CHANGING ROOM CHAT...WEEK 2... COME on in...Those boots are made for Walking... and that's just what. they'll do...

[Oldfloss]

...and if you cannot get outdoors, then inside will have to do !

Hello folks... welcome to the changing room... it is warm and comfy, and although I, am a day later here, there are a few healthy snacks and drinks for anyone who fancies them!

Well, I am not sure how many of you are finding the weather a tad challenging right now, but up here in the Staffs Moorlands, we have had warmth, followed by severe cold, followed by bitter icy cold and heavy snow, interspersed liberally with torrential rain!

I do know that our own amazing, MissUnderstanding has had floods , where she lives!

To say my own exercise routine has been upended is an under statement! I have not run for over ten days! My exercise is supported each day with some of my own routines and using also, some of the fabulous stuff available right here... but I really am, hoping to get my re-Graduation run in soon!

So... life may be really really busy right now, time constraints are increasing and... if the weather outside is frightful...what are we able to do ?

Well, in line with the fun posts I am doing in these weeks leading up to Winterval celebrations... this one is all about Walking! Walking indoors... !

This is something that many, many of us used, in the lost years of the Pandemic lockdowns... to very great effect. The benefits were both physical and perhaps more importantly, mental! The benefits in theses current times will be useful too!

So,,, why, when and why?

Walking indoors can provide similar benefits to an outdoor workout, with bonus points too! . The weather is not an issue... and there are no obstacles, people or vehicles!

The locations we choose for our exercise activities are our own... but to walk well and healthily ..well you really can, do it anywhere.. ( mostly)! My, Shop until you don't Drop post included the benefits of walking whilst shopping... and this moves on from there!

Indoor walking also can be done, anytime... to fit in with your lifestyle.

The health benefits too, are well documented, and posts here have set those out... heart health, immunity strengthening etc., make it a desirable activity.

So.. you are at home. What can you do to support what may seem like an impossible and maybe, boring walk session?

Okay... let's begin.

* Record your steps.

Seeing how many steps you have done can be really motivational and if you have a posh gadget, checking your physical stats too may be useful!

* Stair climbing... ( If you have stairs).  

Vary your walking workout by climbing the stairs at home. Shake it up... Even short amounts of extra stair-climbing, improve cardiovascular health. Start out by one or two extra trips up and down the stairs each day, then increase.

* Practice inefficiency. Instead of carrying a pile of things from one room to another.. do one at a time!

* Walk while you talk. Chat to a friend, on your phone...talk to yourself!

So... how to get started with a real workout session.. well I am going to link an excellent session which our esteemed friend @Roseabi put for us in lockdown. I used them and although some are intended to aid weight loss , there are others that are not. I did NOT want to lose weight... I needed the opposite!

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Now... before I shut up... one of my very favourite walking indoors sites... is that of Lesley Sansone.

LOADS of different sessions and different distances, n the sessions are pacey and really great fun... You can choose distance or time constraints. I thought initially it was not for me, but, I do really enjoy it and watching the folk in the group as you do the session is fascinating!

E.g.

youtube.com/watch?v=C_rKOIJ...(Not working as expected?)

Do, take a peek!

Okay... that is me, ready to sit back now! Time to share … have you done any indoor walking, if so, when or why?

Looking forward to seeing some friends here...

Oldfloss x

[MissUnderstanding]

The weather has been terrible here. The main road turned into a river-if I’d been a surfer I’d have been tempted to give it a go!

My main strength and flex activities are Pilates and weights at the gym with some lovely online yoga with Adriene. I haven’t felt up to much recently (flu) but I did get back to Pilates yesterday. Harder than usual-I think I’m still not recovered but it was nice to do something. Lots of glute bridges and single leg variations were a proper challenge but exactly what my physio wanted me doing to support my IT band problems. Hopefully I’ll be back in the gym next week.

Have a good one everyone!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to MissUnderstanding]

On the way back to full health I hope ...take it gently and you will get there x

[AlMorr]

To be honest with you Floss I have never done indoor walking except to the kitchen, toilet, living room and bedroom, even during the pandemic I did manage to get out walking 🚶 myself and with my neighbours dog Holly as well as running 🏃🏾

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to AlMorr]

Well done to you and thanks for stopping by to x

[RunningJ123]

That's interesting, the walking youtube! I glanced at it quickly but will maybe give it a go later when I have time ⌚

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to RunningJ123]

There are also some great virtual walks on YouTube if you have access to a treadmill or cross trainer..

This one is just worth watching, anyway, when you have a moment ... I love it!

youtube.com/watch?v=cX3gO4_...(Not working as expected?)

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold]

SNAP!!! 🫰💥

I had a walking workout in my choice as well! Yes, they are handy when the weather keeps you inside! (Or as it happened at the time, lockdown restrictions!)

Nice one!

Although “practicing inefficiency” goes do against my nature, that I really must make an effort to require that aspect of my brain! It’s such a great tip for everyday active movement! (I had a friend who used to go/walk to the shops at least 3 times per day, as she never made lists! We mocked, but she was fit as a fiddle without doing any exercise!)

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to CBDB]

Shaking up our habits can be refreshingly beneficial. Inefficiency comes hard to me after having to be so organised, with many years in Education ...but I am deliberately making real efforts to be less constrained in my approaches to some things.

My parents walked miles and miles in their time and my Nan was still going up and down two flights of steep stairs until she was 98.... she said, that walking kept her going...She was never still, and I am growing very much like her in many ways... although building essential rest time is for me still a huge part of my routines.

Thanks you x

[TheTabbyCat Graduate]

Thanks for this Oldfloss, I'd sort of forgotten about Lesley Sansones walking workouts. I make an effort to walk around my (too) big flat. This year I completed the NHS S&F with Laura, just walking from room to room to use the furniture etc instead of park benches. Sit to stand using the sofa arm, for the standing push ups and pull ups I used the window frame in the bedroom.

My outside walking is jut a couple of times a day with my small dog.

At the moment my "workouts" are with the step craze but if I get bored I'll certainly have another go with Lesley S.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to TheTabbyCat]

Hello and welcome! This is fantastic!!! We have had a very few folk who have used their home for their exercise routine including an incredible runner who did the whole of C25K around her kitchen !

You did brilliantly... , I did the S and F indoors too... you were incredibly innovative! I think the Lesley Sansone can just give you a buzz... I have my regular daily workouts, but just sometimes and really pacey, happy session!

Let us know how you go... and I hope folk reading this realise, that we are only ever limited by our own chosen limitations... Thank You!

[5KCouch]

Indoor walking as an excercise: Never

British/UK vs. Norwegian pandemic experience: The great outdoors was not restricted. Great upswing in hiking and sleeping outdoors.

I especially remember

- how the forest paths got so much wider in no time

- stumbling on people with maps discussing the route, in areas where I was used to encountering maybe one person or no-one at all

[TheTabbyCat Graduate in reply to 5KCouch]

The difference in coping with the pandemic is interesting, 5KCouch . I'm in Italy and we were restricted just like the UK. With hindsight, it would be interesting to see if there was any difference in the time it took both countries to recover and resume life as normal

[5KCouch in reply to TheTabbyCat]

It would be hard to make any direct comparisons. There is a strong tradition in Norway for the kind outdoor activities where you can keep a some physical distance and still talk, like hiking and cross country skiing. Plus, there is a lot more space. A lot more land per capita - and most of it open to the public too.

And I almost forgot the main point: When the areas that were used most before the pandemic started to get a bit crowded, there was always lots of space to discover not too far away. Even in Oslo.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to 5KCouch]

That sounds like a sensible approach !

[Sax64]

Still getting some regular, but often shorter runs and my S&F but my irregular attempts at Pilates is still somewhat comedic. I'm persevering though in the hope it will click. This morning I tried an over 60s beginners ballet inspired exercise. Ho ho, I've never done any ballet, it's a whole new language and technique. I was very uncoordinated and I don't think my body got anything from it. It willl be back to the mat exercises, see if I can get the hang of breathing correctly as well as making the moves required. Hopefully it will suddenly fall into place.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Sax64]

Hello! Good to see you!

You are still moving and still doing those exercises... the ballet, great fun... I joined the online Silver Swans... and bought myself a barre...Working through the different levels is great fun!

The breathing is tricky... I find the YWA breathing exercises have been helpful in that respect... because if we don't get it right, the exercise itself becomes hard!

Maybe take a peek at some of those?

[sunny369]

absolutely pouring with rain here today, I didn’t get far with my little dog before she was determined to go home!

I just did the walking work out you posted above and really quite enjoyed it, a good idea for me on indoor days, I will definitely do it again

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to sunny369]

Great to hear... well done you and thank you for calling in to share that walk ! Indoors is drier today!