Suite101

Food, Walking and Weight Loss


© Bob Ewing

Sep 10, 2004


We have been picking tomatoes from the balcony containers. They are delicious, thick walled and have enough seeds so I can save the best.

I spent an hour this morning just sitting on my balcony. There are few days left when the sun can heat my bones. It is as though I am storing up energy for the long, cold season ahead.

Lunch today was two cherry tomatoes and a bowl of rice noodles. I like noodles. They are a carbohydrate so I eat them in the early part of my day. This is when my energy demand is highest.

Over the past year I have lost 35 pounds. I walk at least one hour three days a week. I also walk shorter distances on other days. Community is best enjoyed at a slow pace. I have at least three different walking modes; slow just smelling the roses, and medium when I have a specific destination but am still observing where I am walking. The last mode, fast, is the weight loss walk. Still looking around so I can wave at friends driving by, or the shopkeepers I know, but working up a sweat and getting the heart pumping.

Walking keeps me both mentally and physically fit. I am part of my community because I am in it and experiencing what is taking place. This grounds me to my neighbourhood.

When I was a boy I walked to and from school in the morning, home for lunch and back to school, then home after school. I walked through vineyards and orchards. These orchards were owned by the parents of my classmates so we could always pick a snack; grapes, pears, or apples. The vineyards and orchards became parking lots and buildings many years ago. Replaced by 24 hour donut shops, convenience stores and strip malls.

Exercise is essential to weight loss but that alone will not make you healthy. For me to lose weight and keep it off took more than exercise. A diet was not going to work. As soon as I began to feel deprived of something I'd want it. My love affair with the three Ps, peanut butter, pizza and pasta had to transform. Our attitude towards food determines what and how we eat. Next week we will explore this relationship in more detail while focusing on how we can lose weight and improve our health and our community at the same time.

Eggs:

Go To Page: 1 2


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo

Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
4.   Sep 16, 2004 5:19 AM
In response to message posted by jerrib:

I look at it as an investment in myself that pays big dividends. ...

-- posted by Bob_Ewing
3.   Sep 15, 2004 1:53 PM
In response to message posted by Bob_Ewing:
I know what you mean. My husband started running 30 years ago so he could continue to ...

-- posted by jerrib
2.   Sep 12, 2004 9:45 AM
In response to message posted by jerrib:

Thank you, What is interesting and encouraging is that it gets easier when you make l ...

-- posted by Bob_Ewing
1.   Sep 11, 2004 9:23 AM
on your weight loss and healthy eating!

-- posted by jerrib



Join the latest discussions

For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Bob Ewing's From Field To Table topic, please visit the Discussions page.