From Rock Bottom to 12km a Day
My friend Read one of the real losing weight by walking success stories.
Every time I think back on what walking has done for me, I get emotional. Once upon a time, I didn’t give walking much credit. To be honest, I used to look down on it — I thought, “If I’m not running, it doesn’t count.”
But here’s my story, and how walking changed my life in such a drastic way that if you’d told me years ago that walking would help me lose weight, I’d have laughed and said, “Come on, no way walking will do anything for me.”
I want to share this journey, especially with you — dads juggling kids and work, women recovering after giving birth, and anyone who’s overweight and unsure how or where to start. Trust me, I’ve been there.
From Athletic Teen to Sedentary Adult
Let’s rewind to my glory days — early 20s, full of energy, running 4–6 kilometers every other day. And not just jogging — running at a pace that turned heads. I started around age 13, even joined my school’s long-distance team. I was on top of the world.
Then came the twist. Around age 25, while studying at university, I thought, “Why keep running? No one’s chasing me.” Silly thought, right? But I stopped. Not because I couldn’t, just because I didn’t want to anymore. I figured, “I’m not going to gain that much weight, right?”
Wrong.
The Slippery Slope to Obesity
Years passed, and the pounds crept on slowly, like dough rising in the oven. I noticed the change, but did nothing. “So I’ve got a little fat — no big deal,” I told myself. I was married with two kids, settled. I could afford to carry a few extra kilos, right?
That illusion shattered as I approached my 40s. I was no longer just overweight — I was obese. I had gained 44 kilos. My energy plummeted. I felt constantly tired, weak, and couldn’t sleep properly. My movements became limited.
I was in rough shape.
The Wake-Up Call
One day I looked at myself and said, “Enough.” I remembered who I used to be. I made a choice: no more games, no more excuses. Time to turn it around.
So I decided to get moving. But I knew I couldn’t start running again right away — I didn’t want to hurt myself. Instead, I thought, “Let’s start with something simple. Let’s walk.”
Sounds smart, right?
Well…
My First Walk — A Painful Reality Check
I invited a friend to join me for a light walk. Just a casual stroll to get started.
After five minutes, my leg started to hurt. Not just a little — it was intense. The front of my shin was screaming. I couldn’t believe it.
Me? The guy who used to run half an hour straight?
I kept going out of embarrassment, trying to save face. But I ended up injuring myself. I had to rest for a full week, possibly with stress fractures. And inside? I was crushed. I didn’t tell anyone how low I felt — what would they think? That I was weak?
Rebuilding — One Step at a Time
A month later, I was healed. Still heavy, still slow — but ready to try again.
This time, I came up with a strategy:
- Forget speed — just focus on walking, no matter how slow.
- Listen to my body — stop immediately if I feel pain, and if it persists, check out helpful resources like this article or consult a professional to make sure everything’s okay.
- Build up gradually — increase distance and time bit by bit.
Here’s how it went:
Today: I walk 12 km almost every day, at a high pace I never imagined I’d reach again.
Month 1: My goal was 1 km — slow, steady, without pain.
Month 2: I reached 2 km.
Month 3: I started walking faster, keeping the same distance.
After 6 months: I was walking 6 km at a decent pace.
Walking Helped Me Lose Weight — Here’s How
Besides increasing physical activity, I started tracking my food intake and created a system I could stick with. But walking was the gateway. It helped me burn calories, increase my energy, and — most importantly — build consistency.
Here’s why walking works for weight loss:
- Low barrier to entry – you don’t need fancy gear or a gym.
- Gentle on the body – great for beginners or those recovering.
- Scalable – you can increase pace, distance, or terrain.
- Mental health boost – reduces stress and lifts mood.
- Check in on your health stats every now and then — just to make sure you’re on track
- Stay tuned for new updates about losing weight by walking success stories
Especially for dads, busy moms, or anyone overwhelmed by gym culture — walking is accessible, and it works.
-PEPI