Is everyone up for the start to our monthly challenges, ones that hopefully motivate us to get out there on a daily walk?
Well, here we are at the start of this journey.
I thought all the last year’s (2023) posts that responded to the different monthly set challenges (see healthunlocked.com/active10... ) were a brilliant way for the community to support each other to stay motivated and clock those daily minutes of walking, be it 10 minutes, 30 or the mighty 60 minutes of daily walking that a few of us (not me 😜) manage to get under our belt! Or rather, under our feet! 👣👣🦶🦶🐾
So if people want to still head back to last year’s exploration taken from the book “52 ways to walk” to get some ideas, feel free to do so and keep on posting here.
For this year, a new shiny 2024, we are putting the themed challenges and photowalks together.
So get your cameras out, your walking shoes on, and even if you have just 15 minutes in the day, see if any of these challenges take your fancy and post about your walks here on the forum!
FEBRUARY CHALLENGE
With the help of my trusty AI bot, and a bit of imaginative editing by myself, I came up with 5 weird and wonderful ideas that anyone could do on a quick daily walk in February.
So chose one (or more) and see how you go. And take a picture that represents that challenge. We can’t wait to see how everyone gets on with this one!
✸✸✸ 5 weird and wonderful ideas that anyone could do on a quick daily walk in February ✸✸✸
1. **Cloud Watching**: Take a moment during your walk (for stability consider sitting down on a bench or hold on to a tree) and gaze up at the sky, identifying different cloud formations and letting your imagination run wild as you spot shapes and figures. Take a picture and tell us what you have spotted!
2. **Whispering Trees**: Stand quietly near a group of trees during your walk and listen closely to the rustling of leaves in the wind, imagining that the trees are sharing secrets or stories with each other. (And optionally, can you capture this moment in an image taken by your camera?)
3. **Magical Mystery Tour**: Choose a different route for your walk each day and let your intuition guide you, turning each walk into a spontaneous adventure as you explore unfamiliar streets, parks, and hidden corners of your neighbourhood. This is a good one for urban or village walkers, and we’d love to see a pic!
4. **Sensory Scavenger Hunt**: Engage your senses during your walk by actively seeking out sights, sounds, smells, textures, and even tastes that capture your attention, from the scent of freshly baked bread wafting from a bakery to the feel of crisp leaves crunching underfoot. (Not sure we can capture this in a photo, but we’re not going to stop you trying! 😃📸)
5. **Dance in the Rain**: Embrace the unpredictable February weather by going for a walk during light rain showers and allowing yourself to get a little wet, turning your stroll into a playful dance in the rain and revelling in the refreshing sensation of raindrops on your skin. 😊☔️ (and keep your camera dry, whilst taking pictures of the wet!)
So chose one (or more) and take a relevant picture, if you can. We can’t wait to see how everyone gets on with this one!
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CBDB
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I'm on my own daily walking challenge, today's completed about 45mins ago ! So yeah I'm up for it.My participation will however, be reflective of my current mobility and stamina.
So I may be a semi silent, or modified contributor lol 🤣
I'll look at the old thread.
Today's contribution, walked to the dog walking park and made it to the second bench seat, then turned around and walked back. Recorded as 728 steps on my phone pedometer. Yesterday I made it to the first bench about 100 yds shorter. My plan is to navigate by the benches spaced around the (sort of) circular track, until I can make it all the way around and back to the entrance of the park.
I'm not stretching myself, if at anytime I feel overwhelmed, or my hip pain gets too much, that's it, I'm sitting till recovered.
In my head, I have the idea, to repeat each new achievement about 3-4 times, before extending the distance again.
I'm already after only a couple of weeks, finding the accompanying exercises I do, gradually easier to rep extend.
My days of "pumping iron" or "going for the burn" or any such other nonsense, are loooong gone.
Very good luck and best wishes, to any others "walking through February"
Exercises and walk done today, 8 exs × 10 reps, will begin to add a second set in next week. Ie 1 set of 10 then a second set of 3-4 increasing over time until 2 sets × 10.Walking has plateaued, I don't seem to get past a mental point at which point, I turn around. It's because I feel wobbly on the last hundred yards or so and am terrified of a fall. I may begin using the exercise bike instead (it's in the shed) until I build stamina. But still walk just to keep going.
I know an exercise bike is less impactful on hips and knees plus it has the big bonus of being safer. I'm in a quandary !
I might even break my own rule and take my camera to see if I can get some shots. I can always ignore the notifications or attempts to contact me, which is why I usually don't take it along.....I do love the peace and quiet 😍
Yes, I have mine on mute most of the time. Certainly works for me, but I’ve never worked very much through my private phone, so it’s more of a fitness machine than an actual phone! 🤣🤣🤣
Walked again today, hip and leg exercises done about 30 mins before.Walked stayed same length, will increase tomorrow, rep numbers in exercises nudging upwards and "shock horror" the clam shell exercise which challenges my hip the most (much cracking and creaking) is getting better AND the angle of stretch is increasing.
So, on the whole I'm chuffed ! And feel more balanced and confident on my feet.
Mornings are still a problem, that first hour on waking, prior to pain relief and anti inflammatory's kicking in, is still annoying. And doing anything for the first couple of hours is a no go.
But I'm confident now, I can see improvement on the horizon.
Great ideas CBDB, very imaginative 😊👍 I especially like the whispering trees idea. I can’t manage a daily walk due to work (but I am on my feet all day!) but will try a challenge at the weekend and over the half term holiday 😊
Yesterday's walk, was in the company of my oldest daughter and my doggy Geoffrey !He of course couldn't wait around for slow coach dad lol 🤣 so they pulled off out in front.
I prewarmed my daughter, dad will step count his walk, then when I've hit my target turn around n go back.
They carried on for a much longer and satisfying walk (for Geoffrey).
Ex's and walk done today, extended the walk slightly but will keep it at that for 3-4 days, as felt a bit wobbly the last couple of hundred yards, before home. Almost half way round the dog walking park now, it's as much a confidence thing as stamina, at some point I'll have to just go for it and keep going, there is a bench on the way out of the park, so if I make it round and get wobbly, I'll just have to sit a while, before going home. But not gonna push it, too soon.
Other than that, lovely sunny day, with the bonus of a few nice doggies in the park.
Off to the physio's in an hour, will probably be told the ex's I'm doing are all wrong ! More importantly get to hear the results of the X-ray and just how awful my hip is.
No walk today just the exercises, the weather was a tad inclement. That's code for p*****g down with rain lol 🤣I'm straining at the leash to start dumbbell ex's but I'll wait another week.
No point being silly, when I'm doing so well.
Btw the physio printed off some ex's for me, I'm doing all of them bar one one, which involves kneeling, which I can't do. I was surprised, I was expecting to be told I was doing all the wrong ones lol 😂
Yeah, my knees don’t kneel anymore either. Their kneeling days have come and gone, I think. 🙁 but as long as the kneels run or walk, I can live with not kneeling.
Short walk today, it was breezy and wet and I was feeling a bit unsteady on my feet. I seem to peek, about about 1 ISH. Before then I'm working myself up for it, after, and I'm starting to relax in my chair and can't motivate myself 😂But I did something and that's important !
I seem to have a problem in my R heel, I've had it for about a month, I'm also pretty sure it's plantar fascitiitis (the symptoms are classic) I've bought some orthopedic insoles and am rubbing olive oil in that bottom heel and have added some calf stretching ex's to my routine.
Ps I'm ruthlessly exploiting this board and my daughter's for accountability. I'm using you guys to keep me on track and I don't apologise lol 🤣My exercises, my walking, my diet I'm banging on about it, as a sounding board, that allows me to kick my own a**e in public.
That’s fine! That’s what this community is here for, right!
Well done for getting out there and sorry to hear about pf. I’ve never experienced it, luckily, but sending you healing wishes. Hope the orthopedic insoles do their trick!
So this week I'm beginning my new modified exercise plan. Yesterday was legs exercises followed by walking, today was seated dumbbell exercises, followed by a walk (no probs)
6 days, one day off a week, leg ex's n walk, then dumbbell ex's and walk alternate days.
I'm prepping myself for the hip operation, leg strengthening to give me the best chance of a successful operation and upper body ex's because I'll need the strength to hoist myself from bed to commode etc and onto my feet, post op !
Just a question of time and waiting until the op now, I may set up a pool on "guess the date" 20p entry, nearest the date takes the pot lol 😂
Today's walk was good, no wobbles and felt confident and positive !
Yup, the exercise bug lol not the dreaded lurgy. I feel like I did 20/30 odd yrs ago regarding exercise.Enthused and optimistic, I'll have to watch it though, my body doesn't match up.
But I'm old and wise enough to take things slowly, avoid injury and concentrate on doing what's practical at my age and state of health.
So no heavy barbell squats, deadlifts etc that's long behind me !
These days, I study vids for elderly seated exercises, not "how to be an animal and dominate the bench" lol 🤣
Some stats on my working out, today = 4 weeks. I have on average worked out 4.5 days a week.Obviously this varies and accounts for weeks of enthusiasm and feeling well and others of weeks where, it was difficult to motivate myself, or tiredness, pain, intervened.
Overall I'm happy with 4.5, that represents a fair spread of exercise and rest and reflects what I used to do in the past, mostly.
I'm hoping to.push it up to 5 days on average, as it gets easier.
The orthotic inserts have helped the heel.problem.i was having and I've since discovered my knee op 2 yrs ago may/has impacted on this.
Initially I had neuropathy in my toes on that foot but over time it's relocated to the heel.
After reviewing the op and stats for outcomes (and this is the part where it sounds absurd but is actually a thing).
A high % of people after the op, have legs of differing length lol, the prosthetic adding anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 inch to the operated leg.
Again this is corrected by orthotic lifts on the unoperated side, which I've done.
So... I've gone all Tom cruise and added 3/4 inch lifts to my right shoe and ????
Bugger me, I'm walking normally without limping lol !
But at 6' 1" I can assure you, it's not a vanity issue.
Have tweaked my routine, as of yesterday.Dumbbells and stationary bike and leg exercises and walk, alternate days.
I've added in the stationary bike, as my walking was not improving as I would have liked and I think the "non impact" nature of the exercise bike will allow me to build stamina and time, without risk of "wobbles or falls"
Hopefully this feeds into my walking and allows me to progress.
I seemed to get so far and then anxiety and balance issues, would make me turn around and go home and I hit a plateau.
Also the peddling action, is a good loosening exercise, for knees and hips.
That said, I am walking further than before I started, feel more confident and aren't as wobbly as I was. Both my daughters have noticed and one called me "sprightly" lol 😂
My weight is flat lining atm, exercise alone doesn't lose weight, or is even the most important component, so I'm being more vigilant about cals as well as quality of food. I was obsessed for a while, with getting the right balance of protein etc and didn't realize my cals were creeping up.
Have you actually ever considered Nordic walking with two poles? It really helps on so many levels, and one can get a set of poles quite cheaply at decathlon. Here was my first foray into Nordic walking: healthunlocked.com/active10...
Might be something exciting to look forward to trying out?
No I can't say I have. I'm guessing that's the upright handled version of walking sticks. Walking sticks have a traditional 90% support at the top and walking poles seem to be strictly vertical ? And also are traditionally longer ? I suppose double sided support would give a more "confident feel" to walking.
I'll stick as I am atm but don't rule anything in or out. I've learned as I got older, you do what works. When you're young, exercise is easy and traditional, as you get older, you have to consider ways to fit your circumstances.
I did rain and felt the rain drops hit my hood and felt cold... I wasn't going to do rain but had to do a shop...There was no damp grass smell or anything except soot from posibbly my hubs open fire... I think we need to clean the chimney 🏡🔥it was good to be out... I like the puddles 😁
Wow so many different shades colours... My weather thing said it wouldn't rain yesterday so ignored the colour of the sky... It rained... I had to bring the clothes inside pretty sharpish... I very much enjoyed looking at the sky and the clouds within it...I initially thought I saw a dragon but now think it is a dolphin
I think I’ve done all of these with exception of the last one: dance in the rain!
I’ve done done runs in the rain, but not dedicated walks. As my runs still include walking sections, it might just count.
But the strange thing I’ve come to realise is that I dislike walking in the rain so much more than running in the rain. Running in the rain is fine, but the thought of walking in the rain is dreadful, wet cloth, cold wet hands, wet hair and glasses, heavy soaked leggings and tops…. Wruuuechhhh…
Feelings I associate with running in the rain are just: fresh, drizzle, refreshing, ….
Not sure why this is? Is anyone else having similar feelings and understand why this is?
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#Photowalk Challenge June/July : Critters 
Last walk for a while
