Walking tips

Well, folks, I did it! I am now down 32 pounds! I may have mentioned here before that I have never lost 30 pounds before. I have lost 25 pounds a couple of times and for some reason, always gave up after that and ended up gaining it back. This time I am in it for the loooong haul. And I am so happy about that!!!

I have recently read a little publication that I wanted to write about. It is called, Walk It Off. It's a little magazine-like book that I found on the check-out stand at the grocery store. It's by Readers Digest, part of a series called "Best You". Anyway, I learned a few snippets from this publication that I thought were worth sharing. First of all, there was an article about using a pedometer. The authors decided to do a study on themselves and see how much walking they did each day. They noticed that their definition of exercise quickly changed. They used to see exercise as something one did in a certain place at a certain time, like going to the gym, or taking aerobics at the rec center, or whatever. Now they see it as a part of regular life. They don't call it "exercise" anymore as much as they call it "activity". They challenged themselves to get in 10,000 steps each day and kept looking for ways to get in more activity. There lives, overall, became more active. I like this idea!! I think they are really on to something here.

I am now looking for ways to put more activity into my life. I planted a lot more flowers and an herb garden this year. I know the upkeep of these beauties will keep me more active, and the herbs will continue to improve my cooking!! Another great thing: the coffee shop in our neighborhood has finally reopened!! It's about a mile round-trip to walk there and back. I am gonna strap on my pedometer and head over there right after this post. I will now take the long way to the mailbox, staying on the sidewalk instead of cutting across the back yard. I could also walk my dogs more often, and walk around my whole house looking for stray weeds to pull. A few extra steps here and there can add up to a lot!!

Here's a list (from the same publication) of 17 things you can do while walking (besides chew gum):
1. Window shop (at the mall or a place like Loveland's Centerra, or outlet malls, etc)
2. Bird watch (we have the Poudre trail nearby which is even home to bald eagles)
3. Knit (the article suggests practicing while walking around the house before trying this one)
4. Yoga (with the arms, like the sun salutation move, while you keep walking)
5. Reconnect (walk with a friend and I see lotsa people walking while talking on their cell!)
6. Read (well, listen to an audiobook at least)
7. Meditate (I guess the rhythm of walking helps with this)
8. Grow your brain (one walker works on math problems in her head while walking)
9. Learn a language (I love this one! I need to work on my Spanish.)
10. Spread happiness (wave and smile at everyone you see. I like to do this one!)
11. Write a novel (use a voice recorder)
12. Collect stuff for "found art" (ya know, pick up little things you find and make art out of 'em)
13. Get smarter (listen to ted.com/talks, speeches by intellectuals or non-fiction books on tape)
14. Rehearse a speech (take your notes and use lots of hand gestures)
15. Hold a meeting (take a co-worker with you or do a phone meeting)
16. Solve your problems (ponder the problem before you leave and while walking, your brain will keep working on the problem. The solution might just pop into your head!!)
17. Beautify the neighborhood (pick up trash along the way. i have often thought of doing this with dog poop. It's make me very irrate that people don't pick up after their dogs!!!!)
18. Bonus item not in the article: Walk to your neighborhood coffee shop to get a pick me up and energy booster so you can do housework and yard work when you get home!!! YAY!!

So that's it for me today. I am gonna go get my pedometer on. Have a great day!! The weather is finally starting to act like summer around here. :-)