Solitary chicken - need advice

[patsylabrador]

There's been quite a lot in the media recently about the health benefits of walking every day and standing instead of sitting.

I very much agree with both of these because it's what I've been doing for a while and I am benefiting from new found health. I try to walk five miles a day, sometimes I do more, sometimes I do less and if I plonk myself in a chair I get up and find something to do. Late afternoon/evening I relax and enjoy it all the more.

The standing more I found quite hard because I kept thinking about sitting down and it hurt my back. Maybe my back muscles have got stronger because they don't ache anymore.

I haven't lost tons of weight quickly, just a slow but steady toning up and change of body shape. People are starting to comment which encourages me to keep it up. I have mainly noticed a lack of joint pain which was starting to develop, my hips for example were waking me up at night they hurt so much, I would get a lot of cramp and I couldn't walk up hills easily. All gone. Even the pain in my fingers has gone, which I don't quite understand but I'm not complaining. I feel bouncier and full of energy.

The great thing too is that it's so cheap, no special kit, classes or fees.

I know a lot of you work and have young families and that I am lucky to have so much time to indulge myself but I am so excited about how much healthier I feel I felt it was worth saying.

[gavclojak]

Well done you!!! I agree, walking is an amazing way to excersise. I am lucky enough to be a able to walk to work, and I deliberately choose a route that takes me up a few steep hills. That and walking my dogs, it all helps

 

I too have noticed the aging process, aching limbs clicky joints and a few other unmentionables:) I am trying to up the exercise program too by using an old dvd I have too and eating well, not dieting but healthy....I don't want to be fat and 50

[The Dogmother]

I am pretty active too - walking the dogs covers about 3 miles minimum a day, sadly my job is pretty sedentary, but I take every opportunity to get up and move around. I never sit down in the evening as I am just too busy, don't watch TV either; the only time I sit down at home is if I am on the laptop for a few minutes, and then only whilst doing something else. I do circuit training once a week and try to get to the gym one other evening if I can.

 

I am 51, and starting to get slight joint pain (my mother had some arthritis) but am convinced that keeping moving helps

[soapdragon]

I, too, am a firm believer in the benefits of walking! If I can't fit in a walk then I do 10 mins of fast Wii step (with a raiser so about 6 inches) or 10 mins on the rowing machine.

 

That's not to lose weight (tho any weight related benefits are great) but more to keep moving and not get creaky! Approaching 50 at a rate of knots I am determined to keep as active as poss for as long as poss. I'd love to do a really long walk....The Ridgeway, Offas Dyke etc but will have to wait till the boys are older!!!! I love striding out and feeling the inner thigh stretch......that's how I know I am going fast enough (that and a bit of puffing!)

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You've got me thinking I should try this! My work is only 3 miles away (mostly downhill) but I always take the car. It's the coming home - uphill - that puts me off walking. However, as OH has broken his collarbone and won't be cycling for a while, I could let him take the car (when he's healed enough to drive). At the moment I'm having to drive him to and from work so wouldn't have to leave any earlier if I did walk to work instead.

 

Having said that, I do try to do a 2-3 mile run each morning before work - not sure I could do both.

 

However, once he's back cycling again, it'll take monumental will power to walk to work then the car is sitting there!

[The Dogmother]

Go for it ANH!

 

It's important to pay attention to posture when you're walking (I am as guilty as the next person of slouching ) shoulders back and down, raise ribcage and 'lead with your nipples' that really maximises the benefits, and you will automatically draw in your core muscles. Striding out is important as Soapdragon has said; a lot of folks shuffle along with their feet underneath them - lengthen your stride, both in front and behind you, pushing off with your toes as you finish the stride.

 

Sorry... bossy ex-PT instructor moment.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Walking is great! I too do a lot of walking with my pooch - usually somewhere around 1.5 hours a day and a bit more at weekends. I can't bear plodding along and like to stride out. People always comment on how fast I walk but I figure that if I have, say 45 minutes available to walk, I may as well try and get as far as I can in that time. Now it's habit and it bugs me something rotten if I walk with someone else who goes at a snail's pace. I like to know that my heart is getting my blood whizzing round my system and keeping everything ticking along

[soapdragon]

Wouldn't it be lovely to organise an Omlet forum walk!? Sounds as though we could knock The Ridgeway on the head in a weekend, no trouble

[Lavenders_Blue]

Excellent idea, soapy Could we combine it with the cheese gathering and have a good power walk followed by some stinky cheese?

[The Dogmother]

Count me in!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I really miss fast dog walks - poor Riley is so slow these days, we feel like we're following a funeral procession!

[Lavenders_Blue]

I was sent a link to this article at work today - we get a daily bulletin of news relevant to stroke rehab, care and prevention. How funny that I should receive this today, given that we have all been discussing the benfits of walking

 

ETA - another article that might be interesting, about why sitting down might be bad for you.

[The Dogmother]

perhaps I should give classes and start charging!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Good idea!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I wish we'd started this thread in the Spring - today is so dreich with virtually zero visibility - not exactly inspiring for a lovely brisk walk .

[chickencam]

Was like that here earlier but it brightened up after lunch, so inspired by this thread I walked to our allotment, picked dime veg for tea the walked briskly home again, probaby about a 2 mile round trip.

[Valkyrie]

Chickvic introduced me to Endomondo sports tracker. I tend to use that a lot because now it's linked to FB I have to keep going. Although just recently I have had "GPS lost" But it's brilliant in that it tells you how much hydration lost, how many calories you have burnt off and of course mileage. It keeps track of each mile (I hate getting a tortoise especially when going uphill) but love the hare! When I first started walking I always referred to our hill as "the killer hill" - now I don't even puff up it. Then we regularly go to Overton which has a much steeper hill - even OH struggled with that one at the beginning, but now we just march up it with ease.

ANH - I know the meaning of your hills - roughly translated means "mountain" If it's anything like the uphill climb from Tobermory then ye gods that's harsh! But you will probably take ages and have the occasional rest stop if you need to and then be surprised at how easy it becomes. Rough average is about 20 or 25 minutes per mile if just doing a steady speed. That's us with a few stops for taking photos!

It's steps that I have problems with. 199 up from Whitby town to the Abbey - slightly easier going down initially - I always say what goes down must come up with our walks. But while swearing to myself, at least I didn't stop and still had energy for a walk the day after. Then we had Bolton Castle and Middleham Castle (arghhhhhh more steps for the stunning views!).

Not so good is standing for long periods - plays havoc with my back. We have both found that our backs really ache when we spend a day on foot like walking around shops or museums, standing on trains etc. Almost as if everything crunches down. And then we are on to posture - which means strengthening the stomach. It never ends! Although number one son came in yesterday really proud of his stomach - "feel how tight that is mum" er er OK. And my goodness he has such a firm six pack going on! He said he does sit ups for that. Skinny brat!