u/BelfastApe

Some photos from yesterdays walk from a fitness step challenge I've set for myself.

The purpose of my long walks is solely to challenge myself to get more acive, and weight loss. Since doing 10-30k steps per day with the occasional big walk, I'm down close to 2.5 stone in the past 6 months.

My challenge began at Belfast WaterWorks > Comber (via Comber Greenway) > Scrabo Tower > Bangor > Coastal Path back to Belfast WaterWorks

Breaks

• 1st break was at Scrabo Tower for 40 mins (Steps: ~37k steps)
• 2nd break was at Bangor Marina for 25 mins (Steps from Scrabo: 24k steps)

Socks and Shoes

• Socks: Darn Tough Lightweight Hiking Socks (Link)
• Shoes: Asics Gel-Cumulus 28 (Link)

I work full time and have other commitments outside of work. Dedicating 90 mins per day to get that 10k was a requirement I had set for myself.

I used to get the bus home, at times waiting for the bus and journey time takes up just as much time as 10k steps, now I just walk it.

Feel free to reach out to me directly if your looking to start walking yourself, for fun or weight loss. Since posting my last post about my walk, a few had reached out to me asking how I began (and I hope they have). You don't need to pay for gym membership, there is lots to see in our wee country.

Edit:

1. The Duration. This walk was 18 hours 19 minutes, that included the breaks. I managed to sleep a little earlier the day before to try get a good few hours kip ahead of this walk.

Here are some photos from yesterday's walk (step challenge) I set for myself.

My step challenge started at Gaints Path at Duncrue Street (excludes the steps, time and distance to get there), then making my way down to Hazelbank Park > Jordanstown Park > Greenisland > Carrickfergus and back.

When I got to Hazelbank Park on way back, I went towards Antrim Road (via back of abbeycentre) and made my way up to Napoleon's nose via Belfast zoo.

Starting at Gaints Path with 4k* steps and made it to Carrickfergus Castle with 22k* steps, then back again to Napoleon's nose with 53k* steps.

• Steps rounded to nearest thousand

For the past 8 months I've been pushing hard to lose some weight. Walking has been my best method, and it gets me out and about to places (Bangor, Carrick (via hazelbank), and Lisburn (via Lagan path)).

Yesterday I stopped in Bangor (pit stop) for some scrambled egg, and rested the feet before heading back.

In the last 8 months I've dropped from about 16 stone to just under 14 stone. I work a full time job so I'll always try to get 10-20k steps per day (walk home from the office) when possible.

Hoping to be able to achieve this in less duration some day as I've seen others do this in 14-15 hours, or not have to do it again once I hit my weight goal.

For anyone else doing a weight loss journey or thinking about starting one, I'm happy to share what has worked for me and what hasn't. What shoes and socks I use. Note, what works for me may not work for you.

I don't pay for a gym. Walking is free, lots to see out there. Attached some pics of yesterday's walk.

Edit: fix paragraph and extend the last paragraph.

There seems there is a known issue where steps are not being counted properly

I had noticed the steps that were dropped might have been those when I was out of network range (mobile data).

Afterwards I was on the path where there was always a network signal. No further steps dropped.