"Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise “... Part One

[Oldfloss]

A post of two halves....

"Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise “.

A post of two halves !

Good morning people....

After being a day late with yesterday's post... I thought I should try to be on time today... and this post is one of two.

Yesterday evening, I did, for no apparent reason, ( that is the worst thing about anxiety and panic), experience a short episode of discomfort. By taking it slow and steady, ( what else), and with a short breathing focused exercise, I settled to sleep. I slept well and deeply. Waking to what would normally be a superb morning to run, I began, whilst still in bed, with a restful set of breathing exercises... and so the day begins!

Today... I and Mr OF have a plan ! This is fairly unusual for us, as we are fairly spontaneous.

Okay, today we are heading out...not far...just into Derbyshire, but to a favourite spot for a sneaky, snatched picnic, when I get fed up of chores. I am hoping it will not be too busy, but we will be avoiding the honeypot that is Ilam.

( This plan did not come to fruition... Mr OF felt very tired and muzzy headed.... )

I spent the day doing a bit of gardening, doing the washing and drying clothes on the line in the glorious sunshine!

A day well spent, in the sunshine and with lots of two and fro-ing and running up and downstairs !

Okay! First things first..

To quote The New Scientist...

“The benefits of exercise are huge. If it were a drug, it would be a miracle cure. It keeps our hearts strong and blood vessels supple, lessens chronic inflammation and reduces the harmful effects of stress “.

Wow! Well if that is not a reason to start moving again, I do not know what is!

Walking;

* Reduces stress and anxiety

* Boosts our energy levels

* Increases our body confidence

* Lifts our mood

* Helps improve our sleep routine

All this, from walking...?

Walking is classed as a moderate intensity exercise. This is ordinary walking at our own comfortable pace.

Walking is a great exercise on so many levels, so I thought I needed to explore and find out more about it... you know how I love to research stuff!

When we walk... at least one foot is always touching the ground and this makes it a most efficient form of exercise. We each have our own, individual and optimum stride and that is related to the length of our legs!

There are so, so many places to choose to walk too...to suit all levels of fitness, all ages and a wealth of different locations. From walking to the shop., to the great trails in the UK and beyond....

When we are feeling a tad under par.... maybe a walk around the garden will suffice.. but, when we begin to build our energy levels up.... then there is , that little bit further...just around the corner, just to the top of the rise. Those endorphins will soon start to whizz around!

Those first steps after illness or injury or when we are in a state of anxiety? They may be the hardest, but they will be so worth it.

The timings of our walks may seem very short at first,,, but, when we feel physically or mentally under par, it may be just enough.

An example :

We can start very slowly, and just walk for five minutes without stopping, (or less if we feel breathless and tired)

* Gradually build this up, by 30 – 60 seconds, once the walk begins to feel easier

* Once we can do 10-minutes without stopping, aim to do two 10-minute walks a day

* Once we can achieve two 10-minute walks, aim for two 15 minute or three 10-minute walks

* Gradually progress to a 30-minute walk

If we have issues with mobility... then there is even water walking...lots of local pools or leisure centres do offer classes

I have not run for an age.... I have walked.... long hospital corridors, flights of stairs and some really long treks from car-parks to the hospital wards...But they were stressful walks, full of anxious thoughts and although they may have helped my body. They certainly did nothing for my mental state.

But now, I am looking forward... to walks with Mr OF as he starts to build up his exercise and more walks for me, to get me moving for longer and with an easy mind.

I shall be posting again tomorrow... after my first walk, with a Walk and Talk companion. I shall of course, be slow and steady and we will be pausing half way around to sit and talk...

So.... just because... I am putting some links here which may be of interest to a few folk.

I know Mr OF and I will be visiting a fair few... mainly flat and easy access for a while...but we are both hopeful that when all things move on and settle, we will be revisiting some of our lesser well known favourites, a little more off the beaten track.

countryfile.com/go-outdoors...

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/...

nhsinform.scot/healthy-livi...

These are just a few ideas, but if you look around what is available in your local area... well the world of walking really is your oyster!

Stay safe everyone and to those friends who I know are struggling with all sorts, right now... sleep well or rest easy.

Sleep well all ! x

See you tomorrow.

Oldfloss x

PS

Quotation courtesy of Carrie Latet

PPS

Listening to the feature on BBC news... my post today is very topical!

[David_G]

Thanks Oldfloss lots of good suggestions there. I’m enjoying my walks as part of my recovery from a heart attack and cardiac arrest in April 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to David_G]

You are doing incredibly...and there are some super walks in your area aren't there?

[David_G in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss yes, there are. Once I’m able to run and walk further I’ll be giving them a go!

[linda9389]

I ran with you today OF. We wandered through the trees, we slipped through the mud, we marvelled at the blue sky and golden fields. I know it is every bit as beautiful when walking as when running xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to linda9389]

Oh yes.... how splendid that was... just us and the world! xxx

[linda9389 in reply to Oldfloss]

The best bits of the world 🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to linda9389]

Totally!

[Tbae]

Thinking about you both with all good wishes.👩‍❤️‍👨💪🙏🤞❤️

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Tbae]

Waving hi to Tbae . Just the other day I came across an old post of yours and wondered if you were ok. Good to see you!

And such a lovely, thoughtful post about walking, Oldfloss . I love those links.

[Tbae in reply to CBDB]

Hi CBDB.

Hope you are all good.

Yes thanks.

Still trying to do a bit on Strava C25k.

Stuff gets in the way CBDB.I count my blessings when I found HealthUnlocked.

Just joined the 80 club.

I also count my blessings that somehow I am able to bounce back with a minimum of 5k after weeks of jobs/chores.

Many people can walk quicker than I can run.I still have ambitions to clock that marathon.

Lovely to see 5000 steps daily of walking is sufficient to keep you healthy.

All best wishes to you CBDB.

🏃‍♀️💪🙏🤞🌟

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Tbae]

That all sounds awesome. And slow is good.

I’m still convinced I’m the queen of slow on these forums, no one could yet prove to me that I have to turn over my crown! 🤣🤣🤣 There should be competitions of slow running … much healthier … well at least for me.

Good to read your post. 🙂

[Tbae in reply to CBDB]

Yes CBDB I saw some research that concluded that you maximise the benefits from the exercise with slow paced running.🏃‍♀️🌟💪🤞👏👏

[Bluebirdrunner in reply to Tbae]

Hi Tbae, Belated birthday wishes to you.

I am always delighted when I see you have posted your Strava activities, its good to know you are out there when you have the chance, and still have your goal in mind.

I do find posting my activites amongst friends on Strava very motivating. As you know, my walks, yoga, and one day hopefully runs again are recorded there, and it feels like we are all exercising together. All giving each other support👍.

I hope you and the family are all keeping well, and pulling together.

Lovely to hear from you.

🏃‍♂️💜🙏xxx

[Tbae in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Hi Jan,

Thank you so much.

Yes all well thanks.

I hope the same for you and your family.

I just try and chill now, address the work list, then reset and get back running.

Lots of love to you and yours Jan

👩‍❤️‍👨💪🙏🤞❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to CBDB]

Walking is what I am doing really as well as my 5 Rites... so glad you found those!

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Oldfloss]

Yes, the 5TR were a great find. I cane across them in Nestor’s Book: “Breath”.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to CBDB]

I'm reading that now

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Tbae]

Thanks you,,, x Good to see you!

[PeggySusi]

Thanks Oldfloss.. I’ve always fancied walking one of the National Trails.. but they are so long!.. my niece and her late husband attempted the southwest coast path while he was ill.. she completed it with friends after he died, and I think it helped her.

The nearest to me are the Cleveland Way and the Wolds Way and I’ve walked bits of them, but not all.. maybe one day..😊

This is a photo I took yesterday from a bench beside the Cleveland way.. I liked the way the folds in the field seemed to follow on into the waves..

Green field by the sea

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to PeggySusi]

This is so beautiful... it just flows....truly a wonderful place to let that foot heal! The trails are so very long... we fancied Hadrian's Wall!

Never say never, and when you are fully healed you may be even more eager to get out there and try it! x

[SueAppleRun]

Thanks Floss, keep walking, keep breathing, keep moving, accept though that you may need to rest, it's being a tough time at the moment xx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to SueAppleRun]

It is true and I am taking time just for me... with my water-colour paining... our class finished for the summer just before J's heart attack.... but we had a challenge to paint a moonlight hare... with three colours and pencil. It is hard and all you think of is the painting!

I am looking forward to my walk today! Thank you, my friend x

Half done hare...

[SueAppleRun in reply to Oldfloss]

That is a very beautiful painting Floss, enjoy today's walk xx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks. .hard!

[skysue16 in reply to Oldfloss]

What a beautiful painting OF, I do love hares 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to skysue16]

Me too! Thank you x

[skysue16]

Great links, thank you very much for taking time to research those 😊👍. We are walking the South West Coast path in bite sized chunks 😂 using the fantastic open top coast bus to get us to the start and then walking back to the car. Recently we walked Ilfracombe to Woolacombe - beautiful coastline.

Sorry that you didn’t get your picnic, perhaps another day. Thanks again OF for your interesting and informative posts.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to skysue16]

Thanks you and wow... some beautiful walking going on for you! The coast bus sounds terrific!!! There is a bus that goes around the LLyn peninsula, but it is not open topped!

Yes... another day and lots of productive stuff done! x

[skysue16 in reply to Oldfloss]

I tried to add a photo of the coastline but it’s not happening! 🤔

[Bluebirdrunner]

Oh Floss, a huge hug... reading your post and realising just how frightening all this has been for you, small wonder your anxiety levels are so high.

The uncertainty raises insecurities that rock your world don't they, and you have to carry everything on your shoulders. Those long hospital corridors literally sap your energy as you walk them.

You are doing amazingly well, juggling so many things, and yet still being here for forum friends.

Keep breathing deeply and finding time for yourself to relax. The planned walking will begin as you have the will, and soon the anxiety I hope will shrink to the back of your mind.

Walking has been on the news today, we usually manage quite a bit, MrBBr always want to go out walking, its his favourite pastime...

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🌳xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you!!! Always there for me over so many years xxx

Yes... frightening is a word I do not use often, but I have been frightened... and yes, right too, those corridors do sap the strength from you !!! But... I am getting there, it is blinking slow and sometimes not terribly steady but I am doing it.

Moving easier, breathing better, painting , writing and keeping us on track. I am hopeful that the sessions I am beginning today will give me some more strategies to help this dreadful over-thinking of everything...

Being here and sharing is so good for me and it turns out, there are a fair few forum friends with issues of their own... stress and anxiety playing a major part in their lives!

I heard the news feature too.. I think they knew what i was posting!!!

You had a lovely day, I know that.. go Mr BBr !!! And of course... his best supporter, ever xxx

[Liz-is-trying]

Thank you OF for your posts and today’s about walking. I love walking and although I enjoy new walks I am very happy walking locally from my front door and I do not get bored with walking the same routes. There are always new things to observe and enjoy.

I have started C25 several times- usually following injury. I am currently on week 6 run 1- but I repeat the runs several times before progressing. It works for me at the moment- it’s getting me out and keeping me chilled

You really are an inspiration OF!

Keep 💪 and best wishes to you and Mr OF x

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Liz-is-trying]

Thank you for those kind words...they do mean so much right now!

You are so right...even our regular routes give so much joy; always something new or the changing weather and seasons too!

Repeating those runs is absolutely fine and whatever works for you is exactly what you should be doing! Thank you so much for sharing this!

Just shows that we do not have to travel too far to enjoy our walks!

What was it Bilbo told Frodo... ?

" You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to".

xxx

[Mum22boys]

Hope you enjoy your walk and talk and find it relaxing and beneficial. Have you ever listened to the bbc Ramblings podcasts with Claire Balding? I love them, she walks in some amazing places with some incredible people and often talks about the benefits of talking while we walk and how therapeutic it can be x

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Mum22boys]

Hello ! How are you... I think I spotted that you were back, but with all the hectic rushing around after Mr OF's heart attack I have been less than visible!

Thanks for this... it sounds super... !

[Mum22boys in reply to Oldfloss]

I am good thank you, enjoying being back running, hoping to stay injury free and not letting life suck my motivation! I was so pleased to read Mr OF was on the mend, slow and steady but every day is a little progress. Keep looking after you, I know that isn't always easy. I often have this very conversation with my mum, who is a carer for my dad, but unfortunately she isn't able to adopt the real importance of self care.

Hope you enjoyed your walk and talk x

[Running_at50]

A lovely post, thank you. I hope you get some lovely walks in. I've always loved walking, I grew up with a family of walkers. We used to go on walking holidays, once up Snowdon and then later walking in the lake District. I absolutely love it there, my adult children and parents visit regularly and I haven't been for 20 years! I have booked to go next July with my whole family (15 of us!) I can't wait! I'm planning on going up striding edge to Helvellyn, a brave move as I was a youngster the last time I did it! Happy walking x

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Running_at50]

Hello and good morning! This sounds just great! In love walks in Snowdonia when we are at the coast ! Snowdon now can be a tad crowded!!!

Your plans sound wonderful ! Family and fresh air... perfect combination! Striding Edge !!!!! Eek.... you will love it!

Thank you for sharing all this x

[Curlygurly2]

I haven't run for a bit over a week, following my traumatic tooth extraction and not feeling quite the full ticket with a cough, but I have walked every day for about an hour. I'm surprised actually how good I feel on it. I've been suffering with fatigue, I put it down to my thyroid problem not being well controlled, but apparently it's not that...maybe I'm just doing too much for my current age and condition. I feel we're all encouraged to push hard, sometimes a gentle walk is perhaps more beneficial. I certainly don't feel so tired. I shall watch closely and see what happens when I start to run again.

[ToothPickJafah 30D Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Sorry to read you haven’t run recently Curlygurly. Hope you can get back out there soon. Sending you love and hugs 🖤🥰🖤 xxx

[ToothPickJafah 30D Graduate]

Hey my lovely friend, Oldfloss 🥰 so sorry to read about your anxiety and panic attacks, you’ve been through the wringer lately and I’m sending you lots and lots of love and gentle hugs and healing thoughts and sharing my strength with you too.

You’ve been such a positive influence for me in this community and I feel that I’ve got to know you a bit in my short time here. I always greatly appreciate all your supportive comments and encouragement so now it’s my turn to be supportive to you while you have some TLC and take things as they come.

You are such an inspiration to me and I really look up to you, I absolutely LOVE reading your posts, they always make me smile but also make me think too.

Sending you and MrOldfloss love, light and bright blessings 🖤 hope you are feeling a bit better today 😘

I’ve managed 5reps of the Tibetan Rites this morning and after not doing them for 5 days I’ve really felt the benefits just now 🤗

Stay awesome!

Much love to you my friend 🥰 xxxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to ToothPickJafah]

Thank you. You are going through so much and here you are supporting me xYour words mean a lot.

Well done you ! I did the Rites once this morning...! Good to know you are still moving..stay strong...be kind to yourself...and maybe take a peek later at my post about to go up!!!

I've had a lovely morning!!!

[ToothPickJafah 30D Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

It’s one of the things I do best, support others! Got told I’m a natural carer and always help people whenever and as much as I can. Also got told I should have been a nurse!

Sharing is caring! You can lean on me and I can lean on you 🖤

And that’s good to know you’ve had a lovely morning 🤗 xx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to ToothPickJafah]

xxx

[Gthants Graduate]

I'm definitely walking more at the moment!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Gthants]

You are!!

[Ziggyliscious]

xxxx