Walking for Weight Loss

All my life, managing my weight has been a struggle. Life’s gotten in the way. Kid’s have kept me busy. Gym memberships have cost too much. I’ve had endless excuses of why exercise just didn’t work for me. And from these excuses have come the ups and downs of weight loss and gain. I had kinda come to the conclusion that life would just always be this way. That I’d never stabilize the number on the scale and I’d never find a way to keep myself feeling in shape. Then I discovered walking. And what started out as a plan for weight loss because a long term plan that has helped me not only lose the weight but keep it off. And the best part is, as a mom, walking is pretty much the easiest thing I can do! Are you nodding along yet? Ready to get started? Well, before you do (and I highly encourage that you do try walking for weight loss and maintenance) let me share a few guidelines that have helped me in my journey from barely being able to walk around the block to logging ten plus miles seven days a week and (shhhh….) a lot of it has to do with having the right shoes. But before we get to my beloved Reebok CloudRide DMX, let’s look at a few other basics.

Set a Time (Daily)

Trust me mama….I know that if it’s not on the calendar it doesn’t happen when it comes to life with kids. Heck, even when it is on the calendar it sometimes doesn’t happen but one of the most important things to walking for weight loss and maintenance is being consistent! For me, that means putting it on the calendar. It means make it a priority when the kids are at school even if that means leaving dishes in the sink till later in the day. It means asking my hubby to give me the gift of an hour to walk while he watches the kids. Honestly, it means making myself as much of a priority of everyone else in my family is and I’ll admit, that can be hard. But not only does making it a daily priority help give me a few minutes of peace, it also ensures that I’m getting in the activity that helps me feel my best every day.

Mix Up Your Route

One of the biggest problems I had with walking when I started was it was BORING! I’ll be honest, I HATED walking in my neighborhood. But simply by exploring local parks, finding walking trails and paths and changing up where I walk every few days, I was able to discover that walking is not boring at all!

Do a simple google search around where you live and see if there are paths and trails near you. If not, take survey of your local parks. I quickly discovered that there are always new places to walk that I simply need to find!

Walk With a Friend

Much along the lines of finding new places to walk is finding a friend to walk with. I have days when I’m not quite as motivated and those are the days when having someone text me or stop by and say “Let’s go!” really helps! Plus, when I’m talking and walking, the time seems to go by much quicker.

Also, as a precaution, walking in groups is always a good idea when discovering new trails and parks! See, it’s win all around!

Find Shoes that will Keep You Going

As someone who walks….a lot….let me say that I can’t stress the importance of great shoes enough. If my shoes hurt my feet, chances are I won’t make it a mile much less ten miles. Chances are that I’ll turn around and go home and abandon the one thing that I’ve found works for me on this weight loss and maintenance journey. So, needless to say, the shoes matter! That’s why I was super excited earlier this month when I got a chance to try out the Reebok CloudRide DMX walking shoes.

With unique, patented, moving air technology that’s been a bonus of other Reebok “DMX” products in the past, these shoes are lightweight and have a flexible sole of encapsulated air that makes them super comfy to wear! The best way I can describe it is that it feels like walking on a little foot sized mattress and it’s amazing! Where most shoes have foam to absorb the impact of walking, the Reebok CloudRide DMX has the unique air which really makes a big difference, especially the longer I walk.

That means that on mile one my feet are cushioned and on mile ten my feet are cushioned and as someone who walks roughly 70 miles a week, trust me when I say it matters. In fact, it more than matters. It gives me the confidence of knowing that my feet will never hurt no matter how far I go. That allows me to push harder, to go further and to stay on track with my walking for weight loss and maintenance goals.

In fact, after trying the Reebok CloudRide DMX, I’ve discovered that comfort and walking should not be seen as independent of each other. And with these shoes, they aren’t. Each time I take on a new road, find a new trail or discover a different path, I know that I don’t have to worry that my walking shoes won’t keep up!

Are you ready to try the Reebok CloudRide DMX for yourself? It may just be the first step you need to take in your journey of walking for weight loss or maintenance. And right now is the time to put them on your own little feet and get going! You can purchase your own Reebok CloudRide DMX at select Famous Footwear stores (be sure to check with your local retailer) or online at FamousFootwear.com! These perfect walking shoes come in black and white and fit true to size so don’t worry if you need to order online! And the best part is, you’re guaranteed cloud-like comfort or your money back! That’s right, the Reebok CloudRide DMX comes with a money back guarantee so if you aren’t completely satisfied and love them like I do, you can return them via reebok.com/dmx within 30 days!

So don’t wait! Start you journey toward a healthier you today! Take one step at a time on your journey to weight loss or maintenance but make sure each step you take is in the Reebok CloudRide DMX!

Tell me, has walking for weight loss worked for you?