I have been trying to walk a mile a day and was not losing any weight.  I told my doctor what I was doing and he told me that I am just "wasting my time".  He said in order to lose weight I need to be walking an uphill incline 3 miles a day.  The next day I went out for my mile walk and cried the whole way thinking to myself that all the pain that I was feeling from doing it was just a "waste of my time".  I am still walking my mile a day and yes I went against my doctors advice and got some alli to hopefully help me.  I took my first pill this morning so I hope that I can prove him wrong and show him that all this is not wasting my time.

Dear MissRusty...

I am sad you had a bad experience with your doctor; sounds to me like you need to find a new, compassionate, yet "up-to-date" doctor that understands BUILDING fitness stamina! Not only is it unsafe to walk uphill and for that distance if you aren't already in good physical condition, it is a stupid statement to tell you you're wasting your time! FIRE HIM!

I ask you FORGET about him and prove to YOURSELF you can improve your health by losing fat and becoming more fit! Spend some time on the 'Ask the Fitness Specialist' board where you will get modern, correct and safe advice from the alli fitness experts. Both Paul and Kelli are awesome! They will even give you a program to do if you give them more details about your size, present health, and activity level!

Read all you booklets that came with the alli so you know how to take the pills correctly to avoid TE's. Also I suggest you learn to use the Nutrtion Log so you can enter your food, amounts eaten and learn to get the correct balance of protein, carbs, and fats! The pills aren't the "magic bullet"...they need to be taken with the proper portions of the proper foods that support weight loss! You need to learn to measure yor foods, read lables, and be a "fat finding detective!"

There are SO MANY great and free tools on this site; I hope you take advantage of them to set yourslef up for success!!

I am a personal trainer and I WILL tell you walking 1 mile a day is better than none!! Your first goal should be to walk that mile in 15 minutes! Doesn't matter how long it takes you to get there, just keep at it! That shows you have strong cardiovascular fitnes. Once you can do that, add another 1/2mile, and so on. In time, depending on how overweight you are now and how sedentary you have been, you WILL be able to do 60min a day of cardio 5-6 days a week! YES, you can!! Yes, you will...IF YOU STICK TO IT DAILY!!! Take a break when your body says to, and BE PATIENT!!!!

My best wished to you and your future health!
Carol Joy

MissRusty

I completely agree with Carol Joy, time to get a new doctor! In January, I told my doctor that I wanted to loose weight - he'd heard me say it before! When I went back in later in Feb when I had the flu, I'd been on the program for a couple of weeks, I was down 5 pounds. I told him what I was doing and he said that it was a wonderful idea! He told me to continue to take the baby steps with exercise and build myself up and he wanted a good report the next time I saw him. Well, thanks to his support, the support of all of the wonderful ladies and professionals on this site and alli, I'm down almost 30 pounds! I won't see him until late in August and I fully intend to shock the figurative pants off of him!

You need a doctor that is going to support you through this life change, not hinder your progress! Please let us know how you're doing!

Lots of luck and best wishes! 

Well, I must been completing wrong then because walking is what I did to lose 60lbs! And Alli of course. Keep walking!

Sherry,

How much did you walk per day?  Did you walk on a treadmill or outside? 

I am walking outside to the post office everyday.  It usually takes me 15 minutes to walk to the post office and back...which is roughly about a mile round trip.

Hi Friends, I started walking outside, I walked every single day and I would walk at least 30min each day.  That's all I could do at first and then I would build up the time.  After a month I joined a gym and started weights and the treadmill. It was all downhill from there. Good Luck and keep walking.

 MisRusty-- 

Your Doctor needs to get a better bedside manner. A little exercise is better than none. You can't go from no exercise to three miles a day overnight. For anyone, I would recomend getting a good pedometer, and strive to add steps every day. Park a little further from where you work, or the store, walk around the mall once before you go shopping, anything, just keep moving a little more every day. The weight will come off. Alli will help that process. You're not wasting your time.

christine 

I have RA and a year ago I could barely walk so I feel it is a big accomplishment to be able to walk this mile I do everyday.  My RA doctor is very proud of me...family doctor is the one who cut me down.  I am proud of myself and yes I am starting to feel better beings I am out moving around like I am.

Good for you Miss Rusty, you keep walking at your own pace.  You'll build up to doing longer walks in time.  And may I say your doctor has a degree, but is a bonehead.

Keep up the good work!

Judi 

Miss Rusty; not all doctors know what they are saying. I think sometimes they are taught something and they apply it to each person without determining each person as an individual. My sister has a mental illness, an old fracture in her back with pain in her lower back and hips and a stomach digestion disorder. (she digests food 1000x slower than a normal person) She is overweight by about 50 pounds and her doctor told her to eat only 6 tablespoons of food at each meal. His words were. "you won't starve but you will lose weight". Well... we fired that doctor. Her new doctor praised her minimal efforts at exercise, walking on a treadmill at 1 -2 mph and light weights for strength and toning. He also recomended a 2000 calorie diet for her and she has lost 10 lbs. Not all doctors know what is right for you. Keep walking, no matter the distance or pace just keep moving.

MissRusty,

I am someone who never exercised.  I've really procrastinated in getting started.  However about 2 months ago, I started with a moderately paced 30-minute walk around the neighborhood.  It was a starting point for me to get my body moving.  You have to start somewhere and no activity would be a waste of time; you're doing just the opposite so best of luck to you.

I've since joined a gym, do about 45 minutes of cardio 4-5 times per week plus 20 minutes of weight training every other day.  In only 2 months I was able to build up my stamina from sedentary to moderately active. 

I actually look forward to the gym as a stress reliever in addition to a weight loss aid combined with the Alli Program.

 Good luck everyone!

Hi wapf1972, 

It sounds like you've really worked to get to the fitness level that you're at now! Congrats to your positive attitude and your commitment!  

Getting started is the first step and consistency will eventually allow you to reach your weight loss goals!  

I would encourage everyone to take it day by day, doing what you can do! Challenge yourself every week or two to either increase the intensity and/or duration of your workouts!  Include short bursts of jogging while walking, add in some hills or elevation on the treadmill or try to exercise 5 minutes longer!  

Also, adding in a variety of different exercises will keep your body and mind challenged and motivated!  Try some exercise DVD's such as Turbo Jam, P90X, The Firm or Taebo!  These are very fun, very effective and can be performed right in the comfort of your home!  Also, begin to include strength training into your weekly routine!  Try to get in 2-3 sessions per week for about 25-35 minutes per session.  The alli website provides very helpful animated demos for a great full-body workout!

Keep working hard and staying connected to the alli community for helpful ideas,support and encouragement! 

Your friend in Fitness, 

Kelli