Tuesday, June 1, 2010

For Once I Understand My Husband (a bit)

I have been urging my husband to get out and do at least a little bit of walking, for the sake of his health. He lives a VERY seditary life, and the inactivity tells on him. The problem is that he, like most non-walkers, sees walking as this HUGE hurdle to overcome. When your feet hurt, and knees ache, it is hard to believe that getting out and pounding the pavement will make you feel better. And I have been reassuring him (and any other non-walkers who care to listen), that walking is invigorating, and enjoyable. And that is the way I felt until this week.
Up until the middle of last week, I have been walking about 7000-8000 steps daily, usually from a 45 minute walk plus my daily activities. Now I am trying to get in at least 10,000 steps daily, and to do that, my daily walk needs to be extended to about 75 minutes. I thought that it wouldn’t be much harder. I was wrong.
On a 45 minute walk, I can usually work it that the harder part is in the beginning, or the middle, with no big hills in the last 15 minutes. I can’t do that with the 75 minute treck. And, frankly, after 45 minutes I feel completely worn out….
However, I am (without promising) going to give it a month’s try. I am hoping that I will acclimate to the increase. Do any of you have experience in upping activity levels and how long it takes to adjust?

7 comments:

mother in israel said...

Why do you need to increase? 45 minutes a day sounds pretty good to me. At any rate, shouldn't you try to increase incrementally?

rickismom said...

Actually, I have been increasing incrementally, having done several one-hour walks over the last 2 weeks.
I want to increase because I want to get at least to the recomended 10,000 steps daily.

mother in israel said...

You're expecting to get all of that in one walk? What about housework and short walks to make up the rest of the steps. Healthier also, to break it up in my opinion.

rickismom said...

NO! If I get 7500-8000 in the walk, so I get the rest during the day. If I know that I am going out (like tomarrow, to take Ricki to the eye doctor), I can cut down on the walk.
I AM toying with the idea of keeping the morning walk at 45 minutes, and doing an extra half hour in the evening, but I am pretty sure that I won't do it, realistically....

Pink (AKA Lucia) said...

I have no experience in this, but I do have an idea...

How about when you start doing the 75 minutes walks, do it so that it is all on level ground only, no uphills and no downhills. Then after a week, work in a easy and short uphill, and every week, work in an harder uphill until the point that you are doing the same uphill that you were doing. That way your body might be able to adjust to the 75 minutes walk with a uphill walk in it eventually. I know you want to push yourself to do the best you can do, but don't push yourself so much in the beginning that it's too hard. Go easy and increase as the weeks goes on. I hope you understand what I mean? It's just an idea, only an suggestion...good luck. :)

Staying Afloat said...

I agree with Lucia- don't change two things at once. Start with either the distance or the hills, and then add the other.

But I would do two separate walks- one in the morning and one in the afternoon, if possible. You'd get your steps in but at a pace htat works for you. It might be good for your digestion ad blood sugar (if that's an issue) if you do it this way.

motherof4 said...

I feel that maybe you're confusing quantity with quality. If you want a good workout you can do it in less than and more effective than walking.
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