Weighty Wednesday -- Why walk?

 

As y'all know, I love walking. Shoot, my walking pace is faster than some runners--I know because I've passed them on the trails. But I always wanted to be a runner.

1) you can cover the same distance in half the time.

2) you look 'cooler' running than walking

3) running shoes vs. 'walking' shoes

It isn't that I haven't tried running, I have. I just don't have the ability to run.

1) Breathing--I breath too shallowly to breath efficiently. It doesn't help that I have asthma, so when I breath too shallow, it exacerbates the situation.

2) I manage to hurt myself . . . every single time. If it isn't a pulled groin muscle, it's twisting my ankle or bunging up my knees

So I walk.

That is part of the reason I've successfully kept my weight off . . . well, except for the darn vacation pounds I gained in August and still haven't lost. . . . grrrrr.

The key is to find an exercise you enjoy doing, every day.

I look forward to my walks. Since I walk outside, I see the changing of the seasons. I hear a variety of birds throughout the seasons. I greet other bikers, runners and walkers on my trail.

It's my thing.

But if you enjoy shopping at the mall instead of nature, then go walk the mall. Make a point of walking first, then treat yourself to window shopping as you cool down.

Get into a habit of walking a certain number of laps and then challenge yourself.

Walk the same number of laps, but try to increase your pace for each lap. If you inadvertently slow down, you will know by your lap time.

1) increase your speed
2) increase your stride length
3) practice tightening your muscles
4) dress in layers

And just because you walk, you don't have to buy 'walking shoes'. Those things don't breath. They don't flex. And they weigh a ton!

Buy shoes that breath, flex and feel comfortable with an adequate amount of support. In other words, buy running shoes.

Dress in layers, especially in winter, because if you are working hard you will warm up and start sweating, which will allow you to strip off the outer layers.

And speaking of sweating, if you aren't sweating you aren't working hard enough!

So go out and enjoy the weather. I know I do!

Later, Peeps!

Weighty Wednesday -- Do you walk or do you WALK?

I've always enjoyed walking. Until last year, I hadn't realized how much fun it is especially when you are enjoying nature around you. So many other walkers are busy listening to their music that they slow down and don't be the benefit from a fast walk.

I tried listening to music when I belonged to a gym, but the ear buds kept slipping out when I moved my arms . . . plus they got sweaty and itched! Is that TMI?? Music is just not my thing.

So this brings up the topic of how do you walk?

In The Synonym Finder, I found hundreds of words that describe the forward motion by bipeds, everything from hop, stroll, saunter, skip and stride. And that doesn't even cover slink, mosey, plod or trudge.

I will say that I am a fast walker, which is probably due to my height. When you are only 5'1'' with an inseam of 27 inches, you have to walk quickly to  keep up with anyone taller than you . . . which is 95% of the population. What is really interesting is that when I walk with my hubby (6'2") he has to tell me to slow down. But it's because he isn't walker per se, he's a stroller.

So back to walking . . . many people might say that I power walk.

I disagree.

Partly because I'm contrary in that way, but more importantly because power walking is a technique, and not necessarily speed. I watched a YouTube video of how to correctly power walk. Sorry, but it's too much work to concentrate on the heel, toe movement and placing your heel only when the toe is about to leave the ground.

*blech* too much work = not fun

The one time I went to the gym in the last year, I walked on the treadmill and found out that my most comfortable pace is about 3.9-4.0 mph, which gives me a 15 minute mile.

I don't start off that fast, but I quickly get there within 3-5 minutes. And yes, I do swing my arms. And yes, I do carry a water bottle. And yes, I do walk in the hideous heat of the summer, the bone-chilling bite of winter and everything in between, except heavy rain. . . but wait a minute I did that once too! Okay, it was by accident, the rain hit when I tried to walk during a break of a storm.

The key to enjoying a brisk walk is to push yourself, but not on the first day. Strive to walk fast enough to start breathing a little heavier or until you sweat, maintain it for a short time and then cool off. Doing too much too quickly will burn you out mentally.

I can't tell you how long that is because everything depends on your physical condition and health issues.

So do you walk?

Do you visit with a friend while you walk? Do you talk on the phone? To you plod along or do you walk with a purpose?

Start slowly. Add time and intensity as you need to challenge yourself.

Later, Peeps!