Everything I needed to know about weight loss, I learned while walking my dog. Okay, I was walking a lot of people’s dogs. About five hours a day. In half hour increments. But I lost weight and you can too!
When I left corporate America and started my own pet sitting business in 2003, I had a few pesky pounds I wanted to lose.
Those pounds were there, largely due to the amount of “fast food” I was grabbing between meetings, deadlines, and work. You know, the sugary crumb-covered treat you pick up on your way to your skim latte? How about 2 bags of chips from the vending machine when you’re whipping up another client proposition at the expense of lunch?
I started my own business and in a month I lost almost 5 pounds. In two months it had doubled and I was breathing easy in my ‘tight jeans’.
Why?
I was working just as hard (or harder) than when I was working for someone else. My time was still at the mercy of clients, proposals, and all the office work that came with my new venture, but…my business FORCED me to exercise!
I started Peggie’s Pet Service focused on walking large dogs, the dogs that can intimidate some people, just because of their breed name: American Staffordshire Terriers (more commonly known as “Pit Bulls”); rottweilers; doberman; German Shepherds and Chow Chows. As a new business owner, I was (and still am) happy to walk any dog that wants to spend part of their day out and about on a leash. I also made a commitment that there would be no ‘pack walks’. What this meant was that to earn money he needed to walk. Every day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I put in many miles in my walking shoes that year and the reward was a healthier body and more comfortable clothes.
Somehow, all that fresh air and walking (in 100-degree humidity, torrential downpours, and snow) made me crave fast foods that gave me energy instead of draining it. He no longer had time for that ‘break after lunch’. In fact, lunchtime was always spent on the road or standing with a tail wagging at my side.
Here’s what I learned about weight loss while walking dogs:
1. Have fun;
2. Every dog has its own rhythm (and you can too);
3. When something interesting happens on your way, stop and investigate;
4. Vary your routine (or route);
5. Meet new people;
6. Be in the moment;
7. Wait for the ride and make the most of it;
8. Stick to your commitment, no matter what the weather (I admit, there were plenty of days I didn’t ‘feel’ like walking, but it was my JOB at the end of the day, I always felt better)
9. Wait for the treats (reward yourself when you do well!)
wow! She was onto something! Why didn’t everyone do this? I wondered.
So everyone who’s added “get fit,” “lose 10 pounds,” or “get in shape” to their yearly resolutions, consider adding dog walking to your regimen. Even if you don’t have 6 hours a day to spend walking, add an extra walk or two each day and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. I guarantee your attitude will improve (it’s virtually IMPOSSIBLE NOT to have fun with a dog on a walk!); you’ll get a good cardio workout and create a habit that will last a lifetime.
Don’t you have a dog of your own? Volunteer with your local animal welfare league or rescue group. Adopt a dog in need of temporary housing… Or work with a local pet-sitting company!
(c) 2005-2006 Peggie Arvidson-Dailey