I've stated on this blog before that I lost a lot of weight after my divorce in 2005.  Yeah, the stress of divorce had something to do with my weight loss.  But, the main reason for my weight loss was to show my ex what she had lost (and to prove something to myself as well).  I went from 242lbs to 191lbs in about 10 months.  It took a combination of diet and treadmill workouts to accomplish this amazing feat. I had lost 50lbs! That is about the average weight of a seven year-old boy!  I was proud of myself.  But, I soon started back into my old habits of eating snacks, not exercising on the treadmill as I should have.  I weighed myself on Valentine's Day.  I now weighed 246lbs!!!!  Disgusted with myself, I decided I needed a new plan.  At age 60, my dieting and exercise plan at age 53 was not working.  So, I looked on the internet for what the average speed one should be at on the treadmill.  I was stunned by what I saw.

I was stunned because I read that a good average speed for a warm up on the treadmill was 3MPH!!!  I was cruising along at 2.7MPH for at least three years, thinking I was doing ok.  Well, I kept telling myself that 2.7MPH was enough.  Funny thing though, my body wasn't listening.  I continued to gain weight despite exercising twice a day and at least 30 minutes each session. I continued to watch what I ate.  But, I could not lose weight.  So, I read some more about the treadmill workout speed.  Some people were going at a brisk 5MPH.  Others were at the optimum level of 10MPH.  I did not think I could go over 3MPH or, at least, not for very long.  I was wrong, wrong, wrong.  I will always have back trouble (that was my reason for being stuck at 2.7MPH).  But, I decided to go for broke (no pun intended there about my back).  My morning workout is for 40 minutes.  For the first 10 minutes, I am at 2.8MPH.  I have experienced no problems.  After 10 minutes, I go up one-tenth MPH every five minutes until I get to 3.4MPH at the 35 minute mark.  By that time, I am winded, sweating and tired.  At the 38 minute mark, I speed it up to 4MPH which is a slow jog on my treadmill.   The first time I did it, I thought I was going to fall off the treadmill.  But, I have now kept up this routine for 2 1/2 weeks now.  I am happy to say I have lost 8lbs and I feel I have more stamina.

About this time next month, I will make my first update on my progress.  My ultimate goal is that magic 10MPH mark.  At my age, I don't know if I can do it.  If I do get there, I probably won't be able to keep going for very long at that speed. In any case, unless something unforeseen comes along, I am going to stick to this treadmill workout.  My weight goal?  That would be 185lbs. That would mean a loss of about 60lbs.  That is the weight of your average 9 year-old boy.  I always said I was a kid at heart.  Now, I can prove it.





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