It's ok to just walk...

 I read an article today that encouraged and reminded me that walking....

yes, just walking has a lot of benefits...

I appreciate those who LOVE to exercise and get that HIGH from it.
YES, it's a real thing!
I know there are many of you out there who love to exercise and I admire you for that,
I'm even just a little bit jealous that you love so much what is so good for you.

But guys, I'm just keeping' it real here, It's not a HIGH for me.
I'm quite sure I'm speaking for others as well.
 I have never in my life experiences that HIGH!!!
That doesn't happen for everyone, even in my best body, best shape & youthful days,
I hated exercise....to the core!

I remember in my running days people used to say,
"You just have to get over that hump and then the rest of the run is a breeze,
 I NEVER (ever) got over "that hump", hated every minute of it, and never felt better afterwards.
 I will say I was glad I did it, but never felt good.

So again.... not snubbing exercise (don't be hatin') 
just trying to endorse that the low-impact, not-every-day kind of exercise is
 just fine for those who don't want to or who physically can't do the extreme

Mayo Clinic News Network

"Physical activity doesn't need to be complicated. Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life.

For example, regular brisk walking can help you:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Improve your mood
• Improve your balance and coordination

The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits".

I have often been discouraged with all the hype on social media and
 on the news about the need to exercise....
crazy strenuous, high impact, diaphoretic, messy, sucking-air-kind of exercise.  UGH!
The above article (click on the purple link) reminds me that it's OK to just walk,
you don't have to put In the "exercise CD" and sweat like crazy person,
You don't have to get up at "stupid-o'clock-in-the-morning". 

You can just walk, you can make your walk what you want it to be, you can even break it up.  you can walk fast..or slow, you can even throw in a little jog if you want, but the point is....

You just need to move, Get up and move, the more you do, the greater the benefits.

The point of this posting is to encourage exercise in a way the works for YOU,
and yet not disesteem those who love exercise.

 It's OK to be the minimalist, to be that low-impact person...like me.

Yes I exercise, I belong to our healthy living center at Mayo.
 If I'm lucky I get there two times a week and supplement that with hiking,
walking the neighborhood, and walking 5 blocks twice a week to my job.

Then there's the stairs...

It's not often that I do stairs!
My knees creek and groan, surgery helped with the right knee, but all those years of pounding up and down the courts, jumping, running & sliding did a number
on my joints. (high school and college sports)
 So I have chosen to limit the stairs and be kind to my joints.

 I like this wall of words at the gym...
Balance, Longevity, Flow, Dedication, Breathe...Life is a balance

Walking into the Gym yesterday I stopped to read this......

TRUTH

 I stood a little more upright, and added a bounce to my step,
you see I really didn't want to exercise, I was dreading it but I knew I should.
(and my husband was going)
These words encouraged me, so off I went feeling better about my effort
 and my low-impact, work out.

Live healthy, get up and move, breath, enjoy Life!
Go ahead and lap those ones on the couch

I will never have ABS like Jillian !!!

I bought this DVD a few weeks ago. I figured it's been awhile since I've "moved" and

thought this might be a way to do that.

It's a good workout, it involves both cardio and strength. (abs, legs & arms)

I thought... how hard could 20 minutes be?

Then I remembered....It's Jillian

one of the trainers on "The biggest Loser" show.

She is relentless and allows no excuses.

Needless to say I hurt after I do the workout and for a few days after.

I've only been doing it a couple times a week,

but I've added a few other methods of moving...

I've decided to give up the "Search & destroy" method in parking lots.

Usually I drive around and around until I find

a spot that is close to the enterance of the store

But now I'm trying to park in the first open spot I see, which is usually in the "back forty"

I'm looking at it as an OPPORTUNITY to walk and

MOVE a little more than I have been.

Rick graciously did the DVD workout with me on Saturday....

all I said was, "honey I need a little encouragement

here to do this thing" and he was right there with me.

Now he knows...and can sympathize with me after having a workout with Jillian (the brute)

Oh, It hurts so good :)