Bad Things Happen

Just when I was getting so comfortable with my routine of early morning walks something happened that has changed how I'm feeling about them. Someone I know was attacked during her morning walk at a park and it was in broad daylight AND with lots of other people in the park. It has really put a damper on the exercise thing for lots of us. How sad that a person can't even go to a public park for a walk to enjoy the surroundings and the weather without some crazy person attacking them. It is a sad time. I went walking a couple of days last week but I felt very nervous, especially having my headphones on (which I love when I'm walking) because I felt I wouldn't be able to hear someone coming up behind me. Soon it will be cold and I'll have to do all of my exercise indoors and though I'm not looking forward to giving up the outside routine, at least it will be safer.

New Day, New Exercise

Yesterday (as I mentioned in yesterday's blog) I walked a LONG way and I was pretty much worn out for the rest of the day so this morning I nixed the idea of the long walk and instead got out my workout tapes. I'm pretty faithful about working out to Denise Austin in the winter months when it's too cold and slippery to head outdoors but usually when the weather is beautiful I like to go walking or bide riding and enjoy the fresh air. Today, however, I needed to change it up a little and I'm glad I did because it actually felt pretty great. I got my heart rate up a lot more than I do when walking and I'm thinking that's a good thing. Also, I am able to incorporate a good arm workout that I miss during morning walks. We'll see how stiff and sore I am tomorrow. I may be "changing my tune" again.

Trying To Stick With The Program

A few weeks ago I had a case of stomach flu that lasted for a few days. I felt completely crummy but the upside was that I lost a few pounds. Now I am trying (although not nearly as hard as I should be) to keep those pounds off. My appetite is back however, and everything is tasting so good to me so it's a constant struggle. I have been pretty faithful about the morning walks and today even got my 10,000 steps in before 9 a.m. That's great except it kind of made me feel like I had license to go ahead and eat anything I wanted the rest of the day. Not so great.

making New Friends

I've discovered benefits to my early morning walks besides the exercise that it gives me - I've also made some new friends. They aren't ACTUAL friends, in fact I don't even know their names or anything about them really exept that I usually see them about five mornings a week when they are doing their morning exercises. Some of them walk, some run and some are riding bicycles. We always greet each other with a "good morning" or at least with a smile and I've found that I look forward to those greetings. On the days that I don't see some of them at the usual time and in the usual place I wonder if they're on vacation or perhaps if they're ill. I'm always glad to see them again when they return from whatever it was that kept them away.
It makes my morning walks much more interesting to see their familiar faces.

too much food, too little exercise

well I did get up early and go for my 1 hr. walk which was good. Then I came home and did some arm exercises and sit ups which was good. Then I proceeded to eat and eat and eat all the rest of the day, which was not good. I don't seem to keep a very good balance some days. Oh well, there's always tomorrow....

Slacking Off

The dog days of summer are here and so are the dog days of my exercise routine. Actually, the family all arrived to stay for a week and rather than use up all that much needed energy pounding the pavement early each morning I used it to go with the grandkids to the waterpark, the petting zoo, and the regular zoo. It was SO much fun and I didn't feel the least bit guilty about not doing anything AEROBIC. It's okay to slack off once in a while....