Walking
During Covid I went through a walking phase that lasted years. Once Covid hit the US in March, and I spent 2 weeks trapped in my apartment without seeing or talking to anyone. I felt very crazy and scared. I drove to Texas to live with my mom. I thought I would only stay a couple weeks, but I ended up staying 7 months! I wanted to be with family if the world was going to end. When I drove the 10 hours there, I used a plastic grocery bag to touch the gas pumps, thinking that would protect me from Covid. What a time! We didn’t know how it was transmitted then.
Anyway, I was there during the warm part of the year, and my mom and I coped with stress and boredom by walking. We walked and walked and walked. Sometimes 2 hours a day. The effects were remarkable. I almost immediately lost 5 pounds and the mental health benefits were incredible. My cardiovascular system felt great, and my legs built up strength. Also, the weight I lost was all belly weight so I looked better with a more defined waist. Being in fresh air and being mindful infused me with positivity. My mom is great about pointing stuff out on walks “that house is nice…I like that window…those flowers are called one-eyed susan’s right?” We talked through issues and fears that we didn’t want to talk about in front of my brother. He coped better if we didn’t catastrophize or discuss the covid protocols and news stories.
Eventually I returned to Kansas City. I continued walking for years after that. I did 2 walks per day for 30 to 45 minutes each. The walks healed my headaches and helped my back pain. They also healed my sick, mentally ill brain. After walking, I felt less anxiety and depression. During the walk I was able to solve work problems, calm myself after conflict, and prepare for stressful situations. At that time, I lived in a fantastic neighborhood with lots of trees. It was so peaceful to look at the houses, see the leaves change, and watch my neighbors put up Halloween decorations.
Walking is free, but I recommend good shoes. Writing this, and remembering the feeling of walking is motivating me to add a walk to my routine. I have since replaced my walks with one hard workout a day, but adding walk after work sounds rejuvenating and magical. Fall is the best time to walk because of all the leaves changing colors and the nice crisp weather.
The studies on walking proclaim that walking is incredibly healing with all these benefits:
· Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
· Lower risk of type 2 diabetes
· Lower risk of dementia
· Lower risk of stroke
· Improving sleep
· Improves circulation
· Improves balance
· Improves blood sugar regulation
· Preventing age-related disease (anti-aging effects)
· Counteracts genes that influence obesity
· Reduce cravings for sugar and snacks
· Reduce depression symptoms
· Reduce arthritis
· Reduce risk of breast, colon, endometrial, kidney, myeloma, liver, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancers
· Ease join pain
· Boosts immune function
· Improved blood pressure
· Improved Cholesterol
It’s amazing that this one thing can provide us with so many health outcomes! Some people take pills for each of these symptoms! Why wouldn’t we do the one thing that can help our bodies in so many ways?!?
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10643563/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking
These are my favorite shoes for running and walking - Adidas Ultraboost 1.0. I like the low profile and wide toe-box. Adidas please sponsor me! I recently found out I am a pronator so I may be trying some different models soon.