Weight Loss Weekly Update #2 – A Walk in Ashby and the Power of Information

 Last Saturday, I spent some time walking around Ashby Ville Nature Reserve.

The walk itself wasn't particularly long — 2.36 kilometres and 35 minutes according to my Apple Watch — but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the week.

As I followed the paths around the reserve, I found myself appreciating something that is often overlooked in weight loss journeys: movement doesn't always have to feel like exercise.

The reserve offered space to walk, think, observe the wildlife, and simply enjoy being outdoors for a while.

I took photographs along the route and later turned them into a short video. Looking back through those images reminded me that progress isn't always measured purely in kilograms lost or calories burned.

Sometimes progress is taking time for yourself.

Sometimes progress is choosing activity over inactivity.

Sometimes progress is simply getting outside and moving.

That walk burned 158 active calories, but it also provided something less measurable — a reminder that healthier habits can be enjoyable.

And perhaps that's one of the reasons this journey feels different from previous attempts. I'm not simply trying to lose weight. I'm trying to build a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

The Numbers

My latest weigh-in came in at 102.2kg, meaning I've now lost 6.68kg since starting this journey at 108.88kg in April.

The scales are moving in the right direction, but increasingly I'm finding that the real story isn't the number itself.

It's the habits.

It's the choices.

It's the process.

One of the things I'm learning is that sustainable change rarely comes from dramatic interventions. Instead, it comes from small decisions repeated consistently over time.

Gaming as Exercise

One of the unexpected discoveries of this weight loss journey has been the role technology can play in helping people stay active.

My Meta Quest continues to prove that exercise doesn't have to be traditional to be effective.

This week included sessions of Beat Saber and VR Badminton.

What I enjoy most is that these activities don't feel like a workout in the traditional sense. They feel like games.

Yet the calories burned tell their own story.

This week's exercise included:

  • 35 minutes walking
  • 56 minutes of Beat Saber
  • 24 minutes of VR Badminton

Together, those activities burned over 700 calories.

For years, fitness has often been presented as something we have to endure.

What if part of the answer is finding activities we genuinely enjoy instead?

Because if we enjoy them, we're far more likely to continue doing them.

Technology and Better Decisions

The theme that keeps emerging throughout this journey is the value of information.

My Apple Watch tracks movement and activity.

My Meta Quest provides new ways to stay active.

MyFitnessPal helps me understand how exercise and food choices fit together.

None of these tools lose weight for me.

None of them make decisions for me.

But they do provide information.

And with information comes empowerment.

The more I understand my behaviours, activity levels, and food intake, the better equipped I am to make informed decisions.

One of the most interesting examples this week came after my walk around Ashby Ville Nature Reserve.

The calories burned during that walk meant that when I checked MyFitnessPal later in the day, I still had enough calories available to enjoy a pizza and remain within my daily target.

For me, that's a powerful lesson.

This journey doesn't feel restrictive.

It doesn't feel like I'm constantly denying myself things I enjoy.

Instead, it feels balanced.

The data helps me understand my choices rather than judge them.

And that feels much more sustainable.

Looking Ahead

At the start of this journey, the destination felt a long way away.

In truth, it still does.

But the evidence suggests the approach is working.

The scales continue to move in the right direction.

The exercise is becoming routine.

The technology is providing useful insight.

And perhaps most importantly, the habits are beginning to feel normal.

The goal remains the same:

Not perfection.

Not rapid change.

Not a short-term diet.

A healthier lifestyle that I can sustain for the long term.

For now, I'll keep focusing on the next walk.

The next activity ring.

The next workout.

The next good decision.

Because that's how progress happens.

One small step at a time.

This Week's Snapshot

⚖️ Current Weight: 102.2kg

⬇️ Total Weight Lost: 6.68kg

📊 Percentage of Starting Weight Lost: 6.1%

🏃 Exercise Sessions: 4

⏱️ Total Exercise Time: 115 minutes

🔥 Calories Burned Through Exercise: 713 kcal

🚶 Outdoor Highlight: 2.36km walk around Ashby Ville Nature Reserve, followed by a photo and video project capturing the local scenery

🎮 VR Activity: Beat Saber and VR Badminton

⌚ Technology Used: Apple Watch, Meta Quest, MyFitnessPal

🍕 Favourite Moment: Enjoying a pizza while still remaining within my calorie target

💡 Lesson of the Week: Information creates empowerment.

Until next week...



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