It’s Friday! Hooray!
Actually, when you’re a stay-at-home-mom, most days feel the same…However, today we’re talking about me, you, and fitness on our third Fitness Friday.
First, let me update you on my week.
It’s been a hectic week. My oldest started Summer School (a Kindergarten prep,) I started working harder at preparing meals for dinner for my family (which is super hard when you can’t eat them,) and then I got a crown and cavity filled. Yuck.
I’ve worked out Monday through Thursday, and I’m walking again today. Monday was a Cardio plus weights DVD, Tuesday night was Ballet class, Wednesday was walking, and Thursday was another cardio plus weights DVD.
I’m down another pound, which brings my total to 19 lbs. Woo Hoo!
Since we’ve already talked about Ballet and Workout DVDs, today I’m sharing the other workout I do, which is walking. Even though walking isn’t a high intensity workout, it is really great for you. Heck, anything that gets your body moving is great for you. I’m going to share a few tips for how I get the most out of my walks.
Tip #1 Don’t forget to warm-up
While you probably won’t pull any muscles going for a walk, it’s always good for your body to warm up and stretch before you get moving. I like to jog in place a little and do a few jumping jacks, so my muscles are warm, and then I stretch out. I make sure to stretch my legs (calves, hamstrings, and quads,) stretch out my back, and even stretch my arms. I also do a few slow head circles, being careful when going to the back. It’s important to warm up those arms and back especially if you’re pushing a stroller or pulling a wagon…which I’m often doing.
Tip #2 Stay Hydrated
One thing that’s nice when pushing or pulling my kids, is I have room to take a water bottle with me. I make sure to drink water in the morning to replenish what my body has lost overnight. If I’m walking solo, I don’t bring a bottle with me, but make sure I have one ready for when I get home. There are plenty of bottles you can clip to you, or you can carry one as an extra weight for your walk workout. It’s completely your preference.
Tip #3 Be Conscious
When you’re walking as a workout, you’re not simply strolling down the street. Concentrate on keeping your tummy pulled in, pumping your arms, and moving at a brisk pace. Work on your breathing too. It’s best to breathe in and out through your nose, and don’t hold it! You should still be able to hold a conversation, however, you want to get your heart rate up to get a nice workout.
Tip #4 Have the Right Equipment
Make sure you have a good pair of supportive shoes. Dress for the weather. If you’re walking along, feel free to bring some small hand weights. If that makes you feel self-conscious, they have some that you can strap right to your wrists or ankles for an added workout.
If you’re walking with your kids, I always bring extra drinks and snacks in the stroller. This prevents us from having to go home early and usually keeps them pretty quiet. Also, make sure your stroller or wagon is easy to push. I don’t have a specific jogging stroller, but both my stroller and wagon have really great tires that are smooth on any terrain.
A pedometer or fitness tracker can be helpful too. I don’t have a fancy tracker yet, but I do have my pedometer. It helps me know exactly how far I’ve gone, and how many calories I’ve burned. It’s generally recommended you walk at least 10,000 steps a day, so you can keep it on even when you’re not purposefully walking. This walk workout will really help you reach your goal fast.
Tip #5 Enjoy Yourself
You won’t want to walk as a workout if you aren’t having fun. Notice the beautiful nature around you, switch up your route, or bring music with you (if you’re alone.) If you’re walking with your children, talk to them and point things out. It can be a learning workout too.
I sometimes enjoy walking by myself because it gives me time to think and plan, but it can also be fun to find a friend to walk with you. You can motivate each other, while enjoying a little time together.
If the weather is bad, which it often is in Wisconsin, find a place to walk indoors. I never thought I’d be a “mall” walker, but it actually isn’t so bad to walk around and window shop every once in a while. You can also check and see if there are any indoor tracks in your city. A treadmill is always my last resort.
I hope my walking workout tips have been helpful, and I hope you’ll get out there and get moving!
Great tips for having a good walk! I think stretching is important too.
Thank you!
I think being conscious is the hardest for me. I need to focus on what I’m doing right then and not the 17 other things I have coming up later in the day!
Yes. It definitely takes a lot of effort on my part too.
I have been drinking about 70oz of water a day and it makes such a difference
Wow…that’s so awesome!
Thanks for the great tips! I agree, it is so important to warm up! And staying hydrated is a must!
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing my tips….I love reading other people’s Fitness Fridays. I do them, too!
Awesome! I’ll have to come check yours out!
This provides some great advice! Walking is a “perfect sport” in my opinion. I’ve been trying to work out everyday using DVD’s and it takes more will power to turn on the TV than it does to lace up and go for a run!
Yes!
I really, really, really need to get back on the ball with this whole work out thing. like yesterday I needed to have started.
Ha! It took me a long time to get the motivation going. Heck, my babies are three and I still had the baby weight.
Great post! In about March, I started getting very serious about fitness. I changed the way I eat (which can be difficult to do with Crohn’s disease), started viewing food as fuel instead of a source of enjoyment. I get to the gym as often as time and health allow and use resistance bands at home in between.
Awesome!
Great tips! I’m trying to be better about getting out for a walk on my “off” days — when I’m not doing a strength training workout — to keep my joints nice and loose and to keep moving.
Thanks!
having fun is the key for me to do workouts! I have to do something I will somewhat enjoy or I’m tempted to stop just after a few minutes:)
Exactly!
great tips!! The staying hydrated is so important and many forget when we workout and sweat we need to drink even more water than the recommended 8 glasses.
Yes….which I often forget.
Great tips! I used to take my kids for a walk and a great workout all the time at our old house. At our new place we don’t really have a great place to go walking. We’d have to drive somewhere. But this post makes me miss it. Maybe I’ll just have to find a good place to go!
That’s a bummer than you’d have to drive. Hope you find a great spot!
that is awesome that you made time for working out, this is very motivating for me as well!
Awesome!
Lots of great reminders here! Great tips for walking!
Thank you!
Very great tips on walking Shann! It’s so great you mentioned keeping your tummy tucked in. I never knew the importance in doing that until I started the Hip Hop Abs workout videos. Also, I don’t know if people really know how important the right shoes are, cause working out in non-tennis shoes/sneakers can really cause a lot of problems, so I appreciate you mentioning that as well! Thanks for taking the time to share such an insightful post!
Thank you! I appreciate your comments!
Great tips! I frequently forget to prep water for when I get back from a walk! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks! And thanks for reading!
Great tips! I definitely need to start on a workout regimen (which I’ll probably blog about soon lol) and this seems like the best way to get started. 🙂
Yes! Thank you!
Just started adding walking into my fitness regime. It’s a good time to brainstorm, too!
Oh yes!
These are all important…one mistake I usually make by accident is not staying hydrated. Sometimes I’ll go on crazy long walks, forget to drink enough water, or drink too much water & wash the salt out of my system, and come home sick as a dog…then I’m out for the rest of the day. No fun! It’s as equally important to drink something like Gatorade in addition to your water if you’re going at it really hard.
Way to go! I love walks and miss the “walkability” of our old neighborhood. And I think it’s SO cool that you do ballet and have for so long. Nice that your break from it is over 🙂
Thank you! I’m happy to be back doing it too.
I never thought about having the water bottle with you for added weight to the exercise! So smart! I love walking, but my apartment complex is getting the asphalt redone this week, so I think I’ll be staying inside for most of the week… womp womp.
xo, Caitlin
And Possibly Dinosaurs
excellent tips thank you. This summer for me will be focused on getting stronger
Love these tips! I usually try to walk 10,000 steps every day but some days it is just so hard!
Yes! Sometimes at the end of the day, I’m doing laps around my basement 😉 Not even kidding.
ok, I’m getting inspired. I really need to get back into a routine of working out. Just had a baby a month ago, and I’d like to start getting back into some pre-pregnancy clothes again.
This is an awesome post, Shann! H just set up our treadmill in the garage for me so I can get back to that. I love my treadmill, but haven’t used it in a while since when we moved my dad in I lost the room it used to live in. I’m SO EXCITED to have it back!! Congrats on 19 lbs! That is a serious accomplishment!
Thank you so much Trish! I appreciate the support! Great to hear you have your treadmill back 🙂
Ahh! This makes me want to go workout! My little one is napping right now (I’m a SAHM during the summer since I’m a teacher) but here I sit, bloggging for hours and on Facebook! thanks for sharing this fantastic post with great tips!
Ha! I know…I do that all the time. But, I have promised myself I will work out later tonight.