Before BODYCOMBAT, before teaching, before any plan I could write down, there was walking.
It is the least impressive thing I have ever done for my health, and it is the thing I would point anyone to first. Not because walking is magic, but because of what it taught me about starting.
How it started
After my divorce, I started walking to work. My office was in central London, and I walked there and back every day: about 10 km in total.
The route took me along the South Bank, past the London Eye, through Waterloo, up to Trafalgar Square and into Covent Garden. Then the same again in reverse at the end of the day.
I did not set out to start a fitness journey. I just started walking.
More than a walk
What surprised me was how much it did for my head, not just my legs.
In the morning, by the time I reached the office I was already on the ball. I had used the walk to think through the day ahead and the actions I needed to take, so I sat down ready to go rather than easing in.
In the evening, it was how I switched off. A busy work day stayed on the pavement somewhere between Covent Garden and home. By the time I walked through the door I was relaxed, and I had not had to try to be.
I walked at pace and with focus. Not a stroll, not scrolling on my phone. That mattered. It turned a commute into time that was mine.
Looking back, that walk kick started my health and fitness, but it kick started my mind first.
Why it worked when other starts did not
I had started again more times than I can count. Big plans, new routines, a fresh Monday. Most of them did not last.
Walking lasted, and I think I know why:
- It was already part of my day. I had to get to work anyway. I was not finding extra time, I was using time I already had.
- There was nothing to book and nothing to buy. No class times, no membership, no kit beyond a decent pair of shoes.
- It worked on a bad day. Tired, busy, not in the mood: I could still walk. That is the real test.
- I felt the benefit straight away. Not in 12 weeks. That morning, and that evening.
That third point is the one I keep coming back to. Start with the thing you can repeat on a bad day. Not the most impressive option. The one you will still do when life is getting in the way.
Finding your version
Your version will not look like mine. You might not live or work anywhere near central London, or walk to work at all. That is fine. The principle travels:
- Attach it to something you already do. Get off a stop early. Walk to the shop instead of driving. Take a call on foot.
- Start smaller than you think. A 10 minute walk counts. You can always add more once it is part of your week.
- Walk with intent. A brisk pace, phone away. Use it to plan your day or to put it down.
- Run the bad day test. Could you still do it on your worst day this week? If not, shrink it until the answer is yes.
- Notice how you feel afterwards. That feeling is what brings you back tomorrow.
For context, the UK guidelines suggest adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, and brisk walking counts. You do not need to start there. You just need to start somewhere you can repeat.
Where it led
Walking did not stay the whole story. Later came classes, then 2 years as a participant before I trained as a BODYCOMBAT instructor in August 2024. But none of that would have happened without a habit that first showed me I could stick at something.
If you are starting again right now, do not look for the perfect plan. Look for the walk.
If you want the fuller picture of how this fitted into everything else, read chapter 2 of my story.
This is my journey. Yours will be unique.