Walking

[Cyn777]

I had the great gift of a trip to Holland and Paris the first two weeks of May this year. Amazing!!

I took several things away from the trip - one being food portions. I got to eat great food in reasonable portions. I never left the table hungry and never left the table too full to continue walking.

And that's the second thing I took away. I felt like I was the largest woman on the continent. In Paris everyone walks and in Holland everyone bikes - and I mean everyone! There are 17 million people and 17.5 million bicycles!

When you're walking to a destination, rather than walking around the block or track a certain number of times it's a chore. Even with the iPod, it's deiscipline. When I was in Europe I walked a good 8-10 miles a day and didn't notice it! (well my feet did at first but acclimated quickly)

So the thing I'm doing now is walking more and with a purpose other than just getting in my exercise time or distance. Some friends invited me to dinner last night - I walked there. Interesting I wasn't a hungry and I was feeling great from the fresh air so was able to really focus on my friends rather than packing as uch into my body as I could.

I kept telling myself there were too many errands to run on the way to open the store in the morning. Baloney! I have a backpack with the till for the store, any mail that needs to go out, room to pick up mail at the Post Office on the way, a reasonable lunch, etc... I get to work ready for the day rather than dragging in still not sure I should really be out of bed.

When I'm heading somewhere it's the destination and what will happen when I get there that fills my mind rather than feeling like I have to endure another lap, 10 minutes whatever. Maybe it'll work you too?

Blessings,
Cyn

[Jayden]

Great advice...I know I hate to walk so this would probably help...

~Think Thin~
Jayden

[FrugalSue]

Hey, Cyn,

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I experienced the same thing last fall when my husband and I went to Paris. We walked almost everywhere. Once in a while we would take the Metro to our destination and then walk back to the hotel afterwards. We also walked a lot when we got to our destinations--like the Louvre--you can walk miles looking at the artwork.

We noticed that when we were walking all day long, we needed our larger meal at lunch time rather than dinner time. So we would get a sit-down hot lunch and then take yummy sandwiches back to the hotel to eat at night. The food in Paris was so good and most of it was really healthy. Even if you eat an occasional dessert or pastry, you walk it all off.

After I got home from our trip, my arthritis got worse and I eventually had to have knee surgery, which I'm still recovering from now. But I am starting to walk in my neighborhood again.

I also enjoy walking a whole lot more when I have an actual destination rather! There's a strip mall about 10 blocks from my house where I can do a little grocery shopping and rent a DVD. The whole trip takes me maybe an hour including the shopping time, and it always feels so satisfying!

There is also a little neighborhood park just a few blocks from my house and I can walk down there, through the park, and back in about 20 minutes. I know when I do this little walk every morning, it's good not only for my body but also my mind and spirit. I feel so much more connected to nature when I see the seasons passing in my little neighborhood park!

It's going to be a while before I can work up to the shopping destination, but I'm doing the park every day again now.

Sue

[sandradoo]

You are right on about walking. When my children were small, I would leave them w/hubby and walk to the grocery store and call to come pick me up(3 miles) I walked alot more back then, and was alot smaller!!
Sandradoo

[Jules]

Walking places really is tremendously healthy. One summer in college I backpacked through Europe for 2 1/2 months. I lost 35 lbs and ate whatever I wanted. However, I was usuallly carring a 70 lb backpack on my back too. I wish I could travel like that again -that was the most fun way to lose weight ever! Unfortunately I put it all right back on when I came home and contined to eat whatever but didn't hardly even walk to class. Every step adds up. Thanks for sharing..