Experts say that it only takes 21 days to form a new habit. This means that in 21 days you could take an old habit and break it or you can acquire a new habit – preferably a positive one! For those of you interested in health and fitness, this is some handy information that will serve you well. You CAN develop a healthy fitness and/or health habit within 21 days to benefit you in so many ways! Does this sound too easy? Do you think you could do it? In 21 days? I challenge you to take the next 21 days to start or re-start your weight loss journey by cultivating a new workout habit: Brisk walking.
Itβs a fact: brisk walking can help you get in shape and lose weight. You donβt have to hit the gym or join an aerobics class in order to burn calories necessary for weight loss. For many of you who are just beginning your journey, walking is the perfect match. In fact, University of Pittsburgh researchers assert that those who walk for 30 to 60 minutes per day were likely to lose weight even if they changed nothing else in their lifestyle habits.* Plus, walking is something that you can do for free. You can walk around your neighborhood, in nature, on a treadmill in the gym, at the mall, on trails, at a track and more. There are even walking DVDs that you can use at home. No excuses.
The key is to be sure that you are walking at a fast pace or what many call βbrisk walkingβ. Basically, this is not about strolling or walking slow. You want to walk at a fast pace and you can pump your arms for even more affect. This might not sound like much, but you could burn up to 200 calories each time you brisk walk 30 minutes, so if you do this every day, youβll have burned 1,400 calories by the end of one week. With 5 days a week minimum, you could burn in the range of 1000 calories per week.* If you really watch your eating habits on top of this, youβll be good to go!
21 Day Walking Challenge – May 2019 Challenge
You’ll find this month’s Tracking Calendar Below (PDF File)
If you’ve been waiting to start your weight loss journey because you don’t know where to start, Iβd like you to do something for me. Make a commitment to take 21 days to change things up. Make a commitment for 21 days to eat healthier and walk briskly for at least 30 minutes. (That leaves plenty of time for rest days.)
You donβt have to become a vegan, but I do want you to encourage you to introduce healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables into your diet on a daily basis and eliminate some unhealthy foods (junk foods, foods with little nutritional value). Basically, we are talking about eating clean. If you’d like to learn more about Clean Eating, read our helpful E-Book, “Clean Eating for Wellness and Weight Loss“.
I also want you to consider finding a family member, co-worker or friend to commit to doing this with you. It will make it easier to partner with someone in this endeavor.
For 21 days, do something different. Commit to become healthier and get moving. If you need motivation, get some. Read the stories of others who have gone from unhealthy and overweight to healthy and slender, listen to motivational speakers and invite your friends to encourage you. Get recipe books that have healthy recipes and try your hand at cooking lighter meals. Heck, you might even want to form a neighborhood walking party!
I believe that anyone can eat healthier with a firm commitment to change and most everyone can get out and walk consistently. I believe that in 21 days you will develop healthier patterns that will continue on past that 21 day mark. You will prove to yourself that you can change and live a healthy lifestyle. Begin today. Join the 21 day Brisk Walking Challenge.
- If you can only walk for 15-20 minutes in the beginning, thatβs fine. Start where you are and work up to 30 minutes. If you are more advanced, 45 minutes to 1 hour of walking may be a more practical goal. (If you are a runner or jogger, you can still join this challenge. Create you own 21 day goal and stick with it.)
- Invest in a fitness tracker (FitBit, Jawbone, Garmin, etc) or pedometer. You could also use a mobile app that tracks your steps via your phone. If you have a Fitbit, join our FitBit Group.
- We will post a check-in post every evening on our Facebook and Instagram, May 1-21. Leave a comment and stay accountable. Post about your experience on your social media profiles using the hashtag #BWLW21 so that we can follow your progress.
Bonus Challenge: Join our May Dietbet β The fun starts on May 7th. $35 Bet β Lose 4% of your weight and spilt the pot with other participants who have done the same. Photo weigh-in Sept 6-8th. Join us!
Click here to download this month’s calendar.
PS: If you haven’t signed up for our mail list, do it today.
Now, you might say to yourself, “Walking…will that really work?” Well, I say “You’ve got to start somewhere!”
Do you realize that most New Yearβs Resolutions are made with the pledge to eat healthier, exercise, and lose weight? It is probably not a shocker that within one month of making those resolutions that efforts subside and people continue on with their unhealthy lifestyle. They say they want to eat healthier and exercise, but are not willing to pay the price.
Committing to the simple lifestyle change of walking for 30 minutes, 5 days a week could help you make progress on that weight loss resolution you made months ago.
It is easier to eat unhealthy foods. Most people opt to grab cookies over celery and a Big Mac over tofu salad. It is also easier to sit around the house rather than to get out and walk or engage in some form of exercise on a daily basis. But easy does not get you very far. Easy gets you gaining pounds and feeling sluggish.
Many people get it that exercise and healthy food is important, but we donβt want to really commit to changing our lifestyle. There is a saying, βWhen the pain gets great enough, youβll do something different.β What that means is that when you get sick and tired of feeling sluggish and carrying those extra pounds, youβll do something different. Will you have to reach a point of no return or experience a crisis before you change? What will it take for you to get motivated and really make a commitment to doing something different to get the results that you want? Walking is a great way for anyone to get started. Take a chance and get moving for 21 days.
Leave a comment below and let us know when you plan to start your 21 days of brisk walking and where you plan to walk.
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*Reference: www.active.com/walking/articles/forget-the-gym-why-a-brisk-walk-is-a-really-great-workout
Calories: Intensity of your workouts, age, weight, body fat vs. muscle, health and other factors will impact calorie burn so these are estimates. You can invest in a fitness tracker, like Polar watch or FitBit for a better idea of how many calories you’re burning.
Kimberly Hawkins says
Hello I plan to start my 21 day brisk walking challenge on 9/1/18 at a local park, I look forward to starting. πππΎββοΈ
Cheryl Bonner says
I plan to start my 21 day brisk walking tomorrow 9/24/18
At a local park
Zenobia McFall says
Hello, I plan to start my 21 day brisk walking challenge on 9/1/18. π
DeLisa says
I plan to start walking 9/1/18 during my lunch break. Walking around the building for 30 mins. I need this challenge because I always going to start but never do….Thanks so much!
Keisha says
Iβm in!
Domineque says
I am in and planned to walk daily at my local gym or neighborhood to reach my goals
Erica says
Starting 9/1/18….I need this challenge. Upcoming wedding is in 25 days!!! Great way to try and lose these last 9 pounds to goal.
Tonya says
I’m in starting 9/4/18
Patricia Miles says
Iβm in.
Shakeisha says
I’m in. I will start the challenge on 9/1/18. I will walk my neighborhood or gym.
Celia Claussen says
Hello, I plant to start this challenge on 9/1/18 and I need this challenge so much! Thanks!
Loretta says
I will start my challenge on 09/01
During my breaks and lunch
judy goins says
I starting 9/1/2018
Robyn says
I will be starting September 1st
Winona says
I plan to start my 21 day challenge on 9/1 too!
Stacy says
Iβm in!
Ida Alford says
I’m in!
Denise Collins says
I can’t WAIT to get started! Much love!
Denise
Ajima Jackson says
Thank you for joining us and thank you for the edit. Blessings
Angela says
I will be starting Monday..yes the holiday..lol. ill walk around the park before the food is ready and after eating thanks for the challenge!!!! You all are awesome!!!
Chasity says
Im in! I will start on Tuesday 9/4 and I will do my brisk walks (in addition to my regular exercise in the mornings) after work each day.
Chasity says
OR I will walk during my lunch break.
Dneis says
Count me in pls!
Shenita says
I plan to start 10/1/18.
Vanessa Hicks says
May 1 .I will be starting my 21 day walking challenge. I like my scenery to be different so I will start at my recreation center, park, mall, school track and my neighborhood. Make it that more enjoyable when I walk someplace else daily.
Tonya says
Count me in
Stacy says
Count me in…my neighborhood
AJ says
God willing, I’ll be ready to go at the gym
Mashay says
Hello I plan to start the 21 day
brisk walk challengee 4/29/19 neighborhood.
Pantheress67 says
I am into the 21 day Brisk walking challenge
Determinedin2019 says
I plan to start on Monday May 6, 2019
Julia says
Canβt wait to get started..π€π€π€