Since 2011 I've been taking long walks or hikes with a friend every Saturday morning. Last summer, another friend moved close enough so we meet for walks every Sunday morning too. Since 2014, I've had a daily walking habit. Before I started working at my current job (which began in August 2021 and is full time) on weekday mornings I would also walk a mile or a few from my house.
But my current job makes it hard to fit in exercise if I don't want to walk in cold and darkness so in October I joined a gym, Planet Fitness. Anyway, I had been thinking I should be doing some weight bearing exercise since I'm over 50 now; fight that natural muscle loss. So I walk a half hour on the treadmill -- which I came to realize is, in some ways, more of a workout than my slower paced several mile walks, and that is good because I fit the gym into an hour before work every morning -- and then I lift some weights.
Also, for many years, I've been of the active mindset. We have many opportunities to move throughout the day and really, even if we have a vigorous workout but then sit all the rest of the day, that isn't good. So I do things like choose stairs, park farther away from the store, feel content with having to run upstairs in my house for small reasons, . . . chores are exercise . . . etc. I'm happy my job has me moving around a lot too. I work in 5 different classrooms and I'm on my feet walking around a lot of the time. I walk briskly through the halls usually too.
Almost forgot to say, last year I began doing yoga with the help of YouTube videos. Just barely so far, but I'm so impressed with how it feels, I'm trying hard to fit it in.
I definitely feel better mentally as well as physically because of my exercise. When I take a couple of days off from it, I just don't feel as well. I also think it's important to get outside; the fresh air and sunshine are important factors too.
Another thing I've read (in multiple places but most well supported in Dr. Greger's book How Not To Die) is that doing things differently is important for brain health too. It builds new neural pathways. He specifically mentions the way hiking trails have roots and rocks to navigate. And also trying out new activities and taking different routes. I walk in many different places around my town, the vicinity, and beyond. This Saturday, my friend and I are driving a half hour to Colonial Beach for our walk.
Enjoy!
I use their app which has the programs built in and lets you easily cast to your tv. There is a small fee for that (like $5 per month) but all of the same videos are available free on YouTube. It’s just easier for me to go to the app everyday and have it tell me what the workout is for that day rather than having to figure it out every day.
