5 posts tagged “walking”

So I was sitting around and my good friend Drew was out of work for the day. He is a good friend of mine and we hit lunch together often and my other friend Neil came in late and was not going to go to lunch at the same time I was.

I stepped outside and I realized that I really did not want to lose my epic parking space and yet I was hungry.

It then hit me, the Thai place I enjoy is only about a quarter of a mile away and I might as well walk it. So off I went... the temperature in Nashville later would read at 93 degrees and I was going at around 11. However, it was not oppressive with the humidity, it was just a rather dry heat and for me that makes all the difference in the world.

I had been reading how curry is pretty blasted healthy and I love curry and I really wanted some beef.... so durrr Curry Beef. I forgot to ask for steamed rice however and instead got fried rice. I will work on trying to remember next time.

I was the only person there and the entire place was empty and I was a bit annoyed that they seated an entire group of loud people directly behind me about ten minutes later. The entire place was empty and you are going to put them directly behind me like that?

The food was excellent however and I headed back to work.

I noticed my heart rate was up. So not only did I eat well and healthier I also got a good bit of exercise in.

Potty Mouth suggested I take a photo of my food and then look at it later. I can honestly say now that I have done that, I can see the benefits. I would definitely eat this again with no guilt.

Mood: I ate while actually being hungry.

My dinner was much more simply I had a blackened salmon fillet and some corn. 

I am now into week 3.

A few minor things I am noticing:

1. I am walking just a little further in the same amount of time.
2. My ankles are hurting about half as badly as week 1. They still hurt from a real lack of use, but there is a noticeable strength difference.
3. The pain in my lower back is a bit less.
   
4. My pants are a bit loose. Not by much mind you, but enough to notice as I put them on this morning.

So for those just joining us... what am I doing?

All I am doing is walking for 20 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during my lunch break. No break neck pace, just a casual walk outside enjoying some fresh air.

Please keep in mind, while I am doing this slowly and doing casual walks, I am pushing myself just a little more and more each week. My intent is to be able to do some hiking on some nature trails in the local area.

And the second reason I am taking this so slowly is I know the kind of person I am, if I do not go at this slowly and build myself a habit, then I will quit. I will give in and fold and lie to myself and say I love the way I am.

I like myself, I really do. I like my nose, my feet, my fingernails and every wart and hair on my head. I just do not like the weight.

Ok, talk about cloud 9... I just finished another 20 minute walk.

My goal, as I started this week, was to walk for 3 days total for 20 minutes each time. I have succeeded in my 1st week's goal.

As I am really out of shape, I have decided that next week's goal will be 3 days for 20 minutes. Week 3, I think I might add a 4th day or just tack on an extra 2 minutes. We will see how next week goes.

I am not going to get super excited though.

My overall goal is a series of lifestyle changes which I have been doing and I am pleased as can be. Taking a daily vitamin for instance was an earlier goal. I simply did not get enough of the healthy stuff in me, so when I started sure I missed a few days here and there. Taking a vitamin I am pleased to say has turned into a daily habit and I am hoping that my walking turns into a habit.

I am getting a new camera next month and I want to take those nature walks and just photograph everything. lol

Ok, so I walked again yesterday. I am not trying to hurt myself or even push myself too hard right now. I took a very nice relaxing 20 minute walk around the offices listening this time to the Misfits, Toy Dolls and Flogging Molly. The kind of music that pushes you forward.

When I was about 75% done, I so badly wanted to stop, to just give up and take the shortcut back or perhaps just sit down for a few minutes, but when the Toy Dolls song 'I Have Asthma' started, I could not help but push myself that last small bit of distance.

My back hurt, my ankles were on fire...

But wow... I really was feeling good about myself.

My knee is killing me this morning, so I think I will take the day off and not talk today. I will just wait until tomorrow to walk more. Perhaps find me some Ibuprofen to help with the swelling.

I have a goal though.

I want to be able to walk an entire nature trail without getting winded so badly I will be crawling. Some people make weight loss goals, myself I just want to get a new camera and take some pretty pictures while I am out walking. Take the kids with me and just go do something fun. That is my overall goal and I am looking to be able to accomplish it by autumn or spring.

Ok, I am about beat.
Today, out of the blue is the day I decided to put the stop watch to work and go walking.

Listening to Billy Idol and The Cure I walked around our new call center complex since there are sidewalks everywhere.

It is also about a perfect length for these sidewalks, I went all the way down to the entrance and back and each way was 10 minutes. My ankles hurt and my lower back is screaming at me because of this weight I carry.

But I really feel good about it. To get up and move forward and do something about this weight. I am going to do this for 3 days a week at first and then build it up.

I need one of those pedometers to measure how many steps I take. That with my stop watch helps my obsession with numbers...lol