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......

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell,

You certainly have been busy in the garage! When I am doing dusty work, I now wear one of the masks I have floating around the house. I need them in the garden as well as the spoil is so dry and flies around everywhere.

I'm going for a walk this afternoon with my sister. Not sure how far I will get. I have a painful bull ant bite on one ankle, it is very red and swollen. It seems I have damaged the other ankle, not sure if I have twisted it, feels more like ligament damage again. Painful but still operational!

This morning I have been doing a lot of weeding and trying not to think too much!

Cheers to you and all reading.

[Guest_1055]

Hello Mrs D,

Yeah there was definitely a lot going on in that garage. I will likely do more work in there soon. It will be nice to see the windows sparkly and clean. I have not done those yet.

Poor thing with the bull ant bite. I have been biten by green ants a lot. And that stings. I am thinking bull ants may be worse. Are they at your place then? And did you put ice on the bite area or anything?

Maybe you had a real nice visit with your sister anyway... despite perhaps you not able to walk too far. ( is that proper grammar , hope you get my meaning anyway)

And yeah I am practicing not to overthink so very much as well. It seems to muddle me up or issues just seem to grow in my mind.

Did you find it helpful not to think for a while. Weeding can be relaxing.

[Elizabeth CP]

Hi Shell &Dools and anyone else reading. I cleaned and sorted my garage and shed a couple of months ago. Really satisfying when done. Much easier to find things and looks and feels so much better. But the process is really hard work physically and mentally. Trying to work out where to put things whilevsorting out us really stressful. So well done Shell. I hope your ankles are better Dools. Bull ant bites are painful!!! Today I walked with a friend. We went up a really steep rough track. A few times I nearly slipped on the steep slope. At the top we stopped to rest and enjoy the view over the valley. We then walked back past a friends old house and then our old house. It was interesting to see the changes made since we lived there. We walked back past my son's house which is having extensive renovations so I could see the new slab and other changes. (They're renting while the house is uninhabitable.) We walked back uphill along a ridge and finally back home. I was exhausted when I got home and had to rest too tired to do anything else.

[Guest_1055]

Tonight I walked out on Breakwall Path again. It was mostly peaceful out there.

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell, Elizabeth and all reading,

Enjoyed reading about your walk Elizabeth, and can picture in my mind what the Breakwall Path is like from your previous descriptions Shell.

My sister was a bit bushed from a tough week so we decided to wander around a beautiful garden that is open to the public. They had a lot of roses and varieties of Geraniums we had never seen before. There were parts of the garden full of weeds, which made me feel more relaxed about our place! Ha.Ha.

Sections of the garden are used for weddings. There were tall trees, green lawns and beautiful roses in this section. We took lots of photos on our phones, sat under trees on benches and just had a very relaxing time.

We had packed a picnic tea, so my sister drove me to a nearby lookout where we piled all the food on the dashboard and had a buffet! It had become cold and windy so we could enjoy the view from inside the car.

It was a wonderful way to spend Friday.

My ant bite ankle is very swollen, both itchy and sore and has a raised red welt about the size of a 50 cent piece. I am aware now where those ants live in the garden so will try to avoid them!

Cheers all from Dools

[Guest_1055]

Hi dear Elizabeth.. Thankyou for sharing about your walk with your friend. I like to look at the previous houses I use to live in as well.

I found cleaning out our garage... yes it was physically challenging. But I found it some what mentally and emotionally calming. I was so focused on that particular task that my thoughts forgot about troubling issues for a good while. I had no time pressure, no other pressing responsibilities awaiting me. So yeah just nice and calming

[Guest_1055]

Hi dear Mrs D,

You are sounding a little less stressed maybe??

Your walk around the garden with your sister sounds beautiful and calming. Roses are so pretty and some with such heavenly scents. You would like my sisters garden I think. She has lots of roses. And is also a garden that people get married in.

I could easily imagine a picnic in a car with food out on the dashboard. What were you looking out to? Like bush below or a clear valley?

[Guest_1055]

Hi

Today I came across a exercise bike for sale on Facebook Marketplace. It was $20. So I bought it. This one has handlebars that move backwards and forwards.

It is now in the now cleaned out garage. Facing the front, so when the garage door is open... well I can see the green trees that lined the driveway, the wine barrel with flowers in it and feel the air coming in (if it happens to be breezy)

I already had a go on it, for about 20mins or so. I feel good after it. As it got my heart rate up.. so good for a cardio workout. I could listen and sing to music while pedalling away. I so much got into the music that once I finished on the bike, I ended up dancing. All that helped me so much as I was feeling discouraged, lonely and a bit fearful. I can still hear the some of the words to one of the songs in my head as I write this post.

In Christ alone, my hope is found...

This version was sung by some guys from Scotland. I really like there accents. I believe I will learn this song word for word.

[Mk2692]

I love walking and it's something i do at least 3 times a week. I enjoy walking at parks that are far away from cars or at hiking trails. I think walking makes me grounded. I love the fresh air and listening to the sound of birds, watching the different colours of trees and flowers, it makes me feel centred and happy.

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell and All,

The garden really was lovely to wander around in. There is a motel there as well as a winery, so quite a large complex. It would be delightful to stay there and wake up to the garden.

Your sister's place sounds wonderful too. I wish I had the energy and also the money for the upkeep of our garden.

We had asked our farmer friends for some sheep again this year, but that has not happened. In about 3 weeks the back block has turned into wild grasses about 1 metre high. The ride on is not able to tackle that, it had needed repairs and now we will have to pay to get it slashed. Money we don't have. I'm trying not to be overwhelmed...it isn't working too well.

The look out was half way up some hills, so huge hills either side blocked the side views, we had a view in front of the valley below, sheep were grazing on the hills and we saw a few kangaroos as well. The birds were coming in to roost in the gum trees.

I may drive to the beach today for a walk.

The exercise bike sounds good. Where and how do you source your Christion music? I have a couple of CDs from about the 1990's!

Cheers from Dools