Walking and Exercise

Guest_1055 · ‎27-01-2016

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......

Shell4

Walked in the water reservoir park.

Shell4

I have been out walking around near my place today. About a 1 hour walk. During the walk we stopped at a cafe and I ordered an iced chocolate. So nice and freaking with ice cubes in it.

Yesterday I went walking on the breakwall, we didn't walk all the way to the end this time as the ocean was very choppy and a lot of water was splashing over the wall.

The day before I took runner/ sniffer dog for a walk with me to a library up where mum lives. Dogs are allowed in that library. There were two other tiny dogs on the way out when we arrived.

The day before we walked on the beach.

Gambit87

I am very fortunate to live near wetlands! so everyday (sometimes twice a day) im out and about walking and exploring.

It definitely helps me calm down and recenter myself, especially after working from home.

Shell4

Indeed so good that you live near wetlands and you are able to get out amongst it all. I imagine there would be bird life within it

Shell4

Yesterday I went out with baby boy nephew and his mumma. We went out on the trails at that water reservoir. She showed me a trail I had never been on before. So we walked on that. Coming across a snake curling itself back into the bush as we walk towards it. I am unsure what type it was. As we walked and chatted we crossed over two timber bridges. Baby nephew was talking his baby talk whilst just sitting in the pram. He is ever so cute and I told him so. This pram seems to handle the terrain of where we walked.

Shell4

Sunday - walked up to Woolies and back. 40 minutes all up

Shell4

Took baby nephew for a walk in his pram down on the trail at the water reservoir. This walk takes about an hour. There is a couple of hilly sections that I pushed the pram up.

I could hear baby babbling in that super cute way that he does. I am not 100% sure of this, but for me when I am solely taking care of this baby it helps my mental health. It helps to take my eyes of myself and my issues and onto someone else. I find myself noticing the things he notices. I see the delight on his face when he is bouncing this ping pong ball, I hear is giggles when he is wetting me and himself with the garden hose. He is extremely curious about everything and takes off on his wobbly legs.

It was a little humid walking around the trail. I felt it. I saw many flies on a mans back as he passed us. I heard a bell bird and other birds. There were birds in the lake. I am not sure what they were.

Shell4

Went out for a walk around the block and a bit more.

Shell4

I am so thankful I was able to walk out in the fresh ocean air. Though in one particular area the scent was like rotten seaweed or something like that. I tried to not focus on that.

I parked right on top of a well known hill in the tiny parking lot there. From there I walked down , turned right at the first road and walked on the path going along that road. It felt real good feeling the breeze. I stopped at the road library, a little timber box shelf thing up high. I opened the door and scanned the books inside. You can take a book and add another.

I continued on this path past the new cafe which has opened recently in an old historical building. It is beautiful on the outside and I am keen to look inside...one day.

Continuing on towards a large hilly park. With large tall trees. Trees you often see near the beach areas. They drop like pine needle things over the ground. Just cannot think of what they are called, anyway there is many of them growing in this park. I end down more and see the playground thinking that little toddler nephew would like playing here. Just his size with like a small like castle leading up to a slippery dip. I saw some swings and decided yes I am going to have a swing on them so I did.

Kept walking towards the ocean and I could see it now. Down a steep hill and then on to a slightly more flat road. I walked along this to it met a concrete path. Bordering the path is a white rail. I looked over that to see the waves hitting the rocks below. Just so beautiful and fresh there. I continued on for quite a while passing that beach kiosk that is mostly busy with people buying coffee, but it was fairly quite there. I followed this path right to the next beach then up along the breakwall. I walked along the wall to the end then walked back. I properly walked just over 2 hours or so.