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Walk Yourself Fit
This book was designed to help otherwise healthy people get fitter and lose a little body size through walking rather than an endless succession of diets. Using humor throughout, Rives goes through all the excuses we give ourselves to eat more than we need, and shows us how to use our bodies to work for us rather than against us. One step at a time.
The emphasis with Fitwalking is not to lose weight but to lose body size by exchanging a pound of fat for a pound of muscle which takes up less space on your body. Redirecting your mindset from dropping pounds to feeling fit helps to keep you focused on being in better shape and motivated to walk.
People often require some encouragement to take on a new exercise program, and this book may be just what they need. A weekly log is provided to help you chart your progress.
The emphasis with Fitwalking is not to lose weight but to lose body size by exchanging a pound of fat for a pound of muscle which takes up less space on your body. Redirecting your mindset from dropping pounds to feeling fit helps to keep you focused on being in better shape and motivated to walk.
People often require some encouragement to take on a new exercise program, and this book may be just what they need. A weekly log is provided to help you chart your progress.
- GenresNonfictionHealthFitness
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
7 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2013
I read it in an hour and a half. What's not to like? Haha! No, really, it's a great motivational, keep-it-simple-stupid quick read about an age old idea: get that butt off the couch! I liked its realistic approach encouraging you to commit to a lifestyle change long term and not to expect any results for a year. Of course, if you stick with it, you will see results before then, but I appreciated how they weren't supporting that nasty habit of starving yourself and weighing yourself everyday. I really felt like I was having a conversation with someone who wasn't going to listen to the stereotypical complaints and "Buts!" I'm giving it a try and we shall see! Great little read for anyone looking for some no-nonsense inspiration.
January 16, 2024
I’ve been walking a lot for years now. I started it to do some exercise that wasn’t boring. I listen to the news, I read, I vary the route every day so it doesn’t get boring. And I have lost a TON of weight.
I wasn’t huge to begin with, but I was bigger than I should be and I never wanted to get big. I know too many people that are hurting because of their size.
So when I found this book in the library I wanted to see what it said.
Of course, the immediate pitch is that you can eat just like the pig you are because if you walk enough it won’t matter. I have my doubts about that but then I do eat pretty much what I want, but what I want is also home cooking which I think helps a LOT.
Boy, it’s a good thing these chapters are small (like 2 pages), because it’s written as one big long sales pitch. Like an infomercial for walking.
I don’t really think it’s wrong. My personal experience says it’s right. But it’s awfully optimistic about it. If I didn’t already agree with it, I’d be very suspicious I was being ‘sold’ to.
Of course, despite the ‘hype’ in the talk it seems to be really good advice. Up to and including ‘Don’t walk to get thin’. Just making walking a part of your life and then it will work. Which I think is true.
I tend to be a very ‘process’ obsessed person and it has heavy warnings that if you become obsessed with the numbers you’ll be disappointed.
Right now when I’m sick with COVID and can’t walk, I realize that my frustration at ‘missing my numbers’ (steps) is wrong, so I can’t fault the advice.
The book also hedges its bets by reminding you not expect quick results which is wise and true. And it was also true that I was shocked that I’d lost 6 pounds since the last time I checked.
“THE AGE OF ‘DIETS’ IS OVER! THE AGE OF ‘THINWALKING’ HAS BEGUN!”
This was written in 1998. I don’t think the age of ‘diets’ is over, though it seems to be well understood that dieting doesn’t work, it seems to be another one of those things that the young will not take your word for and have to learn all over again.
Which seems to be why progress — on anything — is so slow.
I do believe that this is the first ‘diet’ book that I have ever read (though I do have several more on my to-read list).
It’s one of those things. It tries to answer all the questions that you could ask about the ‘diet’ but at the same time that makes it sound like it’s feeding you rote answers.
Now will ‘Thinwalking’ work for everyone. My personal experience says yes, but I know a few people who’s bodies are already broken in ways that prevent them from walking very much at all. I also know people who just don’t like it enough that they will do as little over as long a period as they can. So who knows?
I’m still having problems with the “Eat 1000 cookies if you want! It’s okay as long as you go walking tomorrow!”
I know people who would gladly eat 1000 cookies. They’d go walking tomorrow but I’m not convinced that would be enough. Now there are people who appear to be obese but are are actually healthier than most, but those are anomalies I think.
I do think that if you walk every day for a significant amount (I do 5 miles, but that’s just me), then it will keep you pretty healthy, but I don’t think that means you can cover every bit of gluttony.
Of course, in the next chapter it admonishes you to avoid eating out of habit.
Chapter 21 is just plain old regurgitation of the same basic ideas. Dieting sucks. Walking rules.
Chapter 23 sneaks in a new thing. That you will be walking an hour rather than “as long as you comfortably can”. I personally walk longer than that and I don’t honestly think an hour by itself is very effective.
“Before Thinwalking, their lives were miserable; now they’re a joy!”
“So we know there are two ways to get thin: dieting and exercise.”
Was surgery really not available in 1998?
Wow! Chapter 27 is easily summed up as follows: “Look at those fat people? Aren’t they disgusting and miserable looking? Look that those thin people! Aren’t they beautiful and happy?”
Part of me says ‘good on you!’. You’re not pussyfootin’ around it. The only reason to exercise is to not be fat! You can claim it’s all about health all you want, but the truth is no one wants to be fat. Nothing wrong with that.
On the other hand, I am sympathetic to the whole positive body image thing. But that’s not what this book is selling.
The only thing I see about Thinwalking is that for many people, it’s just too darn late. They are so out of shape that they will hurt themselves by walking. Or they already have back problems the prevent them from walking very much. One friend I know goes ‘overboard’ every time she tries and inevitably hurts herself walking and then can’t walk for weeks. One step forward, two steps back. Another friend I know has already blown out his knees — probably because of his weight — so walking just isn’t really possible for him anymore. I don’t know what can be done for these people.
But for most people that’s probably not the case.
The other thing is that I go walking early in the morning. Not necessarily safe for everyone to do that. Finding the extra time will definitely require a sacrifice of some kind for most people.
Chapter 30 really should be chapter 1. It’s the personal testimony of the author and it certainly sounds real enough. It sounds like me actually. 100 pounds overweight, smoker, eat everyone off every plate nearby.
Now I wonder how someone 200+ pounds overweight would feel, but I can’t be in someone else’s shoes.
Chapter 31 is another ‘Diets are stupid!’ Chapter. But it also lets slip that Thinwalking will take about 1-2 years to work. Which is about right.
Chapter 32 is all about portion control. Suggesting that you can eat less by serving yourself less and going back for seconds if needed and not going back if not needed. Another trick I’ve tried and highly recommend. I can be hard if you live with someone who likes to pile food high, but it’s worth trying.
The last chapter (39) is a ‘Log’ that you are required to keep each week for 14 weeks. It’s basically how did you feel about the walking, how far did you go, etc. It seems to be reinforcing the positive results of walking. I’m not going to do it of course, I was never hesitant about doing the walking and I assume that’s who it’s for.
The two appendixes are about “Size-Pounds” which is about not looking to pounds to measure your progress but the sizes that you have lost or gained. Very ignorable.
And a Glossary. I also ignored this.
So that’s it.
I already knew I wasn’t the ‘real’ audience for this — I’ve been walking for exercise for quite a while and I’m very happy with the results.
I was just curious about how it would approach it.
So that said, I can recommend this approach and this book if you have any doubts that it could be effective. That said it won’t replace a good doctor’s advice.
I was glad I read it and give it 4 stars. I’ll try to pass it on to someone I know before releasing it to the wild.
I do wish I could still get that Free Official Thinwalking T-Shirt however!
I wasn’t huge to begin with, but I was bigger than I should be and I never wanted to get big. I know too many people that are hurting because of their size.
So when I found this book in the library I wanted to see what it said.
Of course, the immediate pitch is that you can eat just like the pig you are because if you walk enough it won’t matter. I have my doubts about that but then I do eat pretty much what I want, but what I want is also home cooking which I think helps a LOT.
Boy, it’s a good thing these chapters are small (like 2 pages), because it’s written as one big long sales pitch. Like an infomercial for walking.
I don’t really think it’s wrong. My personal experience says it’s right. But it’s awfully optimistic about it. If I didn’t already agree with it, I’d be very suspicious I was being ‘sold’ to.
Of course, despite the ‘hype’ in the talk it seems to be really good advice. Up to and including ‘Don’t walk to get thin’. Just making walking a part of your life and then it will work. Which I think is true.
I tend to be a very ‘process’ obsessed person and it has heavy warnings that if you become obsessed with the numbers you’ll be disappointed.
Right now when I’m sick with COVID and can’t walk, I realize that my frustration at ‘missing my numbers’ (steps) is wrong, so I can’t fault the advice.
The book also hedges its bets by reminding you not expect quick results which is wise and true. And it was also true that I was shocked that I’d lost 6 pounds since the last time I checked.
“THE AGE OF ‘DIETS’ IS OVER! THE AGE OF ‘THINWALKING’ HAS BEGUN!”
This was written in 1998. I don’t think the age of ‘diets’ is over, though it seems to be well understood that dieting doesn’t work, it seems to be another one of those things that the young will not take your word for and have to learn all over again.
Which seems to be why progress — on anything — is so slow.
I do believe that this is the first ‘diet’ book that I have ever read (though I do have several more on my to-read list).
It’s one of those things. It tries to answer all the questions that you could ask about the ‘diet’ but at the same time that makes it sound like it’s feeding you rote answers.
Now will ‘Thinwalking’ work for everyone. My personal experience says yes, but I know a few people who’s bodies are already broken in ways that prevent them from walking very much at all. I also know people who just don’t like it enough that they will do as little over as long a period as they can. So who knows?
I’m still having problems with the “Eat 1000 cookies if you want! It’s okay as long as you go walking tomorrow!”
I know people who would gladly eat 1000 cookies. They’d go walking tomorrow but I’m not convinced that would be enough. Now there are people who appear to be obese but are are actually healthier than most, but those are anomalies I think.
I do think that if you walk every day for a significant amount (I do 5 miles, but that’s just me), then it will keep you pretty healthy, but I don’t think that means you can cover every bit of gluttony.
Of course, in the next chapter it admonishes you to avoid eating out of habit.
Chapter 21 is just plain old regurgitation of the same basic ideas. Dieting sucks. Walking rules.
Chapter 23 sneaks in a new thing. That you will be walking an hour rather than “as long as you comfortably can”. I personally walk longer than that and I don’t honestly think an hour by itself is very effective.
“Before Thinwalking, their lives were miserable; now they’re a joy!”
“So we know there are two ways to get thin: dieting and exercise.”
Was surgery really not available in 1998?
Wow! Chapter 27 is easily summed up as follows: “Look at those fat people? Aren’t they disgusting and miserable looking? Look that those thin people! Aren’t they beautiful and happy?”
Part of me says ‘good on you!’. You’re not pussyfootin’ around it. The only reason to exercise is to not be fat! You can claim it’s all about health all you want, but the truth is no one wants to be fat. Nothing wrong with that.
On the other hand, I am sympathetic to the whole positive body image thing. But that’s not what this book is selling.
The only thing I see about Thinwalking is that for many people, it’s just too darn late. They are so out of shape that they will hurt themselves by walking. Or they already have back problems the prevent them from walking very much. One friend I know goes ‘overboard’ every time she tries and inevitably hurts herself walking and then can’t walk for weeks. One step forward, two steps back. Another friend I know has already blown out his knees — probably because of his weight — so walking just isn’t really possible for him anymore. I don’t know what can be done for these people.
But for most people that’s probably not the case.
The other thing is that I go walking early in the morning. Not necessarily safe for everyone to do that. Finding the extra time will definitely require a sacrifice of some kind for most people.
Chapter 30 really should be chapter 1. It’s the personal testimony of the author and it certainly sounds real enough. It sounds like me actually. 100 pounds overweight, smoker, eat everyone off every plate nearby.
Now I wonder how someone 200+ pounds overweight would feel, but I can’t be in someone else’s shoes.
Chapter 31 is another ‘Diets are stupid!’ Chapter. But it also lets slip that Thinwalking will take about 1-2 years to work. Which is about right.
Chapter 32 is all about portion control. Suggesting that you can eat less by serving yourself less and going back for seconds if needed and not going back if not needed. Another trick I’ve tried and highly recommend. I can be hard if you live with someone who likes to pile food high, but it’s worth trying.
The last chapter (39) is a ‘Log’ that you are required to keep each week for 14 weeks. It’s basically how did you feel about the walking, how far did you go, etc. It seems to be reinforcing the positive results of walking. I’m not going to do it of course, I was never hesitant about doing the walking and I assume that’s who it’s for.
The two appendixes are about “Size-Pounds” which is about not looking to pounds to measure your progress but the sizes that you have lost or gained. Very ignorable.
And a Glossary. I also ignored this.
So that’s it.
I already knew I wasn’t the ‘real’ audience for this — I’ve been walking for exercise for quite a while and I’m very happy with the results.
I was just curious about how it would approach it.
So that said, I can recommend this approach and this book if you have any doubts that it could be effective. That said it won’t replace a good doctor’s advice.
I was glad I read it and give it 4 stars. I’ll try to pass it on to someone I know before releasing it to the wild.
I do wish I could still get that Free Official Thinwalking T-Shirt however!
January 8, 2025
3- stars because this took a long time to develop traction. The main points made are spot on: walk every day as fast and for as long as you can, don't do fad diets, don't focus on weight lost are very effective for maximizing exercise physiology (although he never uses that word). I used these in my own weight loss program some years ago. The most significant benefit of Rives' ideas are that they set one up for a long healthy life, allowing your body to maximize natural rules: exercise to cause the body to replenish from stored fat and to rebuild muscle properly broken down by exercise. He doesn't mention this but his ideas reinforce the concept of getting everything working properly to gain a balance between food in and energy expended. This is a program you can do your entire life even if its is all you do. It can supplement more strenuous exercise, acting as a "down day" or recuperation day to safely balance a full body program. It is a quick read.
June 8, 2023
Kind of cheesy, but—no pun intended—easy to digest as it’s 124 pages. It did motivate me to prioritize health with its repetitive plain English. I could have done without the comic strip style drawings and conversation style intros, but there was easy to apply knowledge worth sifting through all the cheesiness.
Chapter 13: a word about weighing yourself
DON’T
And advice on you “always have a year to go” were among the most
Also how this is safe even for pregnant women.
Chapter 13: a word about weighing yourself
DON’T
And advice on you “always have a year to go” were among the most
Also how this is safe even for pregnant women.
May 27, 2018
This is the second common sense weight loss book I’ve read in the past month. To me, these are much more motivating than all the “miracle” diet plans. It’s all about movement and enjoying life! Just like when we were kids!
October 8, 2019
Great motivational book supporting daily walks. Quick read, would highly recommend. The cute humor was a bonus!
April 19, 2021
Good motivational book on walking. Adding walking to my exercise plan.
January 17, 2024
Humorous approach daily walking.
November 18, 2024
Should have been a pamphlet. Kept repeating information
April 24, 2019
Chapter on weighing yourself is the best ever! It has wormed its way into the fabric of my being (see what I did there? haha).
March 20, 2014
Simple and light reading self-help book... All you have to do is begin...
May 14, 2017
Enjoyed using this and for helpful tips.
Read
August 15, 2016VERY HELPFUL!
May 14, 2014
Great common sense tips that make losing weight less daunting!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews