Walking!

Oh, what a nice surprise...thank you Ike and Keesha. You were so kind to say what you said keesha. I'll try to live up to that :rolleyes:. I have some responsibilities that are keeping me away but hope to be more active in due time.
 
My wife recently had her medication changed and since then she has really slowed down on our morning walks. We used to hike the 2 mile nature trail in about 48 minutes, but lately it's been taking her about an hour. This has gotten pretty frustrating to me because I don't feel like I'm getting much cardio benefit out of it. So a few weeks ago I started hiking with a backpack. I started out by putting a 6 lbs. bag of the bird seed I use in our bird feeder in the backpack. I've worked that up to three 6 lbs bags now. It feels like a lot better workout, but still not enough to suit me. Plus the back pack with 18 lbs of bird seed is hard on the shoulders. So last week I bit the bullet and ordered one of these:

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This is going to enable me to go up to a 45 lbs load and I will be able to evenly distribute it between the front and back rather than have everything on my back. I got the long model vest with the wide (4 and 1/4 inches) shoulder straps which is supposed to be best for walking. It hasn't arrived yet but I am hoping this will enable me to carry the weight more comfortably. My plan is to start off my loading it with 20 lbs. of weight which will be only 2 lbs. more than I am carrying now with my backpack and then slowly working up from there.

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I walk but I don't try to make it a marathon effort.

I walk because it is healthy and for no other reason.

If I don't get out I miss it. My friend counts every step on one of those fitbit things.

I would find that awfully boring.
 
That’s a smart idea Trade. At the gym I’ve seen people walking and even running with them. They add whatever weight they need or require and I have to admit that it seems to be working for them. Another strength training thing they do is pull weights that are on a sled like thing which I also thought was really smart.

My man walks slower than me but he reminds me and I slow down for him. :grin:
 
I walk because I like walking . The fact that it’s good for me is just an added bonus.

We got teased with some nice weather and it looked like spring had finally sprung but then we got this. More snow.
Here are wild turkeys walking on the road in front on our house.

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The snow stills looks beautiful though
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And of course they have no complaints

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Yesterday while driving home I took this picture.
It might be the subject of my next painting.
I can’t upload it. In fact I have a problem with uploading pictures lately. No matter how much I crop them
 
haha you two. Fun photos Keesha. "Turkey Parade" reminds me of the Turkey Trot Races for Charity held in many places in America around Thanksgiving time. It's like a 5k but holiday specific. Some run because of the excess food consumed on Thanksgiving Day. Sometimes someone out front dresses up like a turkey to start the race. This gal's looking a little stiff and could use some sun (groan).

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Regarding adding weights on your body for walking long distances. Hmm. I don't know about that. You work hard at keeping a healthy weight to avoid many health related issues like stress on knees and ankles, no?
 
Isn’t the girl a bit pale and stiff cause it’s a manikin ?
I don’t add any extra weight when I walk except if I need to carry a dog or two. :laugh:
Its good to see you Lara.
Hows your purging going?
 
Nice snow pics Keesha, especially the doggie with his/her snow covered face.

I've finally gotten over the hump with my leg/foot and am back to walking every day with my wife and the dogs. It's still a little weak, but getting stronger every day. The problem with my calf muscle ended up being because the muscle was in a permanent spasm state after I tore it. I'm the one that figured this out, not the Doc. He finally agreed to give me some muscle relaxers for a week and within 3 days I was walking almost pain free with a normal gate rather than a limp with pain. I wish the Dr had listened to me 2 months earlier when I suggested this was the problem, I could have avoided two extra months of pain and not being able to walk.
 
I am an avid walker. I also love going to the gym at least 3 times a week and go swimming and do some light cardio like the treadmill and elliptical. I do it for exercise, but it is also fun.
 
JimW said:
Nice snow pics Keesha, especially the doggie with his/her snow covered face.

I've finally gotten over the hump with my leg/foot and am back to walking every day with my wife and the dogs. It's still a little weak, but getting stronger every day. The problem with my calf muscle ended up being because the muscle was in a permanent spasm state after I tore it. I'm the one that figured this out, not the Doc. He finally agreed to give me some muscle relaxers for a week and within 3 days I was walking almost pain free with a normal gate rather than a limp with pain. I wish the Dr had listened to me 2 months earlier when I suggested this was the problem, I could have avoided two extra months of pain and not being able to walk.
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Im so glad you are finally walking again. It’s such a simple pleasure. It’s something I definitely don’t take for granted, especially after a few days of caring for my parents who can’t walk too well.
I’ve found that most doctors don’t really listen to their patients ideas about their own health but should.
It looks like it will be a nice spring and summer for you Jim.
Good stuff. :thumbsup:
 
Mollypops said:
I am an avid walker. I also love going to the gym at least 3 times a week and go swimming and do some light cardio like the treadmill and elliptical. I do it for exercise, but it is also fun.
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Hi Mollypops. Cute name.
I really like being active and also go to the gym usually 2 to 3 times a week.
Going to the gym I do for exercise but I do end up enjoying my it. It really helps with pain management as well as helps with mental stability.
 
Keesha said:
That’s a smart idea Trade. At the gym I’ve seen people walking and even running with them. They add whatever weight they need or require and I have to admit that it seems to be working for them.
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Mine just arrived!

Gonna open up the box and check it out now!

I feel like a little kid at Christmas!

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Keesha said:
Im so glad you are finally walking again. It’s such a simple pleasure. It’s something I definitely don’t take for granted, especially after a few days of caring for my parents who can’t walk too well.
I’ve found that most doctors don’t really listen to their patients ideas about their own health but should.
It looks like it will be a nice spring and summer for you Jim.
Good stuff. :thumbsup:
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Thanks Keesha! Wife and I are already planning some weekend hikes with the dogs, can't wait!
 
Keesha said:
Great news Jim. It sounds like fun.
Im determined this year to get a kayak. I really want to kayak this year.
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Kayaking is a lot of fun and it's a good workout too. When I had my lake house I used to take the kayak out early am while the fog was still lifting off the water, it was so peaceful and serene.
 
JimW said:
Kayaking is a lot of fun and it's a good workout too. When I had my lake house I used to take the kayak out early am while the fog was still lifting off the water, it was so peaceful and serene.
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I’ve never been kayaking in my life by have so many beautiful waters to do it in and right now Costco has one on sale for less than $400 but it’s light enough for me to carry. I know I’ll need a roof rack but I can get one. That early morning thing you speak of I could live for. So peaceful and tranquil. It would be great exercise for the arms and can you imagine the pictures I’d get? Loons in the mist! Ducks are geese ..... and hopefully otters. I want pictures of how playful otters are.
 
Keesha said:
I’ve never been kayaking in my life by have so many beautiful waters to do it in and right now Costco has one on sale for less than $400 but it’s light enough for me to carry. I know I’ll need a roof rack but I can get one. That early morning thing you speak of I could live for. So peaceful and tranquil. It would be great exercise for the arms and can you imagine the pictures I’d get? Loons in the mist! Ducks are geese ..... and hopefully otters. I want pictures of how playful otters are.
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Go for it Keesha, you'll love it!
 
Tried out the new weight vest this morning. It rained all day yesterday and was getting ready to start again this morning so we opted to walk in the neighborhood instead of the nature trail. I don't know what got into my wife but she walked at a much faster pace today. Still pretty slow at 42 minutes for 2 miles, but a lot faster than she had been walking at the trail. It's always is slower going at the trail because of the roots you have to be careful not to trip on and the uneven ground plus the softer surface. But not that much slower. Lately we had been averaging about 64 minutes for 2 miles at the trail. I loaded the vest with 20 lbs of weight and found the 21 minutes a mile pace to be a bit challenging. But the vest is much more comfortable because of being able to symmetrically load it instead of being all on your back like with my back pack, plus it has 4 inch shoulder straps instead of 2 and 1/4 like my back pack. I'm going to up the weight to 25 lbs for tomorrow. We will probably walk the neighborhood again as we are getting more rain today and the trail will be soggy. I prefer the trail because the softer surface is easier on my feet and joints so we'll go back to that as soon as the rain lets up.

Right after the walk I did my bench presses. Now it's couch potato time for the rest of the day!
 

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