Hi

S

springything

New member
My name is Nat and I've been lurking for a few days. Thought I should introduce myself so here goes. I'm 33, married and have 3 kids and live in the UK. I would like to be 70lbs slimmer and really need to improve my fitness levels after 6 months of illness at the end of last year. I'm doing 10 miles walking every day and resistance 3 times a week.

It is great to see so many knowledgable folk on here. I have a reasonable amount of nutrition and health knowledge (just can't seem to put it into practice:eek: ) . I would prefer not to get hung up on cals in/out and I like the intuitive eating approach to weight loss, however, I am not seeing the results I want and need to change something!

Anyhow, already wittered on for too long. I look forward to getting to know you all.
 
Welcome Nat! It sounds like you're already off to a great start with exercising - keeping up 10 miles of walking every day will really help the weight come off. As for the foods, I'm the same way as you. I won't count calories or stick to a specific, stringent diet because I don't feel like that's something that I'll be able to keep up in the long term. What has helped me so far is making absolutely certain I get 5 different types of fruits/veggies each day and following the recommendations of the Superfoods book. If you haven't heard of it, it's a list of 14 foods that are terrific for you and I try to plan my week's meals around that. It gives me some sort of structure, but also gives me freedom in terms of what I eat and how I prepare different foods. Hopefully you'll find something that works for you - healthy eating doesn't have to taste terrible :)
 
Thanks for the welcome! I haven't seen that book - will go and research it on Amazon:) As you say, planning to calorie count forever doesn't hold any appeal. I have signed up to a new internet system called Sort Your Life Out by Pete Cohen. It is all about changing your mindset and outlook on health and fitness. I attended his seminar in April and he is very motivational.
 
Welcome aboard Nat, good luck with your journey! I can't abide cal counting either. I did try it for a while, but it turned me into an obsessing calorie bore. Just keep an eye on your nutrition, eat healthy, get your greens in, and avoid bad foods. Both the walking and the resistance training is great, keep it up!
 
Hi Ferret, thanks for the encouragement. I have to ask, where did you get the springer for your bike? I take Henry, my English springer spaniel out on my bike when I walk the kids to school but just go one handed, holding the lead in the other. This isn't the best solution but he loves it. A proper attachment would be fab! Beautiful Husky by the way.
 
Thanks Nat - you can Google and find the Springer online at a number of places - or the alternative 'Walky Dog', but I could recommend - both types are on their training aids page. Using a Springer can be dangerous, but it is far safer than trying to hold the leash. The spring and lower centre of gravity take most of the force out of a 'squirrel/cat moment'. Wolfy is a very strong and large young husky, but although we have ended up in a few bushes when he has decided to chase rabbits whilst we are green laning, he hasn't yet managed to pull me off the bike! I should imagine that it would be even safer with a relatively small dog like a springer spaniel (one of my favourite dogs!).
 
Thanks for the links - they are a lot cheaper than I expected. I had my first experience of being pulled off today (not bad considering we are doing 8-10 miles per day!). I guess my only concern is that when holding the lead myself I can guage when to 'check' Hen as he is a wonderful puller:) and if he is attached to the bike rather than me he may get carried away. This said I am definitely gonna invest in one. Do you sled(?) with Wolfy?
 
I love my springer, it really has made exercising Wolfy more complete. He does pull, and I actually find it easier to bike with him than to walk him on leash. Most days I cycle with him around three miles or more - cross country and through the town centre to keep him nice and socialised.. A few weeks ago I cycled 20 miles cross country through Thetford Forest with him! Dogs do like to trot and to run don't they? I can't trust him off leash, because like a typical husky, he gets into trouble or runs off over the horizon, and the Springer is the perfect answer for us.

I also run with him every now and then with the canicross belt, but thats more exercise for me than for him, but its also fun - like the time that he decided to chase a fox!
 
I'd love to run (with or without Henry) but shin splints prevent that. The cycling is a good alternative though and something that I now enjoy for its own sake. Henrys flushing instinct is very strong and if he sees a bush/undergrowth he just has to go through it. He loves to chase birds and bunnies (quite often catching them) and when he does his recall is non-existent. I've started agility training with him in an attempt to help him focus on me when we are out and about but also need to be able to exercise him effectively on lead which is where the bike comes in. Haven't been too adventurous yet though, only local routes.
 
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