Tag walk

Flowers, blossom, bored cows plus reasons to walk…

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Last week, I went on another country walk with the local walking group. This was to encourage me to get some exercise, enjoy a guided countryside jaunt and be sociable (shock/horror). Unfortunately, I had to pass my friend’s house and was fearful her dog, little Oscar, may spot me as I walked passed. Think I got away with it! He wasn’t invited on the walk because I thought it may prove too exacting. I was right. It was exacting for me. As we strolled through the woods, the chap leading the walk said we were going to do a circular walk around the village. We live in a large village.

As we confidently strolled up the hills it was easy to succumb to the temptation of slowing down but since going to the gym I tend to climb faster than my walking pace.  Well, you want to get there, don’t you?

Unfortunately, this meant waiting for the leader’s wife. Couldn’t help wondering why her husband, the leader, didn’t pick an easier route bearing in mind his wife’s state of health. Anyway, two hours in, I was thinking we were nearly home and then arrived at the local private posh school, located among fields and trees and realised, to my horror, that we had at least a mile or so to go. Everybody slowed down, which in my view, makes it tiring. I ended up chatting sympathetically to the leader’s wife as she struggled up the umpteenth hill. Tried to take her mind of it by talking about her son and his family. Guess it helped a bit and luckily the others stopped to wait while they chatted to a dog walker and an impatient dog who kept yapping and obviously wanted to get on. The dog owner extolled the virtues of keeping a dog on a lead even in woodland but I thought he was bonkers. Oscar would hate it and loves to chase everything in sight with absolutely no success.

Anyway, it was, despite wondering if the walk was ever going to end, quite uplifting. The sun was out, as were the first signs of spring with the odd bluebell in bloom, about six weeks ahead of time. We stopped to photograph the lambs, bored, sleepy cows, blossom and wild flowers. Felt quite healthy by the time I arrived home, which is always a good thing and I’m pleased to see that there are plenty of benefits to walking (see below) but I drink and eat too much as well. Don’t we all?

The walk was quite arduous and six miles long. The leader’s wife looked quite worn out by the end of it so I hope her husband made her a cup of tea when home. We enjoyed tea, although I would have stopped for a beer if there had been a pub on the way home. I didn’t get an invitation to go out for one that evening either, as we were so worn out.

Why I walk…

To be active, lose weight and become healthier *lives in hope*

The walk needs to be fast and it is a fun challenge to stride quickly up hills

Great to see heritage trails, woodlands, animals, wild plants orchards, etc

Helps the 10,000 steps a day target

 

A study found the following benefits of walking which had sound enough reasons, particularly the last one…

“We may never avoid becoming completely old, but we may delay the time we become old. We may look younger when we’re 70 and may live into our nineties. Exercise buys you three to seven additional years of life. It is an antidepressant, it improves cognitive function, and there is now evidence that it may retard the onset of dementia.” (1)

Research indicates if you walk for two minutes every hour, you may increase lifespan by 33 per cent! You should walk 10,000 steps everyday according to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Enjoy walking and enjoy the grumpy dogs, bored cows and beautiful countryside too.

(1) Source: http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2015/09/11/daily-walk-benefits.aspx

Day 4, 5, 6 and 7 – #HealthyAugust

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For Thurday’s exercise, I went for a lovely walk with Oscar through some orchards and woods. The sun was shining and we both enjoyed trailing over the long grass. On the way back, two ladies were picking blackberries and apples and informed me they were going to make an apple and blackberry pie.  Sounds delicious doesn’t it?  My plan is to wait a couple of weeks and pick fruit and make some fruit pies and or smoothies.  (This particular orchard is overgrown and the fruit doesn’t get picked.)

On Friday, I had a PT session and found it unbelievably tough.  Had to go to bed early because I was soooo tired.  However, Saturday I did the parkrun and got a new PB.  Each week I’ve done slightly better, which is encouraging, after the previous day’s training session.

Must confess to having rather too much wine during Saturday and Sunday evening but oh well.  Hopefully, next week will be better.

Sunday, was just decluttering, clearing and cleaning which I will post about this week, as part of my Minimalism series.

Have a jolly week everyone. Bye for now. Please follow :-)))

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Day 2 and 3 – #HealthyAugust – Quick update…

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So far, so good. Yesterday, did a big workout at the gym 5k run then weights etc. Felt a sense of achievement afterwards because I’ve been struggling lately.

Also, made a spaghetti bol but as I’ve been given so many courgettes by a friend, decided to put them to good use and made courgettie. This is a really good alternative and very tasty.
Today, been on a long walk with my borrowed dog, Oscar.  We enjoyed walking through the woods, fields and orchards and it was great to see some sunshine too.  Always an added bonus.

The problems may arise this weekend but feeling pretty determined to have a good month.

Thanks for reading this blog and don’t forget to follow.  Next blog is all about the advantages of taking a few hours break, from the normal routine.

 

Day 1 – #HealthyAugust

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Made a delicious courgette salad to pack up for work lunches.  The idea is to have some super healthy lunches so I don’t have to eat beyond satiety (onions, courgettes, potatoes aubergines, herbs).  Really aiming to eat well this month.

After work, I went to the gym which was fine but hot. Feel a bit lacklustre about going to the gym, so may participate in a few classes but will continue to run and walk too.  This is unusual for me and suspect it is because of the warm weather.

Also, I went for a short twenty minute walk at lunch time today and decided I should make more of an effort and go out during my break.  It is good to get away from the computer screen.

For the first day, I’m pleased and enthusiastic. Of course, it is hard to keep the enthusiasm going but I’m feeling positive…

Join in if you want to.  Use the hashtag #HealthyAugust on social media and thank you for reading my blog.

3 ways to start a phone/screen detox!

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Over the last few months, I’ve been slightly concerned that I’m looking at my phone too much. Not only that, I’ve become irritated by people using phones during social times such a eating in restaurants!

I’ve decided to reduce the amount I spend looking at screens and plan to do this by:

  • Leaving technology at home
  • Having tech free days (usually Sunday)
  • Pursuing life with vigour

Ok.  This is easier in the summer months.  When I go running or walking, I can explore local parks and fields because the mud has gone.  Also, I’ve realised that copeous amounts of destractions on the mobile, may not be conjucive to a good walk.  When I walk Oscar, it is better to simply enjoy the sunshine, mud, trees, bluebells, company and not be bothered by emails, texts, Facebook and so on.  I love it.

The tech free Sunday’s are also easy to incorporate into my life because  I have this thing about Sundays being a relaxing day.  Cooking and gardening may be slotted into this, but they are enjoyable pursuits.  I rarely bother with emails, texts and social on Sundays though.

However, I’m doing more online and wasting time so determined to reduce online activities to a minimal pursuit over the next few weeks and will keep you updated.  However, from July, the blogging will increase because I enjoy writing and researching interests.  This is useful and fun.  But I plan to walk, run, read (books), paint, cook, much more.  My phone will be consigned to the office or handbag, I have turned off notifications and I won’t take electronics to bed.  To be honest, I’m not too bad but suspect this has become an addiction for some!  I’m pleased we didn’t have the Internet in my youth.  Facebook at school must be a competitive nightmare.

Have you done any of the above?  Some people give social up completely for a while but that is not practical for all.  If we look online less, we don’t have to succumb to other people’s (political) agendas which will be fantastic, won’t it?  Or will we miss it?  Ha!  Join me and find out…