h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi, still not sure how you've got this page set up, Dr. MO. A new thread for each day or by member?

Anyhow, today Monday, May 12 - two walks. 30 and 45 minutes.

az

Dr MO - 30 MINUTES of situps?????


(that's a lot. . .)

az

Hee hee, here I am now!

Fnord again!

Stalker! Actually, this was all my idea but Dr MO set up the page. It's all about getting active and FORGETTING about trying to lose weight or getting obsessed about these things. Because I think if a person starts getting into more active things it sets off an upwardly-spiralling action which is very positive. So, you feel better because you are being more active, you have more energy, so you end up being even more active, you start doing more stuff, you feel even better . . . etc. And then - surprise! You've also lost 2-4 stone while you were so busy being active and happy.

This was originally a reply to Dr. MO asking WHY he should try and lose weight. So now we have the activity challenge going - I think it's great.

az
(are you going to stalk me everywhere I go?)

Heee heee.... read my post on hi fnord! and immediately lose all respect.

what respect?

Hey azahar, doing great so far, I was doing situps about 1 to 2 seconds and I took about 10 min rest altogether, you just can't do that strait, you'd kill yourself.

I was most tired, I may try and do it tonight, although at some point I will record swimming, (when I can aford it basicaly).

-- DoctorMO --

hi Doctor MO,

I'm totally loving this - it's great for motivation. Just got back from my bike ride and will post later with my day's active activities after I do a bit more.

It's great you are doing the sit-ups, etc. I want to start back into my little workout with small weights at home (can't afford a gym) but I know what I need to do and have developed a 40-minute workout that is quite thorough. It can even be broken down into two 20 minute workouts (upper and lower body stuff) if I am pressed for time.

Be careful with sit-ups though - the best ones for you are the type where you don't actually do a full sit-up but rather do 'crunches'.

I know this might sound silly to you, but a few years ago someone lent me their Cindy Crawford workout video (think it was called Shape your Body) and in fact it is very practical and no-nonsense. Also, all the exercises on this video are very safe and will not hurt one's back. I know quite a bit about this stuff as years ago I worked with a very good fitness instructor who taught me a lot. Anyhow, this video might be a good thing for you to check out. Don't cringe. Even though it's Cindy, it's definitely *not* a silly workout thing at all. There are two 40-minute workouts on this video plus a shorter 10 minute one (just to loosen up and do *something*) for when you are short of time. It also shows proper ways to do abdominal exercises. To do the whole workout you only need two small hand weights, a chair and a mat. But you could also do it without the weights. Just thought I'd pass that on. Because then you just follow the video and don't have to think about what to do next.

Anyhow - good for us! I already feel like I have more energy. Will check back in later with my activity report.

az

Good advice, not sure how to get hold of such a tape and how to play it, hmmm.... but if you have some tips on your 40/2x20min workouts, write a little pice and I'll put it on the page, under, Usefull tips.

Stick it in an entry, so I can link to it, and so you can edit it when you like...

-- DoctorMO --

Hi DR MO

Tuesday May 13:
one hour of cycling
two walks: 45 min. / 1hr.45min (in 38ºC heat!)

re: the exercise advice. Well, not sure if I feel 'expert' enough to write anything - I just know that a lot of people end up hurting themselves by not doing exercises properly, so I thought that video might help you to do things safely because it is quite good (sure Amazon would have it). But if I did think of something to say about this, how do I stick it in an entry? You mean, on a thread like this?

All worn out now - just home from my last walk. Very hot today!

Must go drink some more water now.

az

Ah very good, good day for the activity.

Right, to make a page, goto your space, and look for guide entries, if your on goo it will be below your jornal and if alabaster or brunel look for your entries, and click add. you can then write a page. don't worry about not being qualified, thats the last thing we need is to advise people to spend money, we want to encorage people, and having the information readly available will be a good way to get people interested.

-- DoctorMO --

Thanks for the info (I honestly am a bit of a computer dunce). I will try to think of some exercise tips and activity ideas.

Just wondering about us spicing up the intro a bit too - make it a bit more 'fun' and perhaps without focussing on losing weight, since the 'daily activity challenge' is in fact meant to be about lifestyle change rather than just trying to lose weight. Just thought that might turn people off who are already tired of having tried and tried to lose weight in the past. This is about changing habits. Becoming a more active person in general. And, as I said to you before, even if it starts out just doing ONE active a day more than before, you're already on your way. And the point of posting activities with other members is that it helps with motivation.

Anyhow, hope you don't think at all like I am criticizing your page - I think it's great. My only concern is mentioning losing weight. I know if I saw a page that talked about joining a group to get more active and lose weight I would go 'ho hum' and move on. Because I've been on every diet there is and also done so many types of exercise things.

But the idea of an active lifestyle change - a daily activity challenge - that might grab people's attention. Because in terms of people who want and need to lose weight, it's never made sense to me to take away their 'crutch' (as the reason they got overweight in the first place was needing food for emotional as well as physical reasons). Better to add something than take something away. Like - activities! And especially physical ones. But again, nobody can change overnight and Rome wasn't built in a day so that's why the challenge is to just keep doing that ONE extra thing a day - and keep posting - and then little by little adding to that. And THEN seeing how by becoming more active other things change in your life. Like, much higher energy levels, feeling happier, feeling more alive! And - surprise! - also not needing to comfort eat so much because, well, you are just too busy doing other more interesting things. You know, at least that was the idea when I first asked if you wanted to do this challenge. Because I also wanted and needed the motivation of having a 'partner' to start getting more active.

Anyhow, just some thoughts on this. In the end, I suppose it doesn't matter if we don't attract many more people. Just thought it might be nice for others though who, like us, need a little help from our friends to get going.

az

I think your quite good at putting words around things,

btw, the page has been updated!

-- DoctorMO --

Yikes! Oh NO WAY did you just do that! At least let me edit myself a bit! I was just writing to you off the top of my head. Just to throw out some ideas about the activity challenge concept.

Anyhow, quite like the new graphic - much more active!

aaargh! Now feeling quite embarrassed.

az

Don't worry, I thought it would be more of a collabrative effort, and I liked your post, I just edited it a bit.

-- DoctorMO --

okay, my activities today, May 14:

Walking!

Two 45 minute walks

Four 1/2 hour walks (3 of them carrying a large box with an electric fan inside - don't ask! )

az

Dr MO
Am feeling so great - a bit tired but yet feeling like I have more energy! This is wonderful.

Great work, if I wasn't so malard I would have done more today...

-- DoctorMO --

Activities May 15:

three 20 minute walks
one 45 minute walk
one hour of cycling



az

Great, hows it going?

-- DoctorMO --

I'm a bit frustrated with myself that I haven't started on the workouts yet. At least the upper body part of the routine (20 minutes). But I've also been quite busy this week and even fitting in an hour-long bike ride is often not easy. Most of the walking is simply instead of taking the bus to work. And in fact, walking only takes 15 minutes longer than taking the bus. 45 minutes instead of 30.

How are you doing? Noticing any change in your energy level yet? In your self-perception? Are you still trying to "diet" as well, or just doing the extra activity thing?

az