I had a meds checkup with my doctor last week and she wasn't happy about my weight, my bloodwork or my blood pressure. Any one of them would have been not good, but all three at the same time gets to be a serious issue. I admit I fell off the wagon after my dad died last year, so it was all the motivation I needed. Paying more attention to my diet was something that was way overdue. That will improve my bloodwork and a modification to the medications I take will help with my blood pressure.
Then she asked how active I was.
Um.
"You need to get moving!"
So... pay attention to my diet, modify my medications, and move my body. OK. I can do all those things.
I love to walk, but damn, it's almost winter here in NH and it's cold out. Trying to get to the gym would mean I'd be there with everyone else at the busy times. WHERE, I wondered, could I walk for free?
I could walk at the Mall, but between now and Christmas the Mall will be jam packed, and getting in and out of the parking lot is problematic. I thought of the grocery store, but then I thought of something else.
I work for a manufacturing company. We have a 75,000 square foot facility. It would be very easy to stay a bit longer after work and walk around. So I have been doing that.
Take a right, and this is my view down to Shipping and Receiving.
17 comments:
That all sounds / reads so wonderful to me, you are definitely heading in the right direction. Does your workplace have scales as well? Waiting to see the progress.
Good for you Lynne. Where you walk looks safe, warm and dry and a good way to get those steps in.
I think we are all in the same boat with you; I know I am. This summer we had a contest at work for getting steps in and I ended up hurting my foot and pulling a muscle in my right thigh because I pushed myself too hard. Yes, I won a fifty dollar gift card, but I have suffered with foot pain for 3 1/2 months and thigh pain for 2 1/2 months so it wasn't worth it. Thanks goodness both injuries are pretty much healed. It's great you have a place to get some steps in at work and doing what you can physically do is the right way to go about it. I am older than you, still work, and it is hard to lose weight no matter what you do. I have lost some, but it just doesn't come off the way it use to. Any improvement will make your doctor happy and get them off your back. With the weight I have lost, my blood pressure did improve a lot although I still am on meds. I just take it one day at a time and keep moving forward. I have to ask, what does your company produce? I have worked many years in manufacturing and love it. I am now in construction and that's a whole different animal! Take care.
Free, heated, not jammed packed with people and convenient, perfect recipe for keeping it up. Aging isn’t for sissy’s! Good job you!
Good for you. I've been doing this for years. Treadmill at home in the winter I suggest a half or three quarters hour of brisk walking rather than counting steps.
You'll feel like a new woman!
Good for you--not easy that is for sure!! I totally empathize with arthritis pains and my herniated disk doesn't help with walking either--I've gotten to .4 of a mile between our treadmill and outdoors--but it has been windy and cold--I hate walking in the wind--hard to catch your breath isn't it?
and As for diet--that is another toughie, too!! I am trying to limit carbs and am doing the intermittent fasting beginner...
I also try to get up from the sewing machine every 1/2 hour and just walk around. I am 80 but I keep on creaking along...hang in there girl--sending good thoughts hugs, Julierose ;))) [Oof dah!!]
You are walking and that counts. You will try to work more steps into your day now that are conscious that you need to be more active. Guilt will kill you accomplishment faster than anything. Take a lesson from Dory and just keep swimming or in your case walking.
You are walking and that counts. You will try to work more steps into your day now that are conscious that you need to be more active. Guilt will kill you accomplishment faster than anything. Take a lesson from Dory and just keep swimming or in your case walking.
John Singer Sargent!! Oh, I LOVE his work! Enjoy it all twice as much!
Work looks like a great place to walk!!
Good for you to have figured out a safe, warm place to walk. I am so excited that you are going to the Boston museum to see the Singer Sargent exhibit!!! I saw an article on his work just last week, and you are so lucky to get to see these beautiful paintings in person! I hope you will blog about it!
The company I retired from had maps hung up around the buildings with distances marked so walkers would know what they accomplished. I'm glad you found a spot to walk safely and away from hoards of people. Watch out for the fork lifts though, at "my" company, some of the operators weren't exactly shining examples of a safe operator.
Sorry your hip starts complaining after a while, but at least it's not right from the start? Darn cold comfort, I know.
My PT says to walk 30 minutes as quickly as I can (difficult with a walker) then exercises to keep the legs strong. Oh boy, this getting older is not easy. Ruth Bailey
Excellent solution - and you are already THERE without having to drive/park any extra to do your walking.
get good, new walking shoes. very important!! ...your body will thank you.
When my husband recently started a new walking program, the first pair of shoes he bought were too tight and his heels bled. Two weeks later he found better shoes in a larger size at REI. He's walking about 7 miles (2 hours) 3-4 days a week now, no pain, much healthier. He has three pair because it takes about two days for one pair to dry out after one session. Proper fitting shoes are the best investment! Good Luck!
So great you are taking the bull by the horns and making changing choices. I found that walking on concrete is very hard on my arches and knees, so I bought inserts that runners use to keep the pounding on them to a minimum. Really helps. I also use very good sneakers to walk (New Balance) because they are wide enough in the toe box. Also, if you take your phone with headphones you can listen to podcasts about all sort of interesting things or music. I do cardiac rehab three times a week (that is all they are open) and wish I had somewhere to walk alot when the weather is cold and windy and wet. Keep going and enjoy better numbers!
So nice that you found a safe place to walk.
When I began walking a few years ago, in my late sixties, I was also limited by hip issues. I found that then sitting and putting ankle over thigh and holding for a count of thirty allowed me to continue walking. I do both legs to even out. Eventually I could do 5000 steps, but it takes me an hour, which cuts into my sewing time!
I have not taken care of myself since my mother died earlier this year. Your post has given me some incentive to get back at it! Very hard for me to limit carbs though, since artisan bread tastes so good.
Take care.
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