"Kiva.org Microloans Help!"

Can You Suggest Ways I Can Make Posts About Kiva.org Consistent With The BigManWalking Theme?"

I just had to get back on the blog, so...

Quick Update - I have walked 1 mile so far today.

Yesterday I weighed in at 270 lbs.

I started on high protein/low carb regimen.

Today I weighed 268 lbs.

I have walked* 633.75 miles in 2009.

Read about Kiva.org and how you or someone you know can help! You can view Doracy's profile by clicking below or on the title of this post:

Doracy - the person I helped today

Below is the email the website would send out. Let me know if you would like a reminder sent to you!

Keep walking!

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Hi!

I just made a loan to someone in United States using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Doracy in United States. They still need another $2,875.00 to complete their loan request of $4,325.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Doracy too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=142773

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a
sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks!

---------------------------------------------------------
What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'
-- BBC

'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.'
-- CNN Money

'Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.'
-- The Wall Street Journal

'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'
-- Entrepreneur Magazine

Walk A Little Bit At A Time

Different people have different expectations and capacities. If you've been regularly working out, you might not be challenged by walking four miles. I'm sure some who've read my blog wonder why I don't just get on a treadmill and jog or run the mileage. If you are working out regularly so that a four mile run or more is no big deal, then my hat is off to you. I want to encourage you to keep pushing yourself, but not to the point of injury. I believe you want to keep from being injured so that you can continue to exercise without interruption. So I guess I'm saying that you should really, truly go for it - within reason.

Now, for those of you who don't think that a four-mile run is a walk in the park (no pun intended), I encourage you to keep walking. During my 10 day Perfect Weight America cleanse I didn't walk much so that I could demonstrate its weight loss power. Yesterday I started the actual diet, also called The Maker's Diet, and I'll be reporting on my weight less often. I know that some people can get discouraged when they see that they've had weight gain over a day or two, and that happens. Most people can do just fine weighing themselves once a week. You have to stick with it and you probably won't lose weight on the diet at the same rate as the cleanse.

When I went to bed last night I had walked four miles throughout the day. I'm not necessarily going for a big cardiovascular workout when I walk. Sometimes and sometimes not. If you're ALWAYS looking for the cardio, then you might dismiss walking for five minutes. I want you to walk more than five minutes a day. Really. I know you can do that. The thing is, the miles and fractions add up. You can walk five minutes 12 times a day and that's likely to be three miles. Starting yesterday morning before 7 a.m. my dog and I walked 1.5 miles. I got busy and didn't get back to walking until four hours later when we walked 2.0 miles. Last night I walked .25 miles twice and that's how I came to walk 4.0 miles total. Why am I using .25 and 2.0 to describe my mileage? Because if you aren't thinking this way then I want you to start thinking of a quarter mile (or even a furlong - one eighth mile) or .25 miles as significant enough to keep track of.

When you keep track of your miles you can have a record to look back on and that's encouraging. If you're encouraged you'll keep going. You will look for opportunities to walk one half, one quarter or even one eight of a mile. I'm tall so 500 of my steps is a quarter mile. If you're shorter than me it's likely to be around 600 steps to the quarter mile. If you go to a local track at a community college or high school, you can count your steps as you walk around it. That will be close. Or you can get a pedometer. I have done both and a pedometer is easier if you can find one that works and doesn't break. My wife just got me another cheapie Sportline and the last one worked well until it broke. My good buddy in San Clemente has a more expensive Omron and it has worked for a while. I'm sorry to say that those are the only ones from personal experience that either work for a lot of miles or don't break down. In fact, when my Sportline (calorie step distance) pedometer broke, it was not the pedometer but the clip that kept it on my belt which broke.

Let's be clear. If you have a pedometer it can help you more accurately keep track of your mileage. If you keep track you will be more encouraged (or you will see the need to improve) and you will keep going. If you let it be ok to not ONLY walk for cardio, then you will become used to adding up the smaller units of walking. Remember, for weight loss 35 miles equals one pound lost. It's right around there for everybody. Don't get into fuzzy/mystical thinking here and say that it doesn't work that way for you. If you are human and make all other factors (eating, mostly) equal then you will lose a pound for 35 miles walked. Some people eat more and don't notice and that's a challenge. Well, don't eat more because you're walking more if you want to lose weight through walking. I started off this year by not changing my diet one bit for the first seven weeks and simply walking more. I lost seven pounds in seven weeks. You can read some of those posts here. You can make more walking part of your way of life. It makes a big difference over the long run. Even if you lost seven pounds during the first seven weeks of the year every year you would be doing better than most. But don't settle for just better than most. Achieve health and wellness.

Keep WALKING!

I Lost Over 13 Pounds In 10 Days!

On the front cover of Perfect Weight America, Jordan Rubin asks the question, "Do you know YOUR perfect weight?" I know this- I'm above my perfect weight and I have been for about 20 years. I'm not telling you what I'm about to tell you to get sympathy, nevertheless, it is factual. I have basically gained weight since my mom died in November of 1987. I'm not making any judgements about that. My weight has gone up and down, but mostly up in the long run (like the stock market - despite the current once in 80 years financial unraveling). Unlike the stock market crash in 1987 I don't want my weight to get back up to where it was - I want to keep going down for a while.

Before 7 am I walked the dog 1.5 miles and it took a little over 30 minutes. I'm just about ready to go again. I weighed myself and here is the final number for the 10 days (but I'll keep going) on the Perfect Weight America cleanse - 113.4 kilos. Sooo, I started at 119.6 minus 113.4 equals 6.2 times 2.2 equals 13.64 pounds! I have lost over 13 pounds in 10 days in a healthy way and I feel great! I have more energy and I'm excited to keep going on Jordan Rubin's regimen.

One more thing before I post, Twitter, and get out the door...I will have to check my records but I'm pretty sure that I am at my lowest weight in over a dozen years! And, 113.4 kilos translated to pounds is 226.8 plus 22.68 which means I weigh 249.48 pounds! It's been a while since I was in the 240's! Yes!

Keep walking!

Regular Walking Protects The Masai

Scientists have long been puzzled by how the Masai can avoid cardiovascular disease despite having a diet rich in animal fats. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet believe that their secret is in their regular walking.

There is strong evidence that the high consumption of animal fats increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Many scientists have therefore been surprised that the nomadic Masai of Kenya and Tanzania are seldom afflicted by the disease, despite having a diet that is rich in animal fats and deficient in carbohydrates.

Read the complete article at ScienceDaily.com

Abstract at British Journal of Sports Medicine

Thanksgiving Plus One Day

Here's to hope. Somewhere on our planet there is always violence. It is also true that there is always a refuge from violence somewhere on our planet. I hope we can start anew on this Thanksgiving Day + 1. Below are some Tweets from just before we left for Thanksgiving in Idyllwild, CA. One education-related place of note here is AstroCamp. Our son got a great deal a few years ago through the homeschool program we were involved in. He had a very positive experience and that led to our nephew attending. Despite the sometimes funky linkage on the site I recommend the AstroCamp experience, especially if you can get a special group rate.

As for the Tweets below, they are from Twitter. If you don't know Twitter, you really should join. Don't worry if you don't understand it right away. I have met some great people and my blog traffic has grown. Also, sending messages through Twitter can help you craft shorter messages. Lastly, the Tweets are in reverse order. Enjoy...and keep walking!


@OroroDC Just added your blog to my blog list on my blog - how many times can I say blog after midnight? http://www.thehoipolloi.info/ :-) 10 minutes ago from web in reply to OroroDC



@OroroDC Excellent! Let's all keep encouraging each other to walk a bit more... Add 600 steps to your day? = approx 120 miles/3 lbs a year! 12 minutes ago from web in reply to OroroDC



Walk for better health no matter what size you are. Read this blog for encouragement in reaching your goals. Can you walk? Keep walking! 22 minutes ago from web



Thanks to the discipline of Twitter, I just condensed my blog headline a little - Thanks, Twitter. Thanks, Tweets. Have a great weekend! 24 minutes ago from web



#Happy Thanksgiving -Twttr glitches in Idyllwild -been smoothing out blog -be among first followers http://theBigManWalking.blo... :-) 35 minutes ago from web



#Happy Thanksgiving all frm Idyllwild, CA.Twitter is uncooperative here. Back 2 the turkey, pancakes, sausage, eggs, pie, etc... cocoon :-) about 11 hours ago from web



#Happy Thanksgiving @wbaustin @Eva_Abreu @missvibrant I'm Blog of the Day on Thanksgiving! Cool! http://tinyurl.com/BMW777154 Thanks, Bill! about 15 hours ago from web



#Thanksgiving - HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL! I may be cocooned in Idylwild or maybe I'll check in. Enjoy! Happy eating! Blessings to you all!