Walking Shoes - Walking and Other 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......

[Eagle Ray]

Hello again,

 I thought I would just share a walk by the river I did this afternoon. As soon as I looked into the river I saw these beautiful stripy fish swimming around. Then I saw another fish that I’m pretty sure was a herring. It had found something it was after at the bottom of the river and was digging a hole with its snout to get at it, though I didn’t see if it managed to eventually get what it wanted. It was sunny, calm and beautiful. People were out on their stand up paddle boards including a girl with her small dog. Quite a few people were fishing and three pelicans were close by hoping for some scraps where people were cleaning the fish. I also saw two Southern Emu Wrens which have a long tail feather. They make cute little chattery and buzzing sounds that are quite soft and gentle.

It was such a lovely afternoon to be out. Very early this morning when it was still dark I went outside into the bright moonlight. It was also very still then and I could hear the ocean. 

[Shell4]

Your walk sounds absolutely beautiful Eagle Ray. And I felt calm just reading it. Soo cute the little dog on the paddle board as well. 

[Shell4]

I just finished riding around the block on my bike. It is not a huge block and it took me 7 and half minutes. My knees were aching a bit going around and I could feel it in my legs. But it felt invigorating feeling the cool fresh air on my face and I still feel invigorating as I write this. I was puffing. I also have just started up using the rebounder again. Jumping 1 minute. Think this is my third time during the week. I am aiming for 10 minutes. I simply half lift and half drag it out of the garage and place it under the tree out there. Later in the day I will walk out near the ocean.

Yesterday I walked out there. The waves were so very big that the ocean baths were closed as rough enormous waves were crashing over it with such force travelling all the way to the far concrete wall. Once they hit the wall , the water sprayed up then the wave went back the way it had come. There were people standing there including myself just watching it all. And I noticed photographers taking shots and videos. 

The air was nice out there and I did take a few deep breaths. After staring at the waves in the baths, I walked on. Actually I kept looking at the waves along the beach, they were all enormous and rough. There were no people swimming in it. It seemed all the people were hovering around the beach kiosk as it was opened being Good Friday. Some were sitting on the many long and wide concrete steps sipping coffee or whatever it was, others on the chairs near the tables. I weaved my way through the people there standing around. Once I got passed them it was more quiet,it was just in that section. I walked on past the skate park on the right and the sand and ocean on the left of me. There wasn't a lot of sand as the ocean was far up. I really enjoyed this walk. I walked for about an hour.

I also walked in the evening with my son just around our place. I want to get fit again and also lose weight. Plus it helps me mentally and emotionally. 

[Eagle Ray]

It’s wonderful you are doing all those things for exercise. It really can be invigorating going for a bike ride can’t it. I have not ridden my bike in a very long time and I think it would be good for me. The rebounder under the tree sounds lovely. I imagine it is really good for balance, co-ordination and the muscles too. I was watching an interview with someone in his 80s the other day and at the end he said he was going to bounce on his trampoline after the interview. I thought that was lovely and I hope I’m bouncing on a trampoline in my 80s.

It sounds like it was wild and atmospheric by the ocean. Yesterday I went for a walk here by the estuary. There was a cold wind that felt Antarctic. I came to the spot where people often clean the fish they’ve caught. The stingrays were coming up to them and nudging them for fish scraps, sitting on their feet or brushing their legs. It’s so cute. There was a bunch of pelicans there too eagerly awaiting fish scraps thrown to them. I walked by the river and estuary this morning too and the light was silvery and very atmospheric. I met a new recent friend and her little dog and we went to a cafe and had a coffee. It was really lovely.

I so agree with you that walking and exercise generally help with mental and emotional well being. Have a lovely evening 🙏☺️

[Shell4]

It has been a while since I posted in here. And I think I started this thread in 2016. Ten years ago.

I still believe exercise and even movement of our bodies is vital to us. There have been weeks that I haven't exercised at all and then I go down hill. My emotional and mental health just isn't the same. A deep sadness fills my soul. 

I need to make a decision for only day and do movement or exercise. Walk out on the beach like I use to, breathe in the fresh ocean air. That breathing in the fresh air always made me feel better. I did attempt to walk even if it was for 20 minutes or 10 up the road and back. I have walked on the beach just last week. Feeling the grittiness of the sand and feeling the water on my feet . Last year I went on a few walks with mums dog around her area. 

This year I am just going to live one day at a time and exercise on that day and generally just move more. 

[Eagle Ray]

Hello again!

I really hear what you are saying about how much it helps to exercise, but also how it's possible to fall out of doing it for a while and then things go downhill. It's so lovely how you sense all of those things like the grittiness of the sand and the feeling of water on your feet. I think it's those sensory things that really ground us and bring us back into the present that is so good for our mental health.

The day after Christmas I went for a swim in the ocean and it was so refreshing. It makes the whole rest of my day better. I have been going for walks in the late afternoon, but I do find it's best if I can get up early and either walk or swim then, so I am really going to try to do that and your post has inspired and reminded me to do that. Like you, deep sadness can really take me over if I am stationary at home for too long, which leads me to be even more paralysed and then more emotionally distressed etc. So I feel you are so onto the right thing about moving our bodies being vital to us!

It's lovely to hear from you and I too want to live one day at a time this year and make sure I have healthy movement everyday. All the very best and warm hugs to you 🤗

[Shell4]

Hello ER, yes movement of our bodies is vital even if it like doing stretches in bed. Your refreshing swim sounds like well refreshing. 

Are you still walking in the estuary with the marine life

[Eagle Ray]

Hi, yes, I still walk by the estuary and see things like the stingrays and pelicans. Today I went for a walk on a coastal path further along from there next to the open ocean. I saw some blue wrens by the walking track. It looked a bit misty out to sea and the sun was filtering through the clouds.

Do you still walk out on the breakwater where you used to go? It's nice that you got to walk with your mum's dog. I love dogs and it can be so nice going for a walk with them 🐶💗

[Croix]

Dear old friend ~

Well I can't call you 'guest' and if you had wanted your old name you would have used something similar

Everything you, Kazzle  and all the others have said about walking is born out. I have limited ability nowadays but manage shorter walks along the riverbank, a river that  flows at a sedate pace or fast, depending on the season. Not too wide one cannot see the geese on the far side, or them see Mrs C who accompanies me. 

There is always one on lookout and when they see Mrs C and her bag of birdseed they waddle, swim and fly to get close.

The path is firm and had new-mown grass around it, and populated by native hens, who try to drive one away, ducking their head, charging and hissing. They are all bluff and stop well short.

The geese gobble the seed, and Foxy Dog thinks maybe it might be fun to run down amongst them, but fortunately is on her lead.

We walk on under trees with flower beds of roses alongside and if the water is clear may see a platypus motoring along with just nostrils and eyes above water. You can then see it dive and go into the riverbank whilst still under water.

Assorted ducks and pigeons look aggrieved at being driven away by the geese, so they get their own share a little further along.

In a house walls seem to have memories, so they can be a reminder to anything , pleasant and unpleasant.  To be away from it all puts one in a different world -respite if you like.

Exercise too is good, my exercise bike is dead boring, walking along the river bank is quite the opposite

Croix

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Friend and Croix,

I just wanted to share how hilarious I find the Native Hens. The way they run cracks me up every time. I'm familiar with both the Tasmanian Native Hens from when I visited Tassie and the Purple Swamp Hens (I think possibly called Western Swamp Hens now from what I just read). If you want to see something else hilarious, I can suggest looking up the Takahe from New Zealand. They are similar but more stout and rotund. They look like a football on legs 😂 I'd quite like to cuddle one but I don't know what the Takahe would think about that 🤔 Someone else started a thread about plush toys and that's sparked a thought that maybe I need a Takahe plushie to cuddle.

I really agree with what you say Croix, that the inside of a house sort of has memories and associations, and somehow getting outside and into the world is really good for creating new pathways in the brain and really refreshing oneself. It's a reminder that there is so much more than our internal mental world and that the external world can be beautiful, fascinating and at times hilarious.

Take care,

ER