If you're a regular reader, you know that over the past few months I've been doing a lot of walking, which has helped me get back in shape. Now I can walk faster, for longer distances, without feeling tired. Clothes that were tight are fitting better, and when I bought jeans last week I was able to get a size smaller.
However, now that the weather's turned cold I'm finding excuses not to be outside. It doesn't help that we're back on Standard Time, so it's dark shortly after dinner. When I woke up this morning I knew I had a very busy day planned, but I wanted to make sure I got some exercise in. I figured the best way to do that was to make it the FIRST activity of the day. Even before coffee!
Before I left the bedroom I threw on yesterday's shirt, a pair of lined wind pants, and walking shoes. I stopped by the kitchen long enough to get a drink of water and my cell phone, then grabbed my winter coat (with gloves already in the pockets), a headband for my ears, and a neck scarf from the hall closet. When I walked out the door a little before 7 AM it was 30 degrees.
In the morning I'm a real creature of habit, so the change in my morning schedule was just enough to make me feel like I was pulling a fast one. There weren't many people out, but I did see several cars getting ready to leave, and I had to stop a few times and wait for someone to pull out of a driveway. When I got to the main street I noticed that rush hour was in full swing, with a long line of cars waiting to turn at a stop light. I was glad I wasn't one of them.
Fifteen minutes into the walk I got warm enough to loosen the scarf around my neck. Five minutes later I took it off and put it in the coat pocket. By the time I got back to the house I was unzipping my coat halfway and pulling off my headband. Inside, I noticed that I'd worked up a sweat.
In the hot weather it took me a long time to cool off after a walk. Not today. I was ready for a shower by the time I hung up all my outerwear and walked upstairs. Afterward my shower, the rumblings of my stomach made me remember I still needed to eat breakfast and have that cup of coffee.
Good for you! Just the initial part of getting yo urself going is the hardest part! And a smaller jeans size doesn't hurt either! Yay!
ReplyDeleteWe'll see what happens when the weather gets REALLY cold :-)
DeleteGreat that you did your walk. Are you a member of a gym, that's what I do when it's really cold and not nice out.
ReplyDeleteWe DO have gym memberships, but it's a 10 minute drive each way; I didn't have that much extra time.
DeleteBefore breakfast, even! Keep on going!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fair-weather walker. Our weather here has been glorious so I've been going out every afternoon, right around 3 o'clock. Had lunch with girlfriends today but walked as soon as I got home. It was 71 degrees, though cloudy. Made me think of my days in San Francisco. I'm only walking around our neighborhood so it's not very exciting.
ReplyDeleteWe should all be so lucky to have weather like yours in mid-November.
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