Wednesday 11 July 2012

A Walking Gadget


When I started on my healthy eating plan, I realised that I wouldn't lose weight through diet alone, I needed to exercise. It just so happens that I bought Mick an exercise bike for Christmas, so I thought I'd borrow it and do a few miles each day. It started off ok, I pedaled away and the on board computer told me how many calories I'd burnt up. After a few weeks I got fed up of it, it's quite boring sitting pedaling and getting nowhere.

My exercise of choice is walking. We have some lovely countryside walks near where we live, I'm very lucky. What exercise is more pleasant than a ramble down quiet country lanes, listening to birdsong and looking out for wild flowers? Of course, Archie comes too. He needs a good run every day so having him gives me the added incentive to get out and walk, even if I don't feel like it or if the weather isn't very good.

I've now got a pedometer. It was a freebie from Tesco Magazine, and although it isn't totally accurate, it does give me some idea of how many steps I've taken on my walk. It's recommended that you take 10000 steps each day, which is about five miles, to keep healthy and fit, and although I don't reach this figure every day, I do sometimes.

13 comments:

  1. Such a good idea! I always say I'd been in far more "weight" trouble if I didn't have my little walk to and from the station every day although I could do a lot more!

    Victoria xx

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  2. They are useful arent they? Like you I dont like the idea of excercise bikes or gyms etc, but good old walking is so easy as long as you have a bit of time - and having Archie gives you your motivation.
    I find that if I can walk mostly with Logan off lead (woods, fields and orchards)then I can walk briskly whilst he runs ahead or behind - as they keep stopping for sniffs and leg cocking you dont get to do more than amble if they are on the lead!
    Well done achieving the 10000 steps some days!!
    Gill xx

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  3. I'm in agreement on the physical activity front - walking beats any old gym and you save on subscription and membership fees! There's nothing better than to see a dog's excitement when they see the lead and know they're going for a walk - it's almost infectious but not when it rains! The OH has to walk the dogs then!
    June

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  4. Walking is my preferred choice as well for exercise. I have never been to a gym in my life..doesn't really appeal to me, much rather be out in the great outdoors (for free!). Before I fell pregnant I would do a lot of the Wii Fit (if the weather was too bad for a walk)..I enjoyed doing the walking bit on that.
    Happy Walking/Calorie Burning!
    Magie x

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  5. I'm with you on exercise bikes, they're boring, as is my husband's treadmill. I walk every day and do aerobics every other day. It's so hard to lose weight when you get older! I like the idea of a pedometer, have to look into that.

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  6. I have a pedometer which I sometimes remember to use but, to be honest, I don't trust its counting very much. I noticed one time when I went to the loo that it added 7 steps as I sat down and stood up again. 7 steps to go to the loo? By my rough calculations, I'd only need to go 1428 times a day to do my 10,000 steps! LOL

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  7. Apart from plotting walking is my choice of exercise, although I don't do anywhere near as much as I used to. Flighty xx

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  8. Walking is great, fresh air and excerise, well done on reaching the steps total :]], Helen

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  9. We used to have an exercise bike and I used to sit in front of the tv on it but it was still boring. It ended up as a clothes horse in the end so we got rid of it! I finished that book I was telling you about and it was brilliant, I couldn't put it down and read it in two days. Have to find something else for my holiday now, haha. Lots of love xxx

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  10. Walking is my exercise of choice too.
    Stick in a pair of headphones and off I go. I just have to remember not to sing out loud as I walk along.

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  11. Love walking - and it's free, which always appeals to a Scot.

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  12. I agree about what you say about walking, I really enjoy it. I recently Pinned something on Pinterest about going from Couch to 5K in 10 weeks. G and I were looking at maybe trying to do it together after our holiday.
    Lisa x

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  13. Thank you for all your comments, I do love reading them all.

    It seems we're all in agreement that walking is our exercise of choice.

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