Sunday, September 5, 2010

Walking the Walk

I don't want to let too many days pass without posting.  I have been reading blogs and commenting, but nothing has brilliant has been brewing in moi's cabesa (did you know I speak French AND Spanish?) so I've been on the down low in blogville.  It's Sunday morning and I just walked 5 miles with a couple of friends, with breakfast at a deli in the middle.  Yesterday I walked a little over 7, so 12 miles+  so far for Saturday and Sunday.  And when I do my usual 2 mile walk with a friend and our hounds this afternoon, it will be up to 14 miles!  Not too shabby.  And because of the holiday tomorrow, hopefully (God willing and the knees hold up) I'll get a good long one in again.

Yesterday morning I got out by myself and walked to and back from my morning AA meeting.  It was pretty hot and muggy (MUCH better today), but with my ipod it was fantastic.  I felt like I could have gone on for hours, but in the interest of my knees and awareness of my tendency to get expansive and overdo when I feel good, I cut it off at the 5 miles.  Today, as I said, I walked with friends so the pace was a lot slower.  The conversation was great, but the intensity of the workout was definitely diminished.  Yesterday I set my ipod on a playlist I made last year called "MOVE", with about 50 energetic songs that keep me going at a brisk pace.  I honestly enjoyed that more than the walk today because of the music.

Walking is just my favorite form of exercise.  Back in the day when I was leaner and younger, I was a runner.  The farthest race I ever did was a 10 K (6.2 miles) by I ran 3-4 miles most days.  I'd love to think I could get back to at least jogging someday, but Dr. Oz told me (and the other zillion folks watching that day) that brisk walking is the best cardio exercise if you do it often and far enough, because it's low impact and less likely to cause injuries.  I love biking (the kind you do on a road bike, not the stationary ones) but don't have a bike and am not going to invest in one until I trust that I'll use it all the time.  The gym is fine, and I do use the pool there a couple times a week, but being outdoors totally floats my boat.  I'm eagerly awaiting genuinely crisp fall air where I don't come home feeling like a dishrag from sweating out quarts of water.

The goals I set for myself in my Wednesday post to follow until next Friday have been mostly accomplished, but I've gotten lazy about the writing everything down.  I did it perfectly for 2 1/2 days, and since then have not.  I know it's a useful tool but I need to come up with a way to remember to do it when I'm not in my usual routine of work and home.  The 3 day weekend has wreaked havoc on my routine in a very good way except for the tracking.  But my eating has been good.  No binges which is very good.


Speaking of food, I'm off to the Farmer's Market and the grocery store.  I hope all of you are having a good weekend long weekend.  If you're into tennis, the US Open provides endless hours of great tv!  And since I've gotten the exercise in, I won't feel guilty holding down the couch for a few hours.

20 comments:

  1. Wow! Great job on your walking. That's an impressive amount of miles! :) I, too, like having energetic songs on my iPod... definitely helps keep me moving.

    Enjoy your shopping!

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  2. Dang, woman - I'm impressed by your mileage! Great job NOT overdoing it...if five miles is good, six must be better, right? ;) Knowing when to say when is huge, in all aspects of life!

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  3. Even though I call myself a runner now, I walked for years and years and years prior to that. One of my most memorable marathons was the one I walked for breast cancer. It took me 5:47 to walk 26.2 miles. It was rewarding in so many ways!

    Just today I was thinking that on the days I don't feel like running, I need to at least try to walk for a bit. It's good for the body and the soul.

    Enjoy the US Open!

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  4. That is some serious walking woman! Good for you:)

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  5. :D congrats on the walking! Wahoo,you!

    I'd never stick to writing things down--but I do faithfully log in what I eat on SparkPeople. It's tedious at first, but once you get "favorites" in, it's a breeze. I like the ease of measurement--any size portion you eat can be put in and SP figures out the cals for you. I always had a hard time with calorie books--They have their serving size and then I'd have to do the math. Chuckle. If I could do math, I'd have been a psychologist instead of a social worker...

    Anyway, congrats on hitting your goals, too!

    You have a mention on my post today. I reposted the post about Bethany's death.

    Deb

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  6. I enjoy a good walk too. While I haven't done as much of that this year, I am craving more of it now. Now I just need to get out of bed in the morning and do it.

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  7. Walk on, walk on. Walking is my movement of choice, too. I did my three treadmiles this afternoon. With the weather getting cooler, I should take my hounds and husband out more.

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  8. You made me feel energized just reading about your exercise, Leslie! But, since it's nearly midnight here, I'll wait till tomorrow!

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  9. I don't know if it's your page or my machine, but I can't read your post, nor any of the comments. The headers and everything appear, but actual text. Is this an IQ test that I am in the process of failing?

    Hope your weekend was fabulous!

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  10. Well, now the veil has been lifted. I can now read all. I must have passed. Ha!

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  11. That's a lot of mileage, Leslie. Great job. Hope you and your knees are in top form today.

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  12. Leslie, great job on the walking. I take a lot of comfort in the Oz view that it's just as good as running--especially when I take walk breaks during my runs. About the biking? Read my latest about our Bike Holiday. I'm getting hooked! I'm right with you--hate indoor exercising with a passion. Biking is a nice break from running. I didn't know, until this last weekend that I could bike 20-30 miles without hurting. Amazing.

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  13. Wow!!! Great job on all that walking!!! I bet that felt good. And glad to hear the eating was good this wknd, too. :)

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  14. Hi Mom,

    Just got caught up on your blog. I know it won't be for a while, but I got so excited thinking about you and me taking Lou and Wally for a walk around Ridley Creek in May. I could almost cry just thinking about it. Si Dios quiere...

    Also, guess who else is an ENFP?! Hint: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

    Love you. Let's talk soon!

    Jean

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  15. You are an amazing person speaking Freach and Spanish with all the other great things you have done and are doing. Walking all those miles is great. I love to ride my real bike too. My son and I used to every evening but I can't get out now so stuck on the stationary. Have a great walk and food day. Your the greatess as always.

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  16. I love to walk if I have a friend to go with me. That is definitely why my cardio has been better lately, because I'm meeting someone at the gym everyday. Sheesh...do I sound needy or what!!

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  17. Walking is the first thing I recommend as the foundation of a weight loss program. If you can run, however, go for it! Dr. Oz stole the name of his column in O from me, but that's OK cause I like him, but he's wrong about running. Do it on a softer surface with good shoes and mid foot strike and you will last long :-)

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  18. You're thoughts on walking are exactly the same as mine. I love to get out in the fresh air, soaking up the sunshine or feeling the breeze in my hair. Can't wait for walking in the fall witht he cool, crisp air.

    I'm at: http://www.3fatchicks.com/diet-blogs/sunnydaze/

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  19. Wow, that's a lot of walking! My neighborhood is so hilly, but I think if I added just 30 minutes of walking in the morning before work, that might push me to actually lose some weight.

    And I agree, faster songs really keep you going!

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  20. Walk on by. Walk on by. Excellent exercise and look at your stamina. Way to go! Michele

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