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

Richju · ‎26-10-2023

Hi Shell, yes I do like to use my senses when I'm walking. There are hills in the distance from my house. Sometimes they are shrouded with clouds, reminding me of Chinese brush art paintings.

I'm in bed at the moment but I can hear the welcome rain, which will be good for my vege patch. Among other things, I'm growing lots of zucchinis. If you slice them rub them with oil, roll them in Parmesan and bake them for 12 mins. They are delicious.

Ain't life good!!!!

Richju XXxxxxXX

Guest_1055 · ‎31-10-2023

Hills are so, whats the word? They give a feeling of space and fastness anyway to me. And rain can sound so nice sometimes outside. Yum zucchinis are delicious also made into spiralized zoodles just fun to eat raw in salads.

Doolhof · ‎08-11-2023

Yesterday I took turn onto a dirt road, found a safe place to park and walked for half an hour before turning around and returning to my car.

It was semi arid country with low salt bush in places, some mallee trees along the side of the road and a few smaller gum trees dotted in some paddocks. The crops were a low height and there were lots of stones on one paddock. A hard land to make a living.

I saw a few kangaroos hopping across the paddocks, including huge bucks. There were wombat burrows, some looked very active and wombat tracks through the habitat leading into paddocks. I saw some wombat footprints in a patch of sandy soil. The sound of bird life was limited to a magpie and a couple of crows.

It was a cool and refreshing morning, a lovely time of day to go for a walk somewhere different.

Paw Prints · ‎10-11-2023

Hello Dools,

As usual I love reading about your walks, you are so good at painting a picture with words. I am envious you saw signs of wombats in your area, unfortunately in my part of Victoria wombats are no longer with us due to the early settlers getting rid of them. I would love to see one in the wild, I remember being so pleased many years ago just to spot a wombat burrow once on a holiday to the Victorian alps.

Paws

Doolhof · ‎10-11-2023

Hello Paws and to everyone reading,

Paws, I have seen a few wombat barrows in our region. One while out walking a remote trail with my sister we did see a wombat scurry into their burrow as it was almost twilight. I was thrilled to see the wombat prints along the dirt road, there were about 12 prints in a very sandy section. I am sure some farmers are not really too pleased to have wombats on their land.

This morning I had a walk along a road near us. I was happy to see a small family of kangaroos in the canola crop that has been cut ready for harvesting. A few galahs were perching on the canola, they did look funny, such large birds trying to keep their balance on the canola.

Further along there was an intense buzzing of bees as they all gathered on the blossom of an olive tree, the bees were so active and the sound quite loud. I saw a few crows flying about and magpies warbling from the tree tops. A couple of hares were hoping about in the vineyard along with a few kangaroos.

It is going to be almost 40 degrees here today. It would be lovely to find a peaceful place in the shade down at the river where I could slip into the water and cool down. Or a trip to the beach at sunset would be nice too.

Hope you are all doing okay, regards from Dools

Doolhof · ‎17-11-2023

Hi All,

Yesterday I had a walk in a national park, the sky was a beautiful blue with white fluffy clouds, the breeze was crisp and I was thankful for the light jacket I had on. Within the park there were still regions of green grass, my home region is dry and dusty. It felt so peaceful walking amongst all the shades of green, so calming for my mind.

Surprisingly there was little bird song as I wandered along the trail. I did see a few kangaroos including a couple of large bucks. I caught a fleeting glimpse of a blue wren fluttering about in the bushes. There were a few flowering shrubs and some wild flowers dotted here and there.

I met a few other people in the park as well, some were tourists, so I was able to tell them of other trails and to share with them a few comments about the beauty of the park.

Later on I enjoyed a picnic lunch at a lookout, looking over a valley close to where I live, seeing all the different colours in the farmland before me.

Guest_1055 · ‎24-11-2023

Hello,

I haven't written for a while in this thread. It has been challenging at times to comprehend what you have all written. My brain is foggy. So much emotion turmoil, confusion within me has been happening.

I have been out walking but not every day. It is more challenging to choose it with all this emotional stuff going on. I know it is a part of self care to get out there especially in the fresh air and move and walk. And I know logically it can help me feel better. Help me cope with the things going on in my life. But it seems my small world is tumbling all around me. It it's hard to get out of the emotion of it all. Though some days are lived in a dream state with not much emotion at all.

I am planning on walking today. Hopefully soon . Outside. The other evening we saw a tiny black snake moving about on the footpath.

Guest_1055 · ‎24-11-2023

Just walked in the house. I walked around the block for 36mins. Felt like I was in a daze though I did notice the cool breeze a few times. And I am noticing the muggy humid feeling of summer especially on my skin.

I heard the tap... clong...tap..clong of the umbrella hitting the road somewhere in the distance of my mind. The person I was walking with was doing this.

Eagle Ray · ‎25-11-2023

Hello Shell, Dools, Paws, Richju and All,

I enjoyed reading about wombats. I have seen them in Tassie. They are such characters. The baby wombats are incredibly cute!

It is nice to read about your walks. I understand the dream state Shell and I think it's where we sometimes go when overwhelmed as a way of coping. I find it helpful to know it is how my body protects me when overwhelmed. I'm glad you've been able to do some walks, and you too Dools.

I've only just started walking again as I was really frozen for quite a while and couldn't actually leave bed some days. But little by little I've been able to do a bit more and I've been on some walks in the last few days. Yesterday I walked out where the airstrip is. It was super windy out there which was nice actually as it had been a bit hot and also the wind reduces the amount of flies. Cockatoos and parrots flew over as I was walking. It was initially cloudy and then the sun emerged for about the last 10 minutes, casting a golden light across the landscape before it went down.

Doolhof · ‎29-11-2023

Hi Shell, Eagle Ray and All,

Some days it is difficult to get out walking. I was speaking to a person the other day who does not feel at all comfortable walking pout in public so walks in their home or small yard, I encouraged them to continue with their exercising.

We had a thunderstorm and plenty of rain yesterday, by the afternoon I was too tired and unmotivated to go for a walk even thought the weather had cleared. Hope to go out later this morning.

Recently I had a walk in a National Park where I saw kangaroos, a blue wren, some parrots and some yellow tailed black cockatoos which were a real treat to see.