walking

Thinking Out Loud ~ It’s Time to Wake Up

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Set it Aside, At Least Temporarily

Thoreau writes in “Walking,” “  I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit.  In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society.  But it sometimes happens that I cannot easily shake off the village.  The thought of some work will run in my head and I am not where my body is—I am out of my senses.” P. 740

Walking is available online and gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: I can relate to what Thoreau is saying here. If I am beset with an issue, I can carry it with me and ruminate on it throughout an entire workout at the gym. I can carry it with me when i go to church and wonder when the church service is over what the sermon was all about. And, it’s happened to me when I go for a walk. If we can become aware of our issues or problems and set them aside on a metaphoric table before we commence going on with something else we will feel much better. Pope Francis referred to this as being awake. Am I awake to what I am feeling, thinking, and doing? If I am, it changes everything. I can make a decision that is more physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy for me. Here’s hoping you can set aside your problems and challenges on your metaphoric table.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Walking Without Purpose

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Ruminating on a Walk

Thoreau writes in “Walking,” “But the walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise . . . as the swinging of dumb-bells or chairs; but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day.  If you would get exercise, think of a man’s swinging dumb-bells or his health, when those springs are bubbling up in far-off pastures unsought by him! Moreover, you must walk like a camel, which is said to be the only beast which ruminates when walking.  When a traveler asked Wordsworth’s servant to show him her master’s study, she answered, “Here is his library, but his study is out of doors.” P. 738

Walking is available online and gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: Ruminating along our walk is almost counter cultural. How can we measure how fast we’re walking if we stop to smell a flower or watch a bird feed its young? I recall walking with a friend in a natural setting. All my friend could talk about was work, work, and more work. My friend did not see the array of wild flowers. Nor did my friend see the Mexican blue bird that flew in front of us. And, my friend missed seeing the  two deer that were watching us. My friend didn’t relax. I think my friend would have felt much better if my friend took time to ruminate on our walk and enjoyed everything that the walk offered to us.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Enjoy the Benefits of Walking

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Try Walking It Will Change Your Life

Thoreau writes in “Walking,” ““I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least—and it is commonly more than that—sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.” P. 735

Walking is available online and gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: Thoreau wrote Walking long before we all started thinking about exercise and its relationship to our health. He realized that physical and mental health benefits we get from exercise were immense; especially when one chooses to exercise in nature. Whether it is walking in a nature park close by my house, somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, or along the seashore in the off season, I find myself buoyed by the experience of being outside and becoming one with my surroundings. Try it and you will discover that it will make all the difference in your life.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Learning to Walk for the First Time

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Join the Adventure

Today I began reflecting on “Walking,” by Henry David Thoreau. Walking is available online and gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

Thoreau writes, “It is true, we are but faint-hearted crusaders, even the walkers, nowadays, who undertake no persevering, never-ending enterprises.  Our expeditions are but tours, and come round again at evening to the old hearth-side from which we set out.  Half the walk is but retracing our steps.  We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return.  …  If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again—if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man, then you are ready for a walk.” Pg. 233

NOTE: We’ve forgotten the adventure of walking. We plug EarPods into our ears. We talk on our smart phones. We scroll through social media accounts and miss the adventure. Think of what you are missing on your walk adventure. You’re missing meeting other walkers. Maybe you’ve missed out on making a good friend. You’ve missed out on a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or the darkening swirl of storm clouds gathering. Is it time to make walking an adventure again?

Healthy Lifestyle Tip ~ Here’s How to Calculate Your Calories will Walking or Running

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Calculating Your Calorie Burn While Walking or Running

The American College of Sports Medicine journal “Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise” reports how to calculate an equivalent calorie burn between walking and running. If you walk 3 to 5 mph, your calorie burn is equal to your body weight multiplied by .30 for each mile. When you run, your calorie burn is equal to your body weight multiplied by .63 for each mile. A 150-lb. person burns 45 calories walking a mile and 94.5 calories running a mile. By this standard, at all body weights, you have to walk 2.1 times the distance to burn the same amount of calories as running.

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Health Tip for Today ~ Walking is a Powerful Exercise

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Lace Up Your Walking Shoes – Walking is a Great Exercise

Walking is simple, yet powerful. It can help you stay trim, improve cholesterol levels, strengthen bones, keep blood pressure in check, lift your mood, and lower your risk for a number of diseases (diabetes and heart disease, for example). A number of studies have shown that walking and other physical activities can even improve memory and resist age-related memory loss. All you need is a well-fitting and supportive pair of shoes. Start with walking for about 10 to15 minutes at a time. Over time, you can start to walk farther and faster, until you’re walking for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week.

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Feel Good Tip of The Day ~ Give Yourself a Small Health Gift

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Think healthy today.

Choose one small health gift to give yourself today. Here are a few suggestions:

!. Go for a walk after dinner.

2. Start the day with a glass of warm lemon water.

3. Make it an alcohol free day.

4. Try deep breathing and sitting peacefully in a quiet space.

5. Eat fruit in place of a sugary pastry.

Use your imagination in giving yourself a health gift today. Small health gifts done consistently make a big difference over time.

Health Tip of the Day ~ What is the Difference in Calories Burned between Walking and Running One Mile?

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Yes, there is a calorie difference between walking one mile and running one mile.

The number of calories burned during exercise depends on several factors, including the intensity of the exercise, the duration of the activity, the body weight of the person, and their fitness level. Running is a higher intensity activity than walking and requires more energy and effort. Therefore, running one mile burns more calories than walking one mile.

The exact number of calories burned during running or walking depends on the factors mentioned above, as well as the pace of the activity. However, on average, running burns approximately twice as many calories per mile as walking. For example, a 150-pound person would burn about 100 calories walking one mile at a moderate pace, but would burn about 200 calories running one mile at a moderate pace.

Source: ChatGPT

Health Tip of the Day ~ Walking Can Relieve Lower Back Pain

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You may be surprised to learn that walking is a surprisingly beneficial way to relieve lower back pain. While many people look to specific exercise routines or aerobics classes for physical activity, simply incorporating a walk into your daily routine can do wonders for your overall health.

When you are dealing with lower back pain, you may be tempted to skip workouts or other activities in favor of resting or spending time on the couch. However, walking can be great for your lower back and is an activity that requires little commitment or planning. Grab a pair of walking shoes and find out how walking can help your lower back pain.

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Today’s Health Tip ~ Does Walking 10,000 Steps a Day Contribute to Longevity?

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Walking is Great and the More Steps is Better

And while taking 10,000 steps (about five miles) per day is a common goal, research suggests you may see health benefits with even fewer steps. For instance, one observational study published in the March 2020 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a greater number of daily steps was associated with a lower risk of premature death from any cause. Of the nearly 5,000 adults ages 40 and older included in the study, those who walked about 8,000 steps per day were half as likely to die prematurely as adults who scored 4,000 steps a day. Those who took 12,000 steps daily saw slightly more benefits, though researchers concluded increasing step count, regardless of step intensity, was beneficial for lengthening your life span.

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