I have also up walking in the morning - except having missed 10 or so days now due to injured leg and the cold/flu. Walking replaced the gym with a few weeks of inactivity in the middle. The gym had to go on two counts, firstly I did not enjoy the experience and two, it was difficult to fit into my normal routine especially since the train companies decided to change their timetables at a very crucial time when I needed to create the habit.

Walking is derided by many people as 'old people' exercise and maybe I'll agree to a that it is not as physical as jogging or running but if you are overweight, running and jogging is not going to do you ankles or your knees any good! Walking also allows you to kill 2 birds with one stone! You can also use your walking time as your 'me' time. 'Me' time - the recommended stress killer. This is the time you can listen to your morning 'motivational' music, podcast, audio books or whatever. Or if you are like me, just use it as thinking time, I just let my mind wonder wherever it wants. The human body is so magnificent that you will be surprised how alert you are to surroundings even with your mind elsewhere at walking pace.

Walking is natural exercise. In the book 'Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home and School', it has been estimated that the human body is built to do about 12 miles a day of walking - many of us are nowhere close! You are more unlikely to cause yourself damage from walking than from many other forms of sports. Oh don't get me wrong, if you are into something more strenuous, knock yourself out but I put it to you that the vast majority of us are not motivated enough to keep up the long term commitment required to 'lose the weight', 'get fitter' or any other reason.

The gym, I am convinced, appeals to a certain type of person. The more extrovert you are, the more you like the experience and the more you prance about the gym showing of pecks and tight buttocks - if you should be so lucky. Holding up equipment so that they can get their 14 reps in is not past many of these people! For the rest of us, it is uncomfortable and mostly embarrassing. I will never be repeating the experience, thank you very much, I'd rather waddle around! Apparently, most gym applicants stop going after a few visits, I wonder why and I accuse the industry of not doing anything to address it instead happily taking - nicely covered by contract - subscriptions from people who are no longer attending.

I must admit I have always liked walking, not strolling, walking. As a teenager I walked miles instead of spending hours waiting and catching what passed for public transport in our little part of Africa. And in the Seychelles, walking just seemed the natural way of getting round. My friend and I walked round Mahé, the main island, in some 5 or 6 hours when we were only 13 years olds!

I chose a 1.5km route, ten minutes stroll (warm up & cool down) from my house, which does not require me to cross any major junctions and I try and keep my time under 14 minutes per lap! Under that time, I am starting to stroll! I tend to do 3 laps on weekdays and 4 on weekends with a break on Monday and Friday mornings, note that I tend to stay up later on the nights before. I walk in the morning before the family wake up and because I go to bed early enough, I naturally get up early enough to fit it into my routine.

That for me is the reason why people stick to good intentions or not, if it does not fit into your routines - or you cannot adjust to a new routine that includes you new goals, you are doomed to fail. Chop and change until it fits then do it 21 times! 21 times is the number to make it a habit apparently.

I have been walking since May averaging 60% (equiv of 4 times a week). Have I lost weight? Not much. Am I fitter? Not that I can definitely agree but my average lap times are falling. I do feel good after my walk, it sets me up for the day, it lets me vent my angers, day-dream for a while and I miss it when I don't do it. Reasons enough to keep doing it. And as Mr Jim Rohn keeps reminding as 'a little accomplished each day and soon enough you are on a upward spiral'. The weight loss will come and so will the fitness, it is only a matter of getting the balance right.

May you find the balance.

[First published on my Talking2Myself blog on specified date]