Lessons From The Man Who Walked Off 200 Pounds February 15th, 2008

    I was just reading an article on CNN.com about Phil Novak, a guy in Pennsylvania who lost nearly 200lbs, mostly by walking. Of course, there were other steps he took (such as a low carb diet, and his walking for 1 hour a day eventually evolved into jogging 30 - 40 miles per week), but that’s where he started. Most people, when setting health goals for themselves, get sidetracked within a month because they are not seeing the drastic changes for which they hoped. They haven’t lost enough weight or they haven’t gained enough muscle or their abs aren’t as defined as they would like. SOMETHING! And then they give up.

    There are several lessons that I feel you can take from this article:

    • It’s never too late to start - Novak was about to turn 40 when he realized that he was headed to an early grave. Something as simple as walking can be done by anyone! Even if you just ditch your car and walk to where you need to go (or walk to the nearest bus stop if it’s very far), it’s something!
    • Find your motivation - when Novak assessed his life, he saw how he couldn’t ride bikes with his kids or even do something as simple as mow the line. Nothing will motivate you more than your personal life. If you feel that you aren’t getting the most out of life with your family because of your fitness level, do something about it.
    • Start small - “Life’s about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest.” Remember that. Set long term fitness goals, and then chip away at them piece by piece. If you want to run a marathon, but can be get through a mile, that’s fine! Work your fitness level up to a mile, then two miles, and so one until you meet your goals. Novak started by walking, and now he runs 30-40 miles per day.
    • There is not greater satisfaction than meeting your goals - if you get addicted to something, get addicted to a sense of accomplishment.

    Novak stuck with his walking routine and eventually walked off 100lbs in 7 months. That’s incredible! Now, close your internet browser and just take a walk, even if it’s just around the corner. Do it for a week, and let me know how it’s working for you. Then keep with it.


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