Remember that when you leave this Earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given, a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage. -St. Francis of Assisi

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

10,000 Steps




We've all heard that we need to walk at least
 10,000 steps a day to be considered active.

I do not want to be considered "sedentary". I sat behind a desk for too many years. I try to walk or ride my bike instead of driving. Sometimes I walk up to 7 miles in one day, and then other days I only go a few blocks. Some days I don't go anywhere. I need to be more consistent, I want to be more active everyday.

Do you keep track of your activity? Is it necessary?

I've looked at some "Body Bug" things that you wear on your arm and sync to a computer to track your activity. I'm thinking that this is totally unnecessary - I do not need another electronic thing. With these devices, you keep track of everything you eat and enter it in the program.  I have tried keeping track of activity and food on a free online program and never kept up with it. I would start out good and then forget a meal or a day or an activity, then the charts would be off because something was missing, and I eventually gave up on the process.

My iPhone has several apps that I can use to track my walking. The free apps will tell me how far I have gone on one outing. I would have to pay for an upgrade if I want to see a comparison from one outing to the next. Again, I think this upgrade is unnecessary.

I just need the motivation to get out more and walk or bike everyday. Even if its not 5 or more miles a day. How many miles are in 10,000 steps? I don't know for sure. The free pedometer that I received at the health fair calculates the distance different than the "GPS based app" on the iPhone. If I average the information from both it seems like 10,000 steps = 5 miles.

Does any of this tracking really matter?
 Can't I tell that I am doing the right thing, by how I feel?
And walking on the sand uses different muscles that walking on the sidewalk.
So, how do you calculate the benefits of that?



The weather definitely plays a part in all of this. I don't feel like going out if its gloomy or rainy.  Sometimes I look outside and I think its colder than it is. When I get outside and start walking and realize that its not so bad, I wonder why I waited to go outside. I used to be a morning person. Now on cool mornings, it seems to take me longer to get ready to go out for a walk or to go to town.  I'm hoping to get out to take some sunrise pictures on the beach before I leave this area.

How do I get myself motivated to get outside no matter what the weather is?
I have to remind myself that I may miss seeing the spoonbills,
or a sailboat in the sunset,
or any of the other amazing things around me.


Yesterday, before I left for a walk, I sat in the RV and watched people walking by and riding their bikes. Sure they were wearing hats and coats - but they were out doing something. And, all in all, it is not that cold here, and it will only be like this for a day or two before the temps increase.  I walked 5.75 miles and had to start shedding layers, the sun finally came out as I was walking back to the RV park. Seems like it gets warmer here later in the day as the sun begins to set.



I guess, I'm just frustrated with myself for not being more active right now. I keep thinking, don't be so hard on yourself - you have made a lot of changes recently and its time to just relax and enjoy the slower pace.

There are so many things I want to see and do.  I would like to do some hiking and kayaking. I feel like I need to be in better shape to do these things, and need to push myself to get out and walk and bike more to get ready for some different adventures.

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Maybe I've just stayed too long in one place. I needed to stay put to receive mail and to get some paperwork done. I procrastinated on some things, so I stayed here and gave myself a deadline to get it done. I have accomplished most of it and hope to finish things up this week.  I guess this is another reason why I have not been outside as much as I would like to be.

I'm trying to find the balance between staying in one location for more than a day or two to explore the area, or just driving through town and not really getting to know the area. Many of the parks offer a reduced price if I stay in one place for a week or a month, and I figure I am also saving on fuel by staying put in one place for a week or month. I'm thinking - what's the rush - you don't have to see everything this year. 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *  
We had a lot of rain over the weekend, and I was surprised to see that the rain actually increased the size of the pond next to my RV site. All of the cement pads and streets near this corner are gently sloped towards the pond. During the heavy rain, I was watching all of the water going into the pond. Seems like there are more birds attracted to the pond now, I am seeing different birds this week.



7 comments:

  1. You already have the answer
    Walk in the rain
    Be close with nature
    Cold is only temporary

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  2. Loved that video. I am mesmerized by the ocean. I could sit and watch for hours. Getting active and staying active takes lots of motivation. Lots of possibilities for you. I hope you take advantage of them.

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  3. The only step that counts is the FIRST one...and then the next and then the next. I have been walking / jogging for years and I still have to say most days it is a struggle for me to do that first step. But once I start I am fine. I do it right after my coffee as soon as it is daylight or I just don't do it. What I tell myself is "If I go jogging then I don't have to do anything else today that I don't want to". I don't think 10,000 steps is 5 miles though...there are eith 5,280 or 5,820 feet (can't remember Ha!) in a mile so maybe 10,000 might be 2 1/2 miles. I do it by time...15 minutes per mile if you are going right along...20 minutes a mile is good for starting. Teri, you have done so many good things for yourself to get you where you are...look at walking as your reward....The electronic gizmos are only something else to think about to put off what we could be doing...a watch with a second hand is all you need.

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  4. Because it's colder inside my RV than out, I'm often surprised when I finally go out the door, not very early mind you.

    If the indecision works for you, go for it. Otherwise, why be in-tension?

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  5. You really got my attention on this one. I have high blood pressure (hypertension) and while I'm not considered overweight, I KNOW that keeping active (for me this means walking, or if I'm lucky bicycling)keeps my BP down. I wear a gizmo (yes, another electronic thing) called a FITBIT that monitors various stuff besides steps. My husband has to go do a stress test next week... seems he has an irregular heartbeat. He just had his 71st birthday and can (and does) run circles around guys many years younger. BUT... our daughter, who isn't even 50 yet has just been diagnosed with diabetes... I'm writing all this because Bill & I really believe in preventative medicine... and have somewhat, if not diligently, practiced this for the past 30 years. You are definitely on the right track... If it takes an electronic gadget to make you aware and give you "inspiration"... that's okay. If you have the total self-discipline it takes to make yourself go out in all kinds of weather... that's really good. We live in a 27' motorhome... and a couple years ago we bought a Wii (had to buy a television because we haven't had one for many, many years) to use as a monitor. Okay... that's another electronic gizmo... BUT... I can use that in less than a 3'x3' area and "walk" as many miles as I want.... Good Health is the best thing we have going for us... Keep it!

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  6. I got what your saying. I started off so good walking multiple times a day and extending the walking area. Now I am forcing my self to go and it isn't very far. I need to give myself a good swift kick. Next week I will be heading out for about 5-6 days. I know I will walk more then so I can explore a new place and take pictures.
    Speaking of pictures I sure enjoyed the video. I love how the birds play catch me if you can with the waves. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. My neighbor has really been in to Weight Watchers for about 6 months. Part of their program is the 10,000 steps. The distance that covers varies according to the length of your steps but 10,000 steps = 5 miles is a good estimate. That is what I use as a baseline.

    My neighbor has a pedometer she uses and she wears it all day. It is amazing how quickly steps add up for her in just normal day moving around. Of course she has a large multi-level house and not an RV but it all adds up.

    I have a program on my iPhone called Map My Fitness. I use it to record the distance on my walks. It has other functionality but that is all I use it for. My goal is to walk a minimum of two miles a day and aim for five. I can always make the two miles now so that is a motivator.

    Good luck
    Stephany

    ReplyDelete

Hi, I welcome your thoughts and comments.

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