So far, so good - now it is three days in a row. I really haven't lost much in the way of pace - just need to get it under a 15 minute mile. Saw lots of squirrels today. Yesterday watched a muskrat - funny little guy and amazing how he just dove under the water. I never did see him come up for air.
It is now Spring - the scillas are in bloom and the hyacinth are popping up.
Back to work tomorrow, but home in time to walk.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
From my mall walking days
A tall, nice looking man carrying a broom stopped at my table at Panera and said, "Didn't you used to walk at the Lane Avenue Mall?" I had no idea who he was and didn't recognize him, but I agreed, that was indeed me for many years. Coffee at Caribou; walk for 30 minutes at Lane; on to open the Veterinary Library at 7:30.
"How did you remember me after all these years?" I asked, after he told me he was a maintenance worker there in those years.
"I always remember pleasant people," he said.
Maybe he remembers the times I forgot to change back into my dress shoes and had to come back and look for them.
"How did you remember me after all these years?" I asked, after he told me he was a maintenance worker there in those years.
"I always remember pleasant people," he said.
Maybe he remembers the times I forgot to change back into my dress shoes and had to come back and look for them.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday Thoughts
Well, 3 days out of 5 days isn't too bad! Still did my exercises, but missed walking 2 days. Today was really brisk and breezy, but it did step up the pace.
I am on vacation til next Tuesday so I should get my miles in, my exercising done, and my time to enjoy the coming of Spring, besides doing Spring Housecleaning.
The famer neighbor moved his cattle back to the field along my route. When the cattle were at his other farm I missed seeing the newborn calves. I counted at least a half a dozen - I'm sure over the next week the number will grow. I am looking forward to my walks and the awakening of the Canal. Each day brings new bird songs and new joys of Spring.
I am on vacation til next Tuesday so I should get my miles in, my exercising done, and my time to enjoy the coming of Spring, besides doing Spring Housecleaning.
The famer neighbor moved his cattle back to the field along my route. When the cattle were at his other farm I missed seeing the newborn calves. I counted at least a half a dozen - I'm sure over the next week the number will grow. I am looking forward to my walks and the awakening of the Canal. Each day brings new bird songs and new joys of Spring.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
60 minutes a day? Everyday?
This reminds me of taxes. We're all getting used to the health police telling us we need to exercise 3 x a week, and then they up the ante.
"If you want to prevent your weight gain over time you need to be physically active at the level of 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, so the equivalent of one hour a day of brisk walking or 30 minutes a day of jogging or running," said I-Min Lee, M.B.B.S., Sc.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Lee and co-authors studied more than 34,000 women starting at an average age of 54, following and updating their activity level for 13 years. The women were divided into three groups. Those exercising 60, 30 and less than 30 minutes. "These two lesser activity groups of women were significantly more likely to gain weight compared to the most active group of women," said Lee.
The study appears in this week's JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association. "We found that physical activity was effective in controlling weight only among women who started off with a normal BMI," said Lee. "The women who were overweight or obese, physical activity, with the range done in the study was not sufficient to control their weight."
For heavier women, researchers say not to let the 60 minutes of daily exercise discourage you from starting or continuing to exercise. "While our study shows that this might not be sufficient to maintain normal weight it clearly is sufficient to reduce the risk of developing many chronic diseases including heart disease, certain types of cancer, type II diabetes," said Lee.
Researchers report that women in the study consumed a regular American diet and did not restrict their calories."
Article here.
"If you want to prevent your weight gain over time you need to be physically active at the level of 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, so the equivalent of one hour a day of brisk walking or 30 minutes a day of jogging or running," said I-Min Lee, M.B.B.S., Sc.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Lee and co-authors studied more than 34,000 women starting at an average age of 54, following and updating their activity level for 13 years. The women were divided into three groups. Those exercising 60, 30 and less than 30 minutes. "These two lesser activity groups of women were significantly more likely to gain weight compared to the most active group of women," said Lee.
The study appears in this week's JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association. "We found that physical activity was effective in controlling weight only among women who started off with a normal BMI," said Lee. "The women who were overweight or obese, physical activity, with the range done in the study was not sufficient to control their weight."
For heavier women, researchers say not to let the 60 minutes of daily exercise discourage you from starting or continuing to exercise. "While our study shows that this might not be sufficient to maintain normal weight it clearly is sufficient to reduce the risk of developing many chronic diseases including heart disease, certain types of cancer, type II diabetes," said Lee.
Researchers report that women in the study consumed a regular American diet and did not restrict their calories."
Article here.
Word definitions
Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Chilly Sunday
Here it is - a week gone. I did manage short walks on Monday through Friday. Then it snowed Saturday and is colder today. The few days we had of warm weather spoiled me and turned me into a sissy with the drop in temperature yesterday and today. Even so, my other goals are doing better than I expected. I look forward to my Sunday morning breakfast and newspaper, then to church for some reflection and inspiration to guide me through the week. I know that the job I have is where God wants me, but need a little reinforcement to continue for the next 3 and 1/2 years.
At home, Spring housecleaning and my walks are on the agenda for this week after work, as well as next Saturday and Sunday. Then some Easter preparations.
As for my walks, saw robins and the finches are turning yellow. The male cardinals' feathers are brighter red and all the birds songs tell me Spring is here. The purple crocus are blooming and more buds are showing on the daffodils.
I have plans for my walks this week - each evening out of the office by 5 and home in time to do the 4 miles.
At home, Spring housecleaning and my walks are on the agenda for this week after work, as well as next Saturday and Sunday. Then some Easter preparations.
As for my walks, saw robins and the finches are turning yellow. The male cardinals' feathers are brighter red and all the birds songs tell me Spring is here. The purple crocus are blooming and more buds are showing on the daffodils.
I have plans for my walks this week - each evening out of the office by 5 and home in time to do the 4 miles.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Almost Spring
Here it is my first walk since way last December and 4 miles at that. I have been such a slouch at my personal life - no work/life balance this year. But I'm working on it - really behind with what I need to have accomplished so here goes.
Walking 4 miles a day - weather permitting, that means leaving work at no later than 5PM
Nautilus starting April 3rd every other day until April 30th - then Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
At least 30 minutes of exercises/modified yoga every day
Take at least 2 hours each day to enjoy the world around me
No checking work e-mail from home on days off
No more than 2 hours overtime each week and working only 1 Saturday a month - until September 30th. Then no over time at all until after January 31, 2011.
"Like the last 2 will happen, but it is a goal."
Now for my walk - the snow is gone and most of the ice is off the canal. Saw a few critters - some squirrels and some song birds. The cardinals' songs are now of Spring. I am seeing little sprouts popping up - some of the daffodils are already budding out. The canal was pretty quiet - but I know it won't be long before I'll see turtles and fish. Am waiting for the Blue Heron to come back.
The farm fields are pretty rugged in places - erosion in some places and the ground is saturated. The ditch along the road is slowly draining. And so it was not very eventful, but it felt so great to be outside walking again.
Walking 4 miles a day - weather permitting, that means leaving work at no later than 5PM
Nautilus starting April 3rd every other day until April 30th - then Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
At least 30 minutes of exercises/modified yoga every day
Take at least 2 hours each day to enjoy the world around me
No checking work e-mail from home on days off
No more than 2 hours overtime each week and working only 1 Saturday a month - until September 30th. Then no over time at all until after January 31, 2011.
"Like the last 2 will happen, but it is a goal."
Now for my walk - the snow is gone and most of the ice is off the canal. Saw a few critters - some squirrels and some song birds. The cardinals' songs are now of Spring. I am seeing little sprouts popping up - some of the daffodils are already budding out. The canal was pretty quiet - but I know it won't be long before I'll see turtles and fish. Am waiting for the Blue Heron to come back.
The farm fields are pretty rugged in places - erosion in some places and the ground is saturated. The ditch along the road is slowly draining. And so it was not very eventful, but it felt so great to be outside walking again.
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