely did not eat any more than usual.
In fact less because it was so much work to get my meals while on crutches.

So I decided I'm going to do a little experiment. ... I'm the great experimenter.
I've decided on fifteen weeks starting on Wednesday.

If I don't prove to myself what I already believe - I'll still be walking more than
I am right now. It's a win/win for me. If walking works you'll hear back from me.
If it doesn't work I'll just slink away in silence.

Sharon · 03-16-2008, 02:39 PM

Certainly says something for exercising. One doesn't need a gym membership or exercise equipment in their house. One only needs motivation to do it.

fancyface · 03-19-2008, 10:09 PM

Jezzie, I like the sounds of the 15 weeks of walking. Think I will join you on that one. Got some great walking in on my vacation and believe now is a great time to continue on and see what happens.

jezzie · 03-20-2008, 12:30 AM

Welcome aboard fancy.

I have actually extended it to an eighteen week 'experiment'.
6 weeks each of: 30, 50. and 75 minutes - without changing my eating.
(I had a setback and will begin tomorrow.)

I average about 8,000 steps now and hope to reach 12,500.

.

Zer · 03-20-2008, 02:26 AM

Good thread, Jezzie! Backyard walking for weight loss. Some of us are too shy to hit the bricks or try a treadmill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharon

Certainly says something for exercising. One doesn't need a gym membership or exercise equipment in their house. One only needs motivation to do it.

Motivation need not be a passion to walk, as the chap in the article said he was only 10% positively inclined to walk when he started a walk - although he was 100% positive after he'd DONE a walk. That's what got me to thinking that even ~I~ (the most recalcitrant about "just walking" to burn calories by strolling) might lock on to the certainty that I also will be 100% pleased with myself at the END of whatever walking my hinky hip and I can manage. Slow and steady, right? Each step filled with the suspense that a hinky hip brings, as one never quite knows if the hip will hold or if pain will break my gait. So I use a cane to carry some weight when I am on my left leg. Hopefully, I shall be able to depend less and less on that cane as I let go of 221# of excess weight. My current weight of 420.8# is painful on that hip. I'm thinking that I'll be walking better at 199# - and maybe just carrying my cane instead of leaning on it. Chiropractor suggests I resist overusing a cane, that I test the leg, give it a chance to function, build its strength - and my confidence - by encouraging my body to function on two legs. I'll try.

After I reach 199#, and I believe I can do that with the support of my LCFriends, I intend to get serious about refining weight, paring down, to get as close to the ideal 150# as my 5'10" frame can get. Oh, I've got plans!

fancyface · 03-20-2008, 07:26 PM

"I have actually extended it to an eighteen week 'experiment'.
6 weeks each of: 30, 50. and 75 minutes - without changing my eating."

Jezzie, that sounds like a good plan to break it up into increments. I am in for the 18 weeks and going to say that for

my first six weeks - walk 20 minutes 3 times each week,
my second six weeks - walk 30 minutes 3 times each week, and
my 3rd six weeks - walk 30 minutes 4 times each week.

Hopefully it will be such a habit by then, that I will continue and gradually increase the number of times and the intensity of my walks.

My weigh-ins are mostly on Saturday mornings, so I am going to begin my official week one of walking on Easter Sunday. Still plan on walking Friday and Saturday -- will just begin tracking on Sunday. Also found my pedometer and plan on keeping track of my daily footsteps. - If walking can help me to lose at 90 or more lbs, then I am determined to do it successfully.

jezzie · 03-21-2008, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fancyface

Jezzie, that sounds like a good plan to break it up into increments. I am in for the 18 weeks
and going to say that for

my first six weeks - walk 20 minutes 3 times each week,
my second six weeks - walk 30 minutes 3 times each week, and
my 3rd six weeks - walk 30 minutes 4 times each week.

OK Fancy: I'll switch to Sunday for my ending. What's two extra days.

I'll report back on May 4th which will be 6 weeks from your start date.

My main interest: whether I do in fact lose weight without changing my eating.
(Since I never weigh my first six weeks is just to determine if I am losing now.)

Secondary interest: getting my steps up from an average of 8,000 a day to 12,500.

I'll be weighing every three weeks and measuring at the end of each six week increment.

Tommyswife · 03-21-2008, 03:36 AM

Wow, that's inspiring.

flatferenghi · 03-21-2008, 03:43 AM

The answer to the question " How do I get started ?" is quite simple. GET OFF THE COUCH/CHAIR/BED, & MOOOOVE !!! Love & Profits:FLATFERENGHI (in town & in control)

fancyface · 03-21-2008, 07:59 AM

"I'll be weighing every three weeks and measuring at the end of each six week increment"

Sounds good to me. Staying off the scale for three weeks!

"I'll report back on May 4th which will be 6 weeks from your start date."

May 4th it is! HAPPY TRAILS!

03-14-2008, 04:39 PM	#1
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 36,975 Blog Entries: 76 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: YOU:on a Diet - Dr. Oz Start Date: 04/22/07 - lightbulb; started YOU forthwith	Man lost more than 90 pounds walking in backyard The path to health, happiness By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY Gary Todd's life has been scarred by tragedy. In 1982, his wife died in a car accident during a severe rainstorm. In 1995, his 18-year-old daughter was killed when a truck in which she was a passenger crashed. Todd, 53, of Opelika, Ala., says he dealt with his grief and depression by overeating. "It was a rough time, especially the first two or three years after (his daughter's) death. It's terrible to deal with the loss of a child, especially when you don't have a spouse to help you cope with it." In 2002, Todd realized that he had to do something about his weight, so he started walking around the perimeter of his backyard. He has done that trek (56 laps) five days a week for 4½ years and has a well-worn path and a slimmer body to show for it. At 6 feet tall, Todd now weighs 213 pounds, down from a high of 305 in December 2002. His waist has gone from 48 to 36 inches. He is one of more than a dozen readers profiled in the fourth annual USA TODAY Weight-Loss Challenge. This year's challenge, which runs through next Tuesday, focuses on people who have lost weight and kept it off. Todd, a night auditor at a hotel who helps care for his elderly parents, says regular exercise gave him a new lease on life. "If somebody asked me 'What percentage of the days do you feel like you want to go out there and walk?' it would be probably 10%," he says. "But if somebody asked me what percentage of the days I am glad I walked, I would say 100%. I'm always glad I did." He has a routine and sticks to it. "I put my headphones on, and I walk around the fence for 45 minutes. I'm really moving that whole time. It's about 3½ miles," he says. The backyard path is so worn that tree roots have been exposed that could trip him up. "I call them ineffective speed bumps. I skip or jump over them." The path to health, happiness - USATODAY.com

03-15-2008, 10:52 AM	#10
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 36,975 Blog Entries: 76 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: YOU:on a Diet - Dr. Oz Start Date: 04/22/07 - lightbulb; started YOU forthwith	I do my walking in my basement. It's about 44 feet long. I try to walk back and forth for thirty minutes each day. Most days. No inclement weather excuses. No big people with fur on the loose. I need to be more diligent about it. No reason I can't make the time. I'm retired. With my posterior in a computer chair - for way too long.

03-20-2008, 07:26 PM	#19
fancyface Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: NC Posts: 467 Blog Entries: 35 Gallery: fancyface Stats: 306/193/145 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 3 2008 for the second and final time	"I have actually extended it to an eighteen week 'experiment'. 6 weeks each of: 30, 50. and 75 minutes - without changing my eating." Jezzie, that sounds like a good plan to break it up into increments. I am in for the 18 weeks and going to say that for my first six weeks - walk 20 minutes 3 times each week, my second six weeks - walk 30 minutes 3 times each week, and my 3rd six weeks - walk 30 minutes 4 times each week. Hopefully it will be such a habit by then, that I will continue and gradually increase the number of times and the intensity of my walks. My weigh-ins are mostly on Saturday mornings, so I am going to begin my official week one of walking on Easter Sunday. Still plan on walking Friday and Saturday -- will just begin tracking on Sunday. Also found my pedometer and plan on keeping track of my daily footsteps. - If walking can help me to lose at 90 or more lbs, then I am determined to do it successfully. __________________ http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/blogs/fancyface/ Jan 3 - July 26: Down 113* lbs! 48 to original goal. --- August begin: 193 July begin: 202 July end: 193 2008 Mid-Year Resolution Challenge Member - Team 3 Success Express 75 to lose/21 lost/54 to lose.

03-21-2008, 03:43 AM	#22
flatferenghi MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,966 Gallery: flatferenghi	VERY INSPIRATIONAL!!! The answer to the question " How do I get started ?" is quite simple. GET OFF THE COUCH/CHAIR/BED, & MOOOOVE !!! Love & Profits:FLATFERENGHI (in town & in control)

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03-14-2008, 05:13 PM	#3
oobatooba Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 555 Gallery: oobatooba Stats: 1/4 ton/261.5/250 M 6'0" WOE: Moderate carbs / Lean protein Start Date: 11/20/07	Glad to hear I am not the only one. I now walk around my neighborhood, but when I first started out, I used to walk the perimeter of my back yard. I did not feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood, so I measured it off with a long tape measure and went round and round. I had to tell one of my neighbors what I was doing because he kept peeking over the fence. You can still see the path since the grass has worn away. I came up with a trick to keep track of the laps. In my case 25 laps is a mile, so I would carry 25 pennies in my pocket and each time around I would drop a penny in a cup. Once I am out of pennies, I know I am done. Now I feel so much better, I walk around my neighborhood with my head held high.

03-15-2008, 12:45 AM	#4
Zer Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SoCal (Orange County) Posts: 6,119 Blog Entries: 42 Gallery: Zer Stats: 5'10"; 64; 508.7/394.4/199 WOE: Atkins: <5%Carb; BMR:2423cals; 182gProt; 128ozH2O Start Date: 432.4(2/8) 413.2(4/8) 402.2(6/8) 8/8/08:388.8+5.6	What a good idea, using pennies to count laps! I'm not sure how to measure perimeter of our parking lot. I suppose I can drive around and get some idea of what percentage of a mile it is. Maybe I can just walk laps and build up my stamina, without knowing what distance it is. Thanks for the penny idea!

03-15-2008, 01:38 AM	#5
Patlaf MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: In a small town on the sunny coast of Spain. Posts: 1,503 Gallery: Patlaf Stats: start 226/178/145 WOE: Atkins	Thanks for posting this Jezzie. The weather here is perfect now for walking, and I just needed a little push to get me started again. Pat

03-15-2008, 06:44 AM	#6
Briar Senior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 370 Gallery: Briar Stats: 130/120/115 WOE: Read DANDR/LC overall Start Date: 12/31/07	Great article and wonderful inspiration!

03-15-2008, 08:07 AM	#7
RVcook MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,825 Gallery: RVcook Stats: 5'1" START: 153-Size 14 NOW: 123-Size 8 WOE: 40/30/30-BFFM Start Date: 9/23/2005	This article PROVES that if most people would just get up off the couch and begin doing *some* form of exercise, it would be very beneficial. One does not have to pump serious iron and run 20k marathons to become fit! A simple 20-30 minute brisk walk everyday is an excellent way to create a lifetime of good health. Thanks for posting this Jezzie!

03-15-2008, 04:25 PM	#11
Irishnonee Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 497 Gallery: Irishnonee	i tried that last year. i was too lazy to continue.

03-15-2008, 10:11 PM	#13
fancyface Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: NC Posts: 467 Blog Entries: 35 Gallery: fancyface Stats: 306/193/145 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 3 2008 for the second and final time	What a wonderful story! No expensive equipment or gym memberships--- just plain ole simple walking. We all can do this! Happy Trails! Will be walking the beach in a few hours after our severe storms and tornado watch has disappeared!! Hopefully in time to see the sunrise.

03-16-2008, 02:39 PM	#15
Sharon Come join us on the Game Board Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: retired now - I ski 40+ days annually and do marathons. 1st TIME GRANDMOTHER 6/18/07 Posts: 99,628 Gallery: Sharon Stats: 156/124/135 5'6" 63 y/o - GO UCLA - BEAT USC WOE: Atkins - low sodium and fresh food - STAY POSITIVE Start Date: 4/5/03 -------- McCAIN/PALIN in 2008	Certainly says something for exercising. One doesn't need a gym membership or exercise equipment in their house. One only needs motivation to do it.

03-19-2008, 10:09 PM	#16
fancyface Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: NC Posts: 467 Blog Entries: 35 Gallery: fancyface Stats: 306/193/145 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 3 2008 for the second and final time	Jezzie, I like the sounds of the 15 weeks of walking. Think I will join you on that one. Got some great walking in on my vacation and believe now is a great time to continue on and see what happens.

03-20-2008, 12:30 AM	#17
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 36,975 Blog Entries: 76 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: YOU:on a Diet - Dr. Oz Start Date: 04/22/07 - lightbulb; started YOU forthwith	Welcome aboard fancy. I have actually extended it to an eighteen week 'experiment'. 6 weeks each of: 30, 50. and 75 minutes - without changing my eating. (I had a setback and will begin tomorrow.) I average about 8,000 steps now and hope to reach 12,500. .

03-21-2008, 03:36 AM	#21
Tommyswife MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,921 Gallery: Tommyswife Stats: 221/205/145 WOE: Atkins and Stillman Start Date: May 23, 2006 restarted August 26, 2008	Wow, that's inspiring.

03-21-2008, 07:59 AM	#23
fancyface Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: NC Posts: 467 Blog Entries: 35 Gallery: fancyface Stats: 306/193/145 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 3 2008 for the second and final time	"I'll be weighing every three weeks and measuring at the end of each six week increment" Sounds good to me. Staying off the scale for three weeks! "I'll report back on May 4th which will be 6 weeks from your start date." May 4th it is! HAPPY TRAILS!