|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
The Walking Thread - 9/11/2009 11:40:44 PM
|
|
|
JeSuis
Posts: 10
Joined: 9/11/2009
Status: offline
|
For those who might be in bad shape, there is always walking.
In my case for instance, I had a bad leg, and a bad back, and so something had to be done.
I had no intension of possibly having joint problems as well, and so running was out of the question since it places a heavy jolt on the joints.
At first, due to the circumstances, I could only walk 2 1/2 miles per week on my treadmill.
This was broken into four parts during the week. In other words, I could just barely walk.
3 years later, at the age of 52, I reached 32 miles per week as the usual schedule, thus change is possible.
Any other walkers out there?
|
|
|
|
|
The Walking Thread - 9/12/2009 9:38:01 AM
|
|
|
pink..
Posts: 10612
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: Indiana
Status: offline
|
It used to be my main source of transportation. Now, most places I need to go are 15-20 miles away and on roads that are too dangerous to walk on.
I'm trying now to get used to walking around the neighborhood, just to walk. It's harder than I thought. To me, it's kind of like driving just to take a drive. Almost seems like a waste. But I'm getting better.
Welcome to the forums!
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/12/2009 7:20:40 PM
|
|
|
JeSuis
Posts: 10
Joined: 9/11/2009
Status: offline
|
In my neighborhood I used to see several middle aged folk, but mostly elderly, going for a daily walk in their summer shorts of course. Their legs looked in better shape than many of today's folks that are in their 20's.
That was what helped me to get with the walking program.
TIP OF THE DAY - If you have your own treadmill, use soft rubber soled running shoes. That way it's mostly your shoes that wear out, rather than the surface of the treadmill belt wearing out.
< Message edited by JeSuis -- 9/12/2009 7:28:07 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
The Walking Thread - 9/13/2009 12:48:09 AM
|
|
|
pink..
Posts: 10612
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: Indiana
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: JeSuis
TIP OF THE DAY - If you have your own treadmill, use soft rubber soled running shoes. That way it's mostly your shoes that wear out, rather than the surface of the treadmill belt wearing out.
Interesting. Thanks for the tip.
I don't have a treadmill.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/14/2009 12:24:35 PM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
There have been 2 or 3 walking threads the past couple of years. They just seem to fizzle out after just a few posts. But I agree, walking is an excellent way to improve your health without having to spend a great deal of money and without risking a lot of new health issues.
I was 47 when I began walking for exercise. Over the course of 12 months, I shed 50 pounds (25% of my body weight) and felt better than I had since my early 20s. January of this marked my 10th anniversary and I routinely walk at 4.5 MPH.
|
|
|
|
|
The Walking Thread - 9/14/2009 2:23:01 PM
|
|
|
pink..
Posts: 10612
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: Indiana
Status: offline
|
That's great Euty!
That's some pretty fast walking, isn't it?
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/14/2009 2:32:05 PM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
I've always been a fast walker, but learning the basics of Race Walking helped me improve my speed. It also helped eliminate minor back problems over distances of 4-5 miles and prevent hand swelling from swinging my arms with elbows extended.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/14/2009 3:12:06 PM
|
|
|
FallenOaks
Posts: 22
Joined: 8/21/2009
From: MS Gulf Coast
Status: offline
|
I've just started walking. It's slow going but I want to take it slow and build up. Because of time schedule, I have started out walking 15 minutes in the morning (4:30 am). I'm a morning person so this is no problem for me. My intentions is to increase the time in 10 minute intervals. Currently I'm only at a consistent pace of 3.0 mph. I also am in need of exercising due to the middle age/hormonal stage that has hit me hard. Has walking helped considerably with perimenopause or menopause for any of you? Any other suggestions for those going thru the change of life out there? Please tell me your secrets for maintaining a normal healthy life thru this time.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/14/2009 4:56:03 PM
|
|
|
FallenOaks
Posts: 22
Joined: 8/21/2009
From: MS Gulf Coast
Status: offline
|
I am really excited about this group. I am in need of christian friends as much as anyone else. I am pretty much confined to my work which is a cubicle setting. I go for days without having anyone to speak with so this form of communication is awesome. My days usually drag by so slow but since I've found this, my evening has flown by. I'm not neglecting my work at all. There are days when all I have to do is sit here waiting on the phone to ring which it rarely does if at all. I now have something to look forward to so I will be a regular. This is so great!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/14/2009 5:22:34 PM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
Being confined to a desk most of the day was also what led to my gaining those 50 extra pounds over the course of 16 years. Like you, I began slow and for about 15 minutes, gradually increasing speed and time.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 1:27:18 AM
|
|
|
tacitus
Posts: 2589
Joined: 5/12/2005
Status: offline
|
I will add my vote for walking. I've always hated running (it's tough on the knees too), so that's never really been an option for me, so I can testify that if you stick with it, it doesn't take that long before you feel in much better shape.
One way I have found where you can measure your progress is to include a hill in your regular walking route. It doesn't have to be a steep hill, but should one where you either arrive at the top out of breath, or perhaps where you need a breather half-way up. If you do the walk daily, or two or three times a week at least, then you will find within two or three weeks that you will be making it to the top of the hill in much better shape -- and eventually you will hardly even notice it any more. It's a very rewarding feeling when it happens!
(I should caution that if you are badly out of shape or have an underlying condition, then don't push it too hard -- even walking -- and perhaps consult your doctor first.)
Also, golf is a great way to get walking too. I know I've really had a good walk by the time I've played 18 holes. But if that's too much, there are could be a 9-hole course nearby that you can complete in a couple of hours, or even a "pitch and putt" (a par-3 course) if you're not up to a full half-round. And it doesn't matter if you're just a hacker starting out, except that you get even more exercise walking all over the course after your ball! Find a friend or two to play with -- you won't even notice your having exercise!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 10:37:16 AM
|
|
|
FallenOaks
Posts: 22
Joined: 8/21/2009
From: MS Gulf Coast
Status: offline
|
Good advise - thanks. I also feel that I can say that I have accountability partnters! Perhaps this will inspire me to continue daily getting healthier. I am so thankful for my job don't get me wrong. My new struggle is getting home and walking on the treadmill. I am such a morning person so I don't hesitate but after an hour drive home, I just want to sit and not even operate a remote. However, I'm determined to also walk some in the evening when I get home. The only problem is that if I exercise in the evening, it energizes me to the point where I can't fall asleep and since I get up so early, I need at least 7 hours of sleep. It may sound like an excuse but it is so true. It's all about balance I guess. Please say a prayer for me to continue taking small steps until I have maintained that balance. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to gain this balance?
|
|
|
|
|
The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 11:33:19 AM
|
|
|
pink..
Posts: 10612
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: Indiana
Status: offline
|
If you're a morning person, would it help to walk in the mornings? I'm a night owl myself.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 3:21:22 PM
|
|
|
FallenOaks
Posts: 22
Joined: 8/21/2009
From: MS Gulf Coast
Status: offline
|
Defintely a morning person. I've been getting up at 4:15 - 4:30 to walk on the treadmill which I did a few years back. It just seems now that I'm older (turning 50) I don't walk as fast as I use to. It's that age thing, slowing me down. I honestly believe with the grief that I've experienced over the past year, and the long commute, I'm exhausted. My youngest daughter and fiance decided on a destination wedding back in June (Key West) so we could all just get a way. After coming back from there I developed shingles. I had heard of shingles before but mostly associated with the elderly. Since then, I haven't had the energy that I had before going to FL. I know with shingles your immune system can be weakened so I am definitely on a Vitamin C regimen. I just want energy!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 3:28:59 PM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
I had shingles at age 15.
Then I had them again at age 55 or 56.
There are probably several things that can trigger shingles, but stress is certainly one of them and it's what triggered my second case. They didn't affect my energy, that sounds more like the effects of stress too.
The only good this about having shingles a second time is that they were WAY less painful than my first case.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 3:58:00 PM
|
|
|
FallenOaks
Posts: 22
Joined: 8/21/2009
From: MS Gulf Coast
Status: offline
|
I didn't know what going on. I actually was concerned that we had picked up some type of bed bug in FL. I had only heard of shingles in the waist area. This ran from the top of my head to behind my left ear and then almost to my chin area. Apparently what I had wasn't as severe as others have described but it was painful and getting out in the heat only worsened it. Thankfully it was short lived in comparison to others. Yes, stress was part of it. I am trying to keep things under control as much as possible and not let things get to me. I honestly thought I was doing a good job but with the accumulation, it caught up with me. My Dr. told me that usually the 1st case is the worse. My goodness, age 15 - too young. I guess I should not be surprised if I come down with it again.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/15/2009 9:42:47 PM
|
|
|
Walker311
Posts: 824
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
Walking is moving and moving is the secret to good health. The faster and further you walk the better but the bottom line is walking does the body and mind good.
I sometimes see folks walking with cell phones stuck to their ear and I tend to want to judge them but they are moving rather than being sedentary.
I am 50 and decided last year to make a commitment to get in the best shape that I could. I have walked, ran, and ridden more miles in one year than I have my whole life. It has not been easy. I felt like I weighed 300 lbs. during my bike ride yesterday. There are many days I do not want to exercise but I always feel better after I do.
I actually believe that exercise has become such a great part of my life now, it will continue to be so until I die. The benefits have been extraordinary.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/16/2009 2:12:10 AM
|
|
|
JeSuis
Posts: 10
Joined: 9/11/2009
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Eutychus
There have been 2 or 3 walking threads the past couple of years. They just seem to fizzle out after just a few posts. But I agree, walking is an excellent way to improve your health without having to spend a great deal of money and without risking a lot of new health issues.
I was 47 when I began walking for exercise. Over the course of 12 months, I shed 50 pounds (25% of my body weight) and felt better than I had since my early 20s. January of this marked my 10th anniversary and I routinely walk at 4.5 MPH.
My typical walking speed is 4.3 MPH.
Going back several years, I was in a car accident that led to one of my back vertebrae being rotated and also displaced outward from proper alignment. Due to torn muscles, this vertebrae kept popping outward and thus had to constantly be pushed back to its proper position.
However, since walking even exercises and strengthens your back muscles, eventually the vertebrae stayed put.
I also had a patch of scleroderma on my left shin. This also caused the hair to fall out on this patch of skin. It had been like this for decades. But after 3 years of treadmill walking, the skin has returned to being close to normal and the hair is growing back.
This leg also used to swell up as well. But no longer does this occur either, thanks to the simple act of walking.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/16/2009 4:05:03 AM
|
|
|
lovelorn21
Posts: 21
Joined: 9/16/2009
Status: offline
|
Walking is also a good way of exercise... Even if you do it shortly but do it everyday then it would be an advantage to improve your health... I walk for better circulation of the blood and to help me on normal breathing pattern because I had once a respiratory illness...
_____________________________
inmanalignerguide.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 9/17/2009 10:24:49 PM
|
|
|
Crushmaster
Posts: 487
Joined: 7/21/2009
From: The South, In The Good Ol' U.S. of A.
Status: online
|
I try walking with my family around three times a week for two miles each time. It's really done a lot of good; I can walk two miles, at a good pace, without much trouble.
God bless,
Crushmaster.
_____________________________
http://www.areyouagoodperson.org
(2 Corinthians 5:17) - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Christ is Lord and King! To Him I give all glory and honor.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 10/5/2009 8:53:27 AM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
I had one of my best weeks last week. I walked 21 miles. A couple of days I walked 6.25 miles - 1 in the morning (treadmill), 1.25 at noon (treadmill), and 4 miles after work on an outdoor cross-country track.
I've learned that if I look for opportunities, like an early morning or noon walk, that I can increase the total mileage for a day. You don't have to put in 3-5 miles all at once to gain the benefit of the total for the day.
When the weather or other factors interfere with my routine, there are still other opportunities for exercise, like walking up and down a flight of stairs 5-10 times. Again, you can spread that out over the course of a day instead of doing it all at once. Over time, you'll be able to climb and ascend more times per day without extreme exhaustion.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 10/6/2009 9:53:39 AM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
I walked 6 miles yesterday:
1.25 miles on treadmill before work
1.25 miles on treadmill at lunch
3.50 miles on outdoor, cross-country track after work.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 10/12/2009 8:03:17 AM
|
|
|
teacher1982
Posts: 190
Joined: 10/11/2009
Status: offline
|
I have found that walking helps me lose and maintain my weight better than any other exercise. I have tried aerobics, exercise bike, treadmill, and working out while watching a video and they do not seem to give me the same benefits as simply getting outside and walking around the neighborhood. I am bottom heavy, so I think that I have to carry around the excess weight to lose it. Sitting on a stationery bicycle may exercise my leg muscles, but I'm sitting on the very thing I need to lose! :o)
I walk 45-50 minutes a day, rain or shine, hot or cold. I carry an umbrella if it's raining. The only time I do not walk is if we are having a thunder storm with lightning for the entire day, or ice/sleet that would make the sidewalks/streets too slippery. That hardly ever happens where I live. Even on a rainy day, it clears off at some point enough to enable me to walk.
If I miss a day (due to illness or appointments or such), I can really tell it. Not only physically, but emotionally. I think that is because of the sunshine and fresh air.
BTW, I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis, FMS and have been in a car accident that damaged my lower back and left hip. Walking really helps those problems.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: The Walking Thread - 10/12/2009 10:39:53 AM
|
|
|
Eutychus
Posts: 9850
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
Status: offline
|
I had a good week with a total of 26 miles for last Monday-Saturday. I was able to get in at least 6 miles on three of those days.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
