Walking and Exercise

[Guest_1055]

Hey to anyone reading this.

Last night I had an idea about starting a new thread about exercise especially walking. I am aware that walking is very beneficial for our mental, emotional and physical well being. And by actually doing it....well it can make a huge difference to how we cope with the storms that we face in life.

OK, I am not real good at disciplining myself to walk, and have to really push myself to do it. And sometimes it is even hard to leave this bedroom. Anyway I am not a beginner walker, as I have stuck to sort of a plan before. So I know that it does make me feel somewhat better. But I only stayed on the plan for a couple of months, then gave up.....for whatever reason. So here I am again wanting desperately to not fail this time.

So I guess this thread is for anyone that does walk, anyone that is struggling to walk because of depression or anxiety issues. And anyone else really......

I am unsure of the outcome of all this. But my ideas included: Sharing about things we have found out about exercise especially about walking. Writing down the reasons that one would chose to walk ( like something to help motivate). Being accountable in same way. Sharing about the places where we actually do walk, like the beach, gym, around the block, with the dog, out to the clothesline and back. And any other useful tips that could help others. So here we go......

[Guest_1055]

How are you getting along Elizabeth?

I had the opportunity to go walking in the reservoir reserve this morning. Our walk started off with giggles, as my sister was suddenly grabbed by a long bendy branch from a bougainvillea bush. It appeared that the thorns on the branch gripped into her hair, as she walked under it. She was sort of pulled back a little.

After the attack of the branch, we continued walking through the gates. As we walked through, we could see some mums with there babies in the park. They were socialising. We continued along, on the right is the reservoir. The water level looked a bit low compared to last week. And it smelt a bit stale or something. We passed another walker. I didn't notice any of the surroundings for a while now, as we were chatting a lot. But soon we heard running footsteps from behind, then the owner of the footsteps ran quickly past us. She appeared very fit, and was wearing a device on her arm, which I thought was to measure her pulse. We kept walking and chatted until we reached some picnic tables. Then we just sat for a bit. I did notice the paint on the table was starting to peel off some. After our short respite, we walked back to the entrance gates. And once here, we were now cautious of the bouganvelia branch.

Hope you are having a good day.

Love

Shell xx

[Elizabeth CP]

Sorry I missed a few days writing. Thursday we went to my daughters so I could get an osteo treatment but she asked us to babysit first while she met the accountant. She was gone much longer than expected. I took the kids to the playground but didn't stay long due to the cold. It was a very short walk. The 2 year old started coughing & struggling to breath so I rang my daughter to ask her to hurry home. He is scared of using inhalers so it took 3 of us to hold him to administer the inhaler but it helped. I was very tired by the time I got home. A combination of the worry re my grandson, the treatment which is painful although beneficial & the long drive.

Friday I did a shorter walk. I had a headache & felt tired & unmotivated. Today I haven't walked. It was very wet & cold. I need to get back on track!!!

[Elizabeth CP]

I did a short walk to the playground yesterday with my grandchildren.

Today I walked to the post box & then walked back the long way around the park. It was drizzling throughout the time I walked. At least the plants look fresh & white flowers in my front garden stand out against the green leaves & dark mulch. I am continueing to do my exercises for my elbow & shoulder as well as the walking. My arm is improving slowly.

[Guest_1055]

Hey Elizabeth, I am sorry your little 2 year old grandson gets scared with the inhalers. I think I would find that heart breaking to see him scared. Is he OK now Elizabeth?

I am glad you got back on track with the walking, I have been struggling myself to feel motivated and the last walk was the one I posted about. I am going on a planned walk on Wednesday afternoon.

I am also glad that you arm is on the mend. I suppose it does take a while.

And Elizabeth, this may sound strange, but I am not that good at general sort of chit chat. I know I can write stories from my imagination and descriptive words and such. I do hope that is OK, as I fear a little of what you may think of me. Most of my life outside of the BB forums I just listen to people. I am learning how to verbally speak with my sister though.

I just wanted you to understand that about me that is all.

Anyway thank you for sharing with me.

In kindness

Shell xx

[Elizabeth CP]

Thank you for your reply Shelley. My grandson is much better according to my daughter. He is on antibiotics. I went for a walk today with my husband. We went the opposite way to normal coming down the steps instead of up. We got a view of the city from up high. It was in the distance so not very clear. I liked some of the interesting rock retaining walls used to terrace the steep blocks.

I really enjoy your descriptions. You have a real talent for writing. I'm glad you are feeling more comfortable talking with your sister. What did you mean you fear what I think of you? I think you are a caring person with a talent for noticing and describing things in writing.

[Guest_1055]

Hi Elizabeth, I am thankful your little grandson is better. That is good news.

So does your Hubby go ok navigating the steps. I am trying to imagine being blind and actually stepping down a step with my foot. He has a cane doesn't he? So in my head I am sort of feeling the edge of the step with the cane, to know how wide the step is. Is that what he does Elizabeth? I am just curious that's all.

And are the interesting rocks in the retaining wall bush rock or natural sandstone. Glad you went for a walk with your hubby too. I am imagining you would get a good view at night at that city, with all the lights.

You asked me what I meant in regards to fear. Well... I am frightened you don't like me. Because I see so much in me, that I don't like. Fear of being rejected I guess. I am not certain if it has something to do with accepting oneself or not. I am just learning all about this stuff in a support group that I go to. So I haven't figured it all out yet.

I went for a walk today too, around the reservoir again.

Our walk started off by me saying to my sister to watch out for the arm of the bouganvelia bush. I had to say it, because it was so funny last time she got trapped. We are now calling it the monster. The bush properly needs a good prune or something.

We walked through the gates, and headed in the direction that we mostly go in. The afternoon sun was shining on the water. We walked and were shocked to see this same suspicious man that we saw once before. To tell you truth he didn't look that friendly, so we didn't say hello. We kept walking on.

Then we were discussing weeds, as my sister is studying horticulture. So we bent down and looked closely at some that we scattered beside this metal fence. She needs to identify them, so to do this we looked at the shape of the leaf, felt the texture of the leaf. Even how the leaves are arranged on the stems. We looked at other special characteristics of that particular weed that set it apart from other weeds. So yeah this was a mini "identify the weeds" lesson. All very interesting. Maybe you could try that Elizabeth, to help focus on the surroundings more or something.

Anyway we continued walking.... on the left under some trees were a group of black crows pecking at something. We also saw a male black swan in the water, with its long arched sort of neck dipping into the water then out again. Very graceful looking, I thought.

To be continued...

[Elizabeth CP]

Hi Shell, Good you got to do your walk & good you were able to laugh at the monster. A sense of humour is important particularly when things are going wrong. My husband feels the steps with his cane & his feet. he is supposed to hold the rail with one hand when possible as this provides a useful guide but he doesn't bother.He finds proper steps easy. It is just really uneven rock steps which are hard. He doesn't go on the steps on his own because the road at the top is too dangerous. It is narrow with steep drops to the side & driveways go off at funny angles so it is hard to tell the drive & the road if you can't see. If I'm thyere I can w

[Elizabeth CP]

Sorry I posted by accident without finishing. I guide my husband into a safe place to wait for cars passing. Every time we go on the road I try to reinforce why he shouldn't go alone.

As for thinking I won't like you I hope I never give that impression. Í am also naturally quiet & shy & worry about what people think. I'm more comfortable around quieter people. Overly confident people make me feel uncomfortable & inferior.

[Guest_5218]

Hi Shell and Elizabeth. It sounds like we are, all three of us, naturally quiet and shy folk. Not at all comfortable around over confident or really loud people. I have come to understand though Shell, that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being this way. It is only your lack of self confidence that is falsely leading you to believe that we may not like you. Nothing could be further from the truth though Shell. There are so many things about you Shell that makes me love and respect you. Have no fear that I would not like you - I already DO like you, and I think I would like you even more if I got to know you better.

Hey everyone, guess what? I am hoping to take Holly for a walk tomorrow whilst hubby is away having some medical tests done. I hope I dont back out at the last minute, thinking its all too much effort. I'll let you know.

Sherie xx

[Guest_1055]

Continued from yesterday.....

We kept walking on the trail, until we meet up with two walkers coming in the opposite direction. So we stopped and listened to them tell us about the mumma black swan, that was sitting on her nest of reeds up around the next bend in the reservoir.

After the conversation ended, we started walking again. We were now noticing a lot of different weeds that were growing in amongst the vegetation along the sides of the trail. Eventually we came across the mentioned bend, where the mumma swan supposedly was. After looking out amongst the reeds and whatever those other water plants were, we spotted her. We just stopped and looked for a bit. And discussed how basic and simple life was for them. There lives are not full of complications like ours. The swans just seemed to have a gentle trust in that all will be well.

Moving along now.... almost up to the entrance gate, looking ahead the gates were closed. So we found another way out just near there. As we joined back up to the road and not far from the monster bouganvelia, a large kangaroo was making its way across the road well.. about 3 meters in front of us. It was definitely springing, heading with purpose to the paddock on the other side.

Did I enjoy this walk? Yes definitely........