How about keeping a walking journal? You know how we try to entice kids to perform and continue good behaviors by placing stickers or stars on the calendar? Well, we can give ourselves some of the same encouragement. We can keep some sort of record of our walks so that we can track where started and how far we've come - not just today but over the course of weeks, months, and years.
You can use a simple notebook, use the calendar you have hanging on the pantry or refrigerator door, buy a fancier planner or journal, or go to a website like www.pocketmod.com to create your own for cheap.
However you make one, it's nice to have the record of your progress. Set yourself some goals. When you meet the goal, reward yourself! No, not with a hot fudge sundae. Maybe with a nice new pair of walking socks. Maybe with a nice bubblebath packet. Maybe with a $5 bill in the piggy bank, saving up for something better.
I have a few other ideas for enticing ourselves to walk. Stay tuned for those ideas.
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Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
IT'S NOT ALL UPHILL
From my last post, a couple readers seemed to get the idea that I'm not used to walking hills.
That's not the case! I walk hills often. Steep hills. Just not the Nemesis Hill that I walked on Easter Sunday!
I encourage everyone to try hills - slowly at first - and not the steep ones. Walking up hills is more taxing than walking on a level surface. Even placing a treadmill on an uphill grade is not the same as walking them outdoors.
Do Not Try To Overdo the hills. You may well get discouraged if you find your first few hills to be challenging, if not downright unpleasant. Hills are good for you. And, they can be fun.
Remember, once you get to the top, it's all downhill from there.
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
That's not the case! I walk hills often. Steep hills. Just not the Nemesis Hill that I walked on Easter Sunday!
I encourage everyone to try hills - slowly at first - and not the steep ones. Walking up hills is more taxing than walking on a level surface. Even placing a treadmill on an uphill grade is not the same as walking them outdoors.
Do Not Try To Overdo the hills. You may well get discouraged if you find your first few hills to be challenging, if not downright unpleasant. Hills are good for you. And, they can be fun.
Remember, once you get to the top, it's all downhill from there.
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Monday, April 13, 2009
STRAIGHT UP
I had a bright idea today. The whole family was coming over for dinner, but I had things under control and wanted to go for a walk. I needed to return a Blockbuster rental and the store is within walking distance, so I decided to walk there and drop off the DVD. Here's where I went wrong. The store is straight down a steep hill from my home - a really steep hill. Bad enough going down and far worse going back up.
I had a plan. I would veer off course a bit to walk up the hill through the park. Good plan, poor execution. There was an Egg Hunt going on there. My plan had been to climb the hill diagonally, as it were, to minimize the steepness. Not wanting to interfere with the kiddies and their search for bunny droppings, I walked straight up this hill.
It's also a Frisbee Golf Course. It's a steep hill. It's about the size of a football field. Now, I walk at a pretty good clip. So, off I go up that hill. Had to stop about 2/3 of the way up to take a breath. By the time I got to the top of said hill, I was seeing stars and out of breath. This is very unusual for me. Considered calling my husband to come pick me up, but felt foolish. Of course, climbing a hill is heavy labor. Of course, I was hot and out of breath.
So, I strolled on the approximately 1/2 mile to my house. Boy, was I pooped. Usually, after a walk, I have great energy. This time, I had to sit down for a while before I could resume the day's activities. Had to cook and do a bit of cleaning. Had to drive to pick up my mom.
It all turned out fine. I was fine. But, I ain't walking back up that hill again! I can't imagine having to walk up the hill on a typical summer day. Today was cool and breezy. So, no more walks to Blockbuster for me!
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
I had a plan. I would veer off course a bit to walk up the hill through the park. Good plan, poor execution. There was an Egg Hunt going on there. My plan had been to climb the hill diagonally, as it were, to minimize the steepness. Not wanting to interfere with the kiddies and their search for bunny droppings, I walked straight up this hill.
It's also a Frisbee Golf Course. It's a steep hill. It's about the size of a football field. Now, I walk at a pretty good clip. So, off I go up that hill. Had to stop about 2/3 of the way up to take a breath. By the time I got to the top of said hill, I was seeing stars and out of breath. This is very unusual for me. Considered calling my husband to come pick me up, but felt foolish. Of course, climbing a hill is heavy labor. Of course, I was hot and out of breath.
So, I strolled on the approximately 1/2 mile to my house. Boy, was I pooped. Usually, after a walk, I have great energy. This time, I had to sit down for a while before I could resume the day's activities. Had to cook and do a bit of cleaning. Had to drive to pick up my mom.
It all turned out fine. I was fine. But, I ain't walking back up that hill again! I can't imagine having to walk up the hill on a typical summer day. Today was cool and breezy. So, no more walks to Blockbuster for me!
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
WHAT'S BLOOMING IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS?
For a change, in Missouri, we are having a 'real' Spring. That is, we usually go directly from freezing winter to sultry summer with only a few days of transition each year. This year, we have had a more prolonged transitional season, which most people would choose to call Spring.
The advantage of having Spring is that we have redbuds, dogwoods, bradford pears, and flowering crabs all bursting with blossoms. Lawns are greening up nicely. It's wet most days, but not too cold. We aren't used to this strange season in these parts.
Walking outside in this delightful season is very pleasing. I enjoy all those trees and the few tulips and other green bulb plants that are peaking up from leaf-laden flower beds. Why do they call those trees redbuds anyway? They're purple! Whatever their name, they're lovely to look at!
This sort of weather makes me want to blow off work - not really a possibility - and shirk housework - a true likelihood - and get outside to walk around the neighborhood to see what new shoots, sprouts, and blossoms are to be found. What's blooming in your neighborhood?
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
The advantage of having Spring is that we have redbuds, dogwoods, bradford pears, and flowering crabs all bursting with blossoms. Lawns are greening up nicely. It's wet most days, but not too cold. We aren't used to this strange season in these parts.
Walking outside in this delightful season is very pleasing. I enjoy all those trees and the few tulips and other green bulb plants that are peaking up from leaf-laden flower beds. Why do they call those trees redbuds anyway? They're purple! Whatever their name, they're lovely to look at!
This sort of weather makes me want to blow off work - not really a possibility - and shirk housework - a true likelihood - and get outside to walk around the neighborhood to see what new shoots, sprouts, and blossoms are to be found. What's blooming in your neighborhood?
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
WHAT ELSE QUALIFIES AS A 'WALK'?
In addition to the other ways we might like to vary our routine to keep our walks interesting, there are a few other things that might qualify as 'walks'. Biking is an activity that quickly comes to mind. Most of us who can walk can also bike safely. Maybe on a stationary bike rather than on a street or trail somewhere. There are also those stands upon which one can rest the rear bike axle on so that you can use your street bike as a stationary bike.
Linedancing is an activity that I sometimes substitute for walking. I suppose any kind of dancing would qualify - and might well be more challenging than walking. There are all kinds of dancing. From linedancing to jitterbug to swing to jazzercize. They are all some form of dancing and serve the same purpose that walking will - putting one into a great frame of mind, aerobic exercise to benefit the body, energy building.
Other stationary activities like stairsteppers and rowing machines might interest me on a day that walking holds no appeal. A stairstepper is not a great machine for me since I've had two knee replacements. But a rowing machine is fine. I just have to tailor the depth of the rowing to suit my body. This incorporates more upper body and might be a bit harder on the back. Not an activity to overdo.
There are far more strenuous activities like jumping rope and jogging that are not on my list because they are high impact and, again, not well suited to arthritic joints or other health issues. Water aerobics are safe for everyone if done properly. If you have easy access to water, I recommend this. Find a good teacher and work those joints out under water. You actually sweat underwater!!
What other activities are on your list?
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Linedancing is an activity that I sometimes substitute for walking. I suppose any kind of dancing would qualify - and might well be more challenging than walking. There are all kinds of dancing. From linedancing to jitterbug to swing to jazzercize. They are all some form of dancing and serve the same purpose that walking will - putting one into a great frame of mind, aerobic exercise to benefit the body, energy building.
Other stationary activities like stairsteppers and rowing machines might interest me on a day that walking holds no appeal. A stairstepper is not a great machine for me since I've had two knee replacements. But a rowing machine is fine. I just have to tailor the depth of the rowing to suit my body. This incorporates more upper body and might be a bit harder on the back. Not an activity to overdo.
There are far more strenuous activities like jumping rope and jogging that are not on my list because they are high impact and, again, not well suited to arthritic joints or other health issues. Water aerobics are safe for everyone if done properly. If you have easy access to water, I recommend this. Find a good teacher and work those joints out under water. You actually sweat underwater!!
What other activities are on your list?
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
MULTI-TASKING......
What else can one do while walking?
Somedays I can't even walk and chew gum at the same time! Most days, however, I walk and talk or listen to my Ipod and sing along.
What ELSE can you do while walking?
Do you walk and talk? Walk and read? Walk and knit or crochet? Walk and push a stroller? Walk and jog (yep, that's 'allowed'). Walk and dance? What else??? I gotta know these things.
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Somedays I can't even walk and chew gum at the same time! Most days, however, I walk and talk or listen to my Ipod and sing along.
What ELSE can you do while walking?
Do you walk and talk? Walk and read? Walk and knit or crochet? Walk and push a stroller? Walk and jog (yep, that's 'allowed'). Walk and dance? What else??? I gotta know these things.
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
WIGGLE WHILE YOU WALK??
The other day I was walking by myself. It was a fine morning for walking and I was happy to get in several miles before heading off to work. My Ipod has a small but juicy selection of good walking songs on it. My walk was long enough that I was near the end of my play list.
Suddenly, forgotten by me for some time, a great walking song began to play. The song is by Michelle Branch with a title something like 'It's All in the Game of Love'. It was a big hit for her and has a great beat for walking.
There I was, walking only two blocks from home, when I began clapping along with the music! I always sing along, usually low enough so as to not embarrass myself or others with my innate inability to carry a tune. This time, I was just belting it out, clapping along. I just didn't care!
As I've written before, I'm pretty brazen. I'm often oblivious to what others might think about my antics when I walk. I even aspire to be more of an exhibitionist, remembering the gal named Tiger who used to walk in my old neighborhood, stopping to dance on each major street corner. Cars honked at her, people waved. She brightened many a day.
Can I be the person who will brighten someone's day with my singing, clapping, and walking? At least, it makes my own day brighter!
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
Suddenly, forgotten by me for some time, a great walking song began to play. The song is by Michelle Branch with a title something like 'It's All in the Game of Love'. It was a big hit for her and has a great beat for walking.
There I was, walking only two blocks from home, when I began clapping along with the music! I always sing along, usually low enough so as to not embarrass myself or others with my innate inability to carry a tune. This time, I was just belting it out, clapping along. I just didn't care!
As I've written before, I'm pretty brazen. I'm often oblivious to what others might think about my antics when I walk. I even aspire to be more of an exhibitionist, remembering the gal named Tiger who used to walk in my old neighborhood, stopping to dance on each major street corner. Cars honked at her, people waved. She brightened many a day.
Can I be the person who will brighten someone's day with my singing, clapping, and walking? At least, it makes my own day brighter!
***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.
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