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......

Doolhof · ‎16-01-2017

Hi Matt,

The Mental Health journey can certainly be a difficult one to travel at times. There have been many times when my path to recovery has hit road blocks. Occasionally I find I need to sit and rest a while before I can climb over the obstacle or find a way around.

You certainly do not need to be at all concerned about your faults here. We all have them! I have enjoyed reading your comments in other threads. It is lovely to have your encouragement and contributions here.

This morning I went for a walk in a different direction. I wandered, well stumbled actually along a track that is rarely used by vehicles. The recent rains have washed away a lot of soil so stones are protruding.

I forgot to use my new puffer before I left home, so had a few stops along the way to catch my breathe. That gave me opportunities to look around me and enjoy the scenery. I crunched up a few gum leaves along the way for temporary breathing relief as well. I will do a bit of research into eucalypts I think.

Wishing you all determination and inspiration to do exercise of some kind.

Cheers all from Mrs. Dools

Guest_1055 · ‎17-01-2017

Evening everyone,

Mrs D, I noticed you mentioned that the leaves from eucalyptus tree were helping you breathe. The leaves have oil in them don't they? And some cough/cold lollies have eucalyptus in them too, so maybe that helps clear noses etc. You have me curious now, so I most likely will research it too.

Thanks for reassuring me in regards to the "funny" and "Good on You" for walking up the hills again. Oh you walked a different direction as well? "Double Good on you!". It sounds like some sort of goats track and a bit adventurous.

Matt, no apologies needed, you are free.

You are sure very industrious Elizabeth, heaps of muscles working away in you body there doing all that sanding and stuff. Did you use an electric sander? Is that why you arms feel like jelly? Love the sound of the walk on the beach you had with your daughter too.

I haven't been feeling that good over the last couple of days. But not to worry I will be soon, I am thinking. Anyway I worked out at the gym on a couple of those days. Yesterday evening I visited my sister whilst walking around the water reservoir near her place. It was quite warm still even at 5:30 pm. We chatted so much that I hardly noticed the surroundings at all. Though I did notice a couple of other walkers as they passed us going in the opposite direction.

Shell xx

Elizabeth CP · ‎17-01-2017

Hi Dools, Good on you for walking. Just remember your puffer in future!!!! I always have a bottle of eucalyptus oil on hand. It is a good disinfectant so I will wipe over surfaces in our bedroom if we have a cold to kill any germs & the smell helps open the sinus. I also put it on my hanky when my nose is blocked as sniffing it really helps. They also recommend it in wool wash. Unsure why. It is sold overseas as it is well known as beneficial. just don't eat or drink (unless you are a close relation to Blinky Bill)

Shell Glad you are still exercising. Hope you feel better soon. Your walk with your sister sounds nice. It is lovely when we are so engaged with chatting with friend or relative that we block out everything else. Gives our over active minds a rest!!! I did use an electric sander. I am now in the middle of painting. Unfortunately it is hot and I have bitten off too much. I'm trying to do it while my husband is away but I have an appointment tomorrow & then visiting a friend for 2 days so I haven't left much time. I thought visiting my friend would give me an incentive to work effectively & give me a needed break but it has just put more pressure on me. One of my goals is to get a better balance of relaxing & being productive but I'm not succeeding in this.

Doolhof · ‎17-01-2017

Hi Shelley, Elizabeth, Matt and all,

This morning I was planning a different walk the other side of the highway, as it was almost 30 degrees at 7.00 a.m. I decided against that. I am going to drag out my peddling device out later, aim for 1/2 an hour peddling while checking out an exercise book with examples of things I can do here at home.

A bit of humour goes a long way Shelley doesn't it!

Eucalyptus is very good for clearing the airways and all kinds of things. I will do a bit more research myself.

You may have laughed at me yesterday if you had seen me. I had on a daggy purple shade hat, a bright orange top, was huffing and puffing up the hill trying not to swallow more flies and had a twig of crushed gum leaves shoved down the front of my t-shirt to help me breath! Ha. Ha.

A farmer driving an air conditioned tractor smiled at me and waved as he drove past. I might have made his day!

Happy exercising everyone! Cheers. From Dools

Elizabeth CP · ‎17-01-2017

Hi Dools, The tractor driver (apart from being a nice friendly person) was probably thinking Ät last someone dressed appropriately for the heat. A good shady hat & a bright orange tee shirt (I'm imagining a nice baggy one so it is as cool as possible rather than the tight lycra ones worn by fashionable young ones to exercise) The orange chosen for safety as you are easy to see. If the tractor driver doesn't think that I do. As for using your pedal thing indoors. There is no point in risking heatstroke to exercise. Ending up in hospital defeats the purpose of this walking/exercise group!!!! I managed a short walk in the evening. I was too tired to do more. I found the heat radiating from the path (it had been very hot) triggered some anxiety as did the bright orange clouds. (it was sunset) Normally I enjoy sunset but the colour reminded me of fire. I was glad to get home.

Elizabeth CP · ‎17-01-2017

Today I was painting most of the day & it was too hot to walk. I went to the lake & had a short swim after painting. I was too tired to swim much so I mainly relaxed in the water which was nice & cool. I had a fright when I returned to my car as my car was missing. I was starting to worry as I had locked my phone in the car so couldn't ring for help. I then realised that there were 2 sets of steps to the car park & I had come up a different one so I found my car thank goodness.

Guest_1055 · ‎18-01-2017

Hi Mrs D, Elizabeth, Matt and anyone else reading.

Well today I felt like my body just needed to be nice and calm like. So I chose not to do any vigorous exercise at all. I went on out to the ocean baths again, about 9pm. Anyway it was so breezy out there and so refreshing after the hot day. I walked into the water slowly as it was actually quite cold. I swam breast stroke as best as I knew how 2 short lengths. And just calmly floated on my back enjoying that float feeling. I can do it for a long time. Just float nice and calm like..... I looked up into the night sky but saw no stars or moon.

Conclusion: yeah I think you do need to sometimes just relax and do something that feels calming.

Shell xx

1113 · ‎20-01-2017

Peaceful hello all,

My walking has been helping me a lot.

It really helps clear out my unwanted thoughts.

I listen to music or Buddhist chanting and clear my mind. I try to have no thoughts except walking. This is hard to achieve. But I keep pushing unwanted thoughts away.

Since my last visit in here I have walk around 50k, nice and easy light walking with no stress. Drink plenty of water and eat fruit afterwards. I like bananas and hand full of unsalted cashews. Then i read or relax or clean a bit. Nice to have routine again.

I feel my cognitive processes clearing and have some really great moments. Still having a few bad ones too. But it is improving.

Shelley belle,

I fully agree with you about relaxing. My son and I lay in the pool and look for shapes in the clouds. Its calming and he really enjoys that.

Elizabeth CP,

The weather has been really hot. Ive left some swims till later when the sun is almost down. Walking early in the morning around 7am and before lunch to cope with the heat. You seem quite an industrious trooper. Awasome.

Mrs dools,

Mental health journey is really difficult. I chose to motivate myself rather than sit on the coach dreading the situation. Taking your mind off the pain anyway you can is better than wallowing in self pitty. It does come with much practice and experience. Still hard every time even with all the info you have at hand. Sometimes you forget what day it is, so remembering to keep moving is a skill many could benfit from.

Thanks so much peeps.

Keep up the motivation and support for each other😊

I will pop back in again soon

Peace

Matt

Ps about to go walking again. Its much cooler today and its not raining atm.

Guest_1055 · ‎20-01-2017

Hello,

Your orange top and purple hat sound nice and bright Mrs D. And yeah humour can lighten things up a bit, but I have to be honest I just don't seem to see much of it at the moment. But I do remember that it does. My brain is tired so I hope that is coming across clear. Good on you for walking anyway. I hope you are doing okay too.

Sorry you got a fright when you thought you lost your car Elizabeth, you poor thing. A swim in the lake sounds just heavenly, so nice after this real summer weather. You were thinking of doing dancing weren't you? Have you started it yet?

Wow that is a lot of kilometers walking Matt, 50. I am unsure what to say about that, so yeah.... Looking up the clouds can be relaxing too, just laying back and watching them drift.

Well tonight I walked around the block, well up and down our street. It is quite a lengthy street. I walked back and forth a couple of times. It was really refreshing with the coolish breeze. It also was very quiet. I noticed a beautiful white cat just sitting there in the middle of the road.

Elizabeth CP · ‎21-01-2017

Shell I really liked your conclusion re your relaxing swim/float. I think you do need to sometimes just relax and do something that feels calming. I think all of us need to remember that.

I have been very busy so unable to do anything re dancing but it is on my to do list. I pushed myself to get the painting done while my husband was away. I had a procedure on Wednesday afternoon & then went to my friends in Phillip Island. Thursday we did a couple of nice walks on the beach. My chest felt funny while walking which is not normal. I'm hoping it was just anxiety due to overdoing things& the hospital procedure. Friday I picked up my husband & went for a short walk on the beach near where he'd been staying. It was rainy & windy & my husband was tired so we didn't do much before driving home. Today we met some people & went to Herring Island on a punt. It is in the middle of the Yarra. I never knew you could get there before. We walked around the island & the my husband & I walked along the Yarra into the city via the botanical gardens. There was a section called Guildfords Volcano. You followed a path up the slope & at the top in the 'crater was a reservoir with floating islands of water plants. I tried to describe what I was seeing as we walked along the paths & when appropriate helped him touch plants so he could feel what they were like. There were lots of different succulents as well as some interesting trees. There were so many textures , cours & shapes & the plants were laid out so they really stood out against each other as well as the gravel & other rocks used as mulch. From the top you could look out across the gardens to the city. It was a lovely place to visit.