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Taking the Pixel out for walkies.
Aug. 12th, 2005 11:36 pm "I have come to the realization over the last couple months that I'm out of shape. While weight wise I'm on the skinny side, and muscle wise I'm buffer than I've ever been, my endurance and stamina suck.
I get very winded on even a short run, I am always kinda tired, etc. I know why too, since getting a driver's license at age 16, I haven't had much in the way of physically demanding hobbies. For all my running around and such I lead a fairly sedentry lifestyle. Driving to visit friends, sitting around talking, playing on the computer, reading, etc.
So I decided that rather than whine to myself about it I was damn well going to do something about it. I pondered a gym, but the $$ isn't there. I pondered getting a treadmill or stationary bike. but those are expensive, cumbersome and boring (I keep pedaling harder and harder and never get any closer to that wall!). So I decided I was going to start walking, and possibly bike riding (if my knees will tolerate it for useful stretches of time).
And tonight was the first night I went walking. I've decided night is the best time for this, its cooler, the sidewalks and streets are vitually empty, and its means its most likely to usurp time that would otherwise be spent poking around online (which I've also been whining to myself is a boring way to pass the time at least half the time). Dug out a watch with a illuminated face, grabbed my maglight flashlight (to make me feel better on the off chance I took a wrong turn and ended up in a really dark area or one of the very bad neighborhoods that border our neighborhood).
I told myself I'd maintain a brisk walk for a half hour, and I did. It was actually 35min when I got to the end of the driveway again. I walked randomly through the neighborhood, turning whenever I felt like it. I want to keep from getting in a rut of a route and getting bored with it. A quick drive of the same route shows I walked within spitting distance of 2 miles. Not bad for the first time out.
I am sweaty and my heartrate & breathing was definitely up, but I'm not exhausted, and I feel pretty damn good. My legs are a little bit sore, I can't tell if they'll be in pain or just fine in the morning. I do have to plan on getting some good running shoes in the near future though.
All in all I am very pleased. the walk was pretty and relaxing, gave me time to think and involved enough effort that I felt I was *doing* something. I'm definitely going to continue this (planning 2-3 times a day, at least a half hour each time, ramping up frequency and/or duration as I can manage and it feels right), and look forward to the results benifiting me across the board in my life.
Its really hard, getting out of all the bad habits I've had for much of my life, but when I do manage it, I am always amazed at how good even small results make me feel."
I get very winded on even a short run, I am always kinda tired, etc. I know why too, since getting a driver's license at age 16, I haven't had much in the way of physically demanding hobbies. For all my running around and such I lead a fairly sedentry lifestyle. Driving to visit friends, sitting around talking, playing on the computer, reading, etc.
So I decided that rather than whine to myself about it I was damn well going to do something about it. I pondered a gym, but the $$ isn't there. I pondered getting a treadmill or stationary bike. but those are expensive, cumbersome and boring (I keep pedaling harder and harder and never get any closer to that wall!). So I decided I was going to start walking, and possibly bike riding (if my knees will tolerate it for useful stretches of time).
And tonight was the first night I went walking. I've decided night is the best time for this, its cooler, the sidewalks and streets are vitually empty, and its means its most likely to usurp time that would otherwise be spent poking around online (which I've also been whining to myself is a boring way to pass the time at least half the time). Dug out a watch with a illuminated face, grabbed my maglight flashlight (to make me feel better on the off chance I took a wrong turn and ended up in a really dark area or one of the very bad neighborhoods that border our neighborhood).
I told myself I'd maintain a brisk walk for a half hour, and I did. It was actually 35min when I got to the end of the driveway again. I walked randomly through the neighborhood, turning whenever I felt like it. I want to keep from getting in a rut of a route and getting bored with it. A quick drive of the same route shows I walked within spitting distance of 2 miles. Not bad for the first time out.
I am sweaty and my heartrate & breathing was definitely up, but I'm not exhausted, and I feel pretty damn good. My legs are a little bit sore, I can't tell if they'll be in pain or just fine in the morning. I do have to plan on getting some good running shoes in the near future though.
All in all I am very pleased. the walk was pretty and relaxing, gave me time to think and involved enough effort that I felt I was *doing* something. I'm definitely going to continue this (planning 2-3 times a day, at least a half hour each time, ramping up frequency and/or duration as I can manage and it feels right), and look forward to the results benifiting me across the board in my life.
Its really hard, getting out of all the bad habits I've had for much of my life, but when I do manage it, I am always amazed at how good even small results make me feel."
