Coach Ellie's Blog
The Holidays Intruded on My Great Walking Plans!
I really did intend to walk all through the holiday season. Here is it the edge of December and my intentions and my actions have already crash landed!!
GIVEN: The couch is not an option!
Rule #1: Everything counts! Got 15 minutes, but not the hour you planned? Take it!! Something is always better than nothing. • Walk the perimeter of the mall before you go shopping. • Do a lap of the parking lot. • Walk 5 blocks to lunch.
Every day that you lace up those sneakers and get out the door or onto the treadmill will pay dividends. You can expect • less, or no, weight gained between now and New Year's Day • you'll be more successful in managing stress (yup, there's plenty of that these days) • support for more restful sleep • help in balancing mood and avoiding depression • a happier heart muscle, happier lungs, fewer body aches (uh, huh, . . . being sedentary hurts — literally!)
Rule #2: Plan some holiday activities around walking. • Host an evening gathering at your house where the first hour is spent on a night walk enjoying holiday lights. • Look for volkswalks and take your kids (http://www.ava.org) • Take a tour of downtown hotel lobbies. They're usually very festive in December.
Rule #3: Put it in your day planner. The most successful exercisers know when they are going to exercise. It's always a plan, rarely an "oh, yeah, I planned to walk today" event.
Rule #4: Have a back up plan in case the weather is too nasty to exercise outdoors. • Find out which are the "coolest" exercise classes at your gym. • Ask your friends for suggestions for great exercise DVD's. • Got home exercise equipment? Is it currently a clothes rack?! See if it still works.
Take care and be active. Yes, you can!
Happy walking, Coach Ellie