Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2011! After all of the cookies, candy and gifting, I thought it would be nice to talk about walking. Yup, that’s right, walking.
Sounds kinda silly, doesn’t it? Walking? What does that have to do with recipes? Well, for me, walking has been one of the key recipes to recovering my health. Just a few years ago, a walk around the block was less exhilarating than exhausting. Everything was for that matter.
Over the past few years I’ve slowly built up my stamina. I remember being overjoyed one day when I was emptying the dishwasher and found that the process did not induce fatigue, relief surging through my veins, that I could again perform the most simple of chores without feeling tired!
The secret? Walking. I walked everyday. I started out just walking for 10 minutes once per day. Then, a few months later, I added in an additional 5 minute walk. Three months after that, I was walking 10 minutes twice a day. A couple of years later, I am now at the point where I can walk for more than an hour straight and feel great afterward.
Walking to me is like gardening. I walk almost the same path everyday, taking in the changes in various trees, bushes and flowers around me. I mentally garden my way through my neighborhood. It’s oh so peaceful and calming and just one more way that I stay in touch with the outdoors and the seasons.
Walking is free. Walking is healthy. Walking is anti-inflammatory (that’s right, it ultimately decreases inflammation in the body, according to my Dad). Walking calms my mind. Walking allows emptiness to fill me as I move through something much bigger than myself –the world, mother nature.
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So, if you’re looking for another New Year’s resolution, here’s one you just might try. It’s free –in so many ways. It’s walking.
What are your New Year’s resolutions? Leave a comment and let’s have a conversation about healthy living to kick off 2011.
Kara says
I don’t really know your back story, but I came across your blog toward the end of last year. I have loved it. I can completely relate to feeling fatigue at the simplest of tasks. I am really encouraged by your slowly but surely approach to ganging back your stamina. I am a Celiac but before I got very sick and received my diagnosis I was able to rum 5 miles a day w/o much trouble. Now a 4 mile walk wipes me out for 2-3 days. I think I will slow it down a bit and try to be more patient w/ myself. Thanks.
Scinia says
Walking is the best and most inexpensive form of exercise. Better than the acrobatic forms of exercises that are in vogue today.
Jonna says
I came across your site in a roundabout manner, following links from recipe to recipe, until I landed on this post, which has somehow touched something in me.
2011 has been a rough year for me, especially health-wise, and every day I say to myself “I’ll get up and walk today.” Of course I never do.
This post has inspired me. Knowing I can do it, even in short bursts, makes me feel much better. Thank you. Here’s hoping 2012 will be a better year.
Q. says
Beautifully said. Definitely something I am adding more of to this year’s fitness regimen. Less hardcore, more time to relax, breathe and take it all in.
Jenny says
Thanks for the reminder that walking is a wonderful way to re-build stamina and reduce stress at the same time! I’d like to make it my goal to walk everyday. I have a 7mo. old Miniature Schnauzer and think it’s time she and I start going for walks. It will do both of us a world of good! Hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Erica says
I love to walk as well! I usually live in Washington DC and will be living in London for the next 6 months so I have to walk everywhere as I don’t have a car and I dont mind at all. I walk at least 2 miles a day without even trying and probably more on weekends. Another thing that I’ve learned about staying active is doing something you enjoy rather than forcing yourself to workout. That’s why I took up kickboxing and now I’m an instructor :)
PS Thanks for all of your recipes. My mom and I appreciate them greatly!
Trish says
What a lovely picture. It’s like a winter wonderland. Oh, how I miss snow. And thanks for the reminder how much I adore walking. And you’re right, it’s free! My new year resolution is to work on my memory and with that might come practice on my French. Happy New Year!
Debbie says
I was just diagnosed with celiac sprue and by luck have found this website. I guess I never realized how fatigued I felt until I have read a few comments from your site. This is all new to me and a little frightening but you have such great recipes and information that I can tell this is going to be my favorite web site from here on out.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, recipes and insite to this disease. I really do appreciate it being a beginner and all.
Jenny says
I know this blog was about healthy eating but the recipe that I would like to see you make is chocolate cupcakes.
Baden says
I love that you linked us to your dad! :)
I like “meeting” the family members of people I enjoy.
Best,
Baden p.s. I also love walking.