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......

[Mum52]

Hi Shell

i love the way you describe your walks . I had to laugh when you said you were tempted to swing on the swings. It reminded me of my sister and I last year when we were out walking and there was a playground with no one in it so we decided to have a swing. It was wonderful. It would have been a sight to see to older ladies in their seventies having a swing but it was fun. I say go for it if you want to. Keep enjoying your walks and the beautiful nature

Mum 52

[Shell4]

 I went walking on the breakwall. I am thankful I did.

However I almost didn't as I was not feeling motivated at all and sat in the car a little while. I think what happens with me in these situations is that emotions mostly sad ones become so very overwhelming, it is like I am engulfed in them. And it is challenging to see much else. 

 But I do like walking especially out there in the fresh open sea air. So I did. I don't remember a whole lot, but I am thankful I walked and got some physical exercise and fresh air. And I felt the healing warmth of the sunshine on my skin. 

[Shell4]

Hello mum52

I am glad you had fun and even sharing the fun with your sister on the swings.

You have inspired me now , maybe I could walk down to the rec area today and go on the swings down there.

Have a nice day today

[Shell4]

Just arrived back home from a walk down at the rec. It was about a 45 minute walk. I was hoping to go on the swing down there. But I forgot they had changed all the playground stuff. There is no longer a swing there. But I am thankful I walked down there anyway.

I am feeling tired today so I mainly walked slow around the perimeter of one of the large ovals, along the gravel road and up onto the wharf that hangs over the pond. There was a man fishing there.

I heard birds in the trees and saw large white one resting on branches. These branches are in other trees on the small island in part of the pond.

When I was walking on the gravel road I look to the right of me. At the hobby farm that borders this gravel road. It has been a while since I walked down here before there use to be chickens roaming around and pecking in the grass. I didn't see any but one rooster up the back. Then I saw a large tree that looked like a mulberry one. And it was hanging over the wire fence. I absolutely love the taste of mulberries. There were tons of them, all green. 

[Shell4]

Didn't really go for a walk yesterday. Today I have, just finished and now listening to the rain falling on top of my car. I walked out on the breakwall plus more along the coast here. About 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

I had a lot of energy at the start because I drank an iced mocha. This was about 6am. Walking along the breakwall was lovely, I really did enjoy the fresh air, looking at the water which happened to be clear near the edge. I saw 3 rowing boats go on out of the port. The people in them were rowing quicker then I was walking. Once at the end there were a few people hovering around. I looked to see near them , down in the water and on the rocks. I saw 1 seal swimming in the water and every now and then it's flipper or tail poked up out of the water. Then I saw another seal basking on a flat rock, he was quite big I thought. He was looking all around. I watched for a while, it was so very black. And so very cute. I started to head back, then I saw another seal pretty much the same size as the other one. He was on the next rock, this one was hidden from my view behind a large rock closer to me. Then when I started to head back I saw it. They were just so cute. 

I was hoping to see the sunrise but it was overcast. I arrived here about first light and when all the runners mostly are here.

I walked on past the breakwall around the coast. I forgot to say when I started to his walk.....birds, there were many bird noises of all kinds I think they were almost waking up. 

I saw a few dogs out walking too. There was a small terrier which I happened to keep staring at. I was watching closely how it was walking. It was like prancing along. Thought the prancing was due to the fact it is wearing like striped leggings on its 2 front legs, this was attached to like a jumper. It's bottom and back legs were free of clothing. It was cute.

I walked past the beach kiosk. I walked past the ocean baths which are actually closed for cleaning on a Wednesday. Then I kept following the path were the next beach was on my left. There is another kiosk/cafe here. Normally there are people sitting on the long steps drinking coffee, but there were only a couple of people today. I kept walking on past the skate park, nope no one there. Too many puddles of water. I kept walking a little more and then leaned over the rail to see the clear water and the waves gently splashing over rocks. I did some stretching at this spot and then heading back.

[Shell4]

Didn't really walk the last couple of days. But walked up to the supermarket this morning. Walked up there to get greek yoghurt and chia seeds.it is about a 20 minute walk there and a 20 minute walk back.

[Shell4]

I did a bit of walking today. Walking around with my little nephew baby. At 13 months he walks wobbly ...so cute. We walked very slowly to explore a large garden. We walked up to a large orange, he popped down right in the garden and played with one of those garden hoses that stay there drip hoses I think. It was beautiful and shady under the orange tree. We didn't stay there long. Up we got to go down some brick steps further along. We held hands and carefully manoverd each and every step down. With presicion. I needed to clear a cob web away. All good. We walked to a little clothes line with a small terracotta pot with coloured pegs in it. We sat on the stepping stones and played with the pegs for quite a while. Next we slowly walked towards the flat. A blue tongue lizard was just sun baking near the garden there just off the path. We looked at it. It moved a little, Nephew baby wasn't quite sure what to think so it seemed. He came close to me for reassurance, a cuddle maybe. So I said in soft tones " you are ok" and held him for a tiny bit. We walked on the path. Before I picked a white blossom flower from the orange tree. And showed him how to smell it. It actually smelt really nice. But he opened his mouth to eat it. 

About an hour later I pushed him in his pram to the water reservoir and we walked around on the track. I think he was supposed to take a nap. But instead he was talking his baby talk a lot of the walk. I managed to make the pram flat. The laying down bit, there is a flap at the back and if you lift it up it not only gives ventilation but you can play peek a boo through it. And we did and he giggled. I think being with a baby is actually good for my mental health. He simply enjoys the simple things even playing with a broom. 

On the this track around the water reservoir and actually it goes in amongst trees and bush too. I saw more birds. And later some kangaroos

[Shell4]

Today. Is Saturday.  I got up earlier to come out to walk out here on the breakwall. What I noticed this morning that my senses seemed more heightened. Bird noise seemed more vivid, hearing the noise of people's shoes as they meet the concrete path, especially all the runners of which there are many at this time of the morning. I am currently sitting in the car after walking for about an hour out here. I am facing the port and the water looks like a deep vivid blue in contrast to the deep greens of the grass and leaves on the trees. It maybe from the mocha I had earlier on...the caffeine in that. Anyway it is beautiful. 

Earlier on too I watched two dogs on this grassy bit in front of me. One was a larger breed the other looked like a sausage dog. I thought these two looked like buddys for sure. When the bigger bolted off, the little one bolted off too right behind him, his little legs were going fast . When the bigger one stopped to investigate whatever it noticed the littler one did to even sniffing the same place. And has they were running around they looked so excited. 

There are many dogs out here today. I noticed a big poodle cross something mostly all cropped but his ears still a massive fluff of curls and parts of his legs had curly poms poms on them. And it was walking elegantly with its human. Another dog was walking back from the breakwall with a stick poking out both sides of its mouth like he has found some kind of treasure or prize. Way cute.

I did enjoy this walk. 

[Shell4]

On Monday I will be starting a challenge of doing 10 different exercises for that week. Not sure how I will go. It is just I have almost completed a challenge for eating 30 different plant foods per week. And this is my second week. It was to improve gut health which improves mental health it is somehow connected. I can honestly say I have felt a shift an improvement. So I wanted to see if I could do an exercise challenge too. 

I have thought of the following so far:

1. Walking
2. Jumping/ bouncing on this mini tramp
3. Using this exercise bike that mum gave to my son ( who hasn't used it yet)
4. Swimming in the ocean baths ( little bit self conscious about this) 
5. Facial exercises ( this sounds a bit different to me)
6. Chair yoga with mum when I go up to visit with her
7. Some kind of lifting of weights ( good for my bones)
8. Square dancing ( found a place that does this local to me, does sound fun)
9. Go to the gym and walk on the treadmill while listening to music
10. Wash the car by hand 

This does sound like a long list?? I wrote it just to get me thinking, I may or may not do something on it or may think of something else. 

It is just the plant food challenge is working for me. I went into an organic cafe where they sell usually 4 different salads. I chose to have a small portion of each. And there were so many plant foods in each one. I felt so encouraged by this.

So this exercise one my aim is to keep it simple I only need to spend a little time on each one. Or a lot if I like it . I does not matter how long I do it for. 

[Shell4]

Today is the first day of trying a different exercise each day of this week. 

I chose going on this exercise bike out front.. I pedalled away for about 4 songs. So maybe 12 minutes. This bike has like 2 resistance pull out things that I can work the shoulder and arm muscles I think. I had a bit of a go at pulling those. It has a knob that I turned to have resistance in pedalling too. Turn one way it is easier to pedal . Really not completely sure how to use this bike yet. But I will. 

I am thankful I had a go on it today. And I will read the manual and watch any ytube videos about it if I find some. I did take my pulse it ranged from 71 to 81 .