Spring flowers from my morning walk via Waterlogue
It's only been in the last week that I realized that it would be feasible to once again do the Journey of 1000 Miles. I first did the Journey in 2017 when I responded to a Weight Watcher challenge to pick a fitness target. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I broke the challenge down to walking an average of 2.8 miles every day and by mid-December 2017 I had walked 1000 miles. I once again decided to walk 1000 miles in 2018 and had completed my goal by the end of November.
2019 was a different story. I had my hip replaced in early January and knew it wouldn't be possible to walk 2.8 miles daily for at least several months. I had a rocky recovery and it wasn't until the fall that I got closer to my daily average. I figured 2019 would be the Journey of 500 Miles, but I ended the year with a total of 850 miles.
I didn't even think about mileage for 2020. I've had a series of walking issues that have been problematic for the last year. But in January I changed my gym routine, which really helped with the pain I was experiencing. I also saw a spinal specialist and will be returning to physical therapy next month to develop a home-based exercise program. I've got chronic issues, but right now they have become manageable. They have in fact become manageable enough that I've been able to walk more.
Great weather, less pain and my new Fitbit to prod me along and amazingly I'm almost back to my pre-surgery mileage. So far in 2020 -- Drumroll, please -- I've walked 140 miles. My goal is twenty more miles in February which is ambitious, but not impossible. I hope to report in December that I've once again walked 1000 miles in a year.
The only change between past Journeys and 2020 is the addition of my Fitbit. I tracked my miles on an app on my phone. It was good, but I needed to be carrying my phone to count steps. I wear my Fitbit all the time and I'm counting every step as well as counting minutes of swimming in the pool. Counting all my steps when I'm at home does give me more steps. I can easily walk three quarters of a mile without leaving my apartment.
If you remember in January I wrote about having a cold. I took the sound medical advice I was given and rested. I skipped all of my gym activities and realized that the pain in my leg that made walking difficult was significantly better. When I felt better I returned to Yoga and swimming, but the pain didn't return. The difference was the strength training I'd been doing regularly, and had stopped doing. I'd been doing strength training for five years and had really come to like it. But it's goodbye to the machines I'd come to like and hello again to the miles that I can do without pain. I've learned that in exercise, like in most other activities, moderation is the best course.
What are you doing to keep active? Walking? Swimming? Yoga? Any runners in the group?
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.
19 comments
I walk a lot. According to my fitbit, I get at least 12,000 to 15,000 steps each day. Walking is such great exercise. Have a great week!
I truly admire you for sticking with it no matter what!! You are an inspiration!
Good for you. I truly need to get moving. Thanks for the inspiration. I will be cheering you on🥳. Have a blessed day dear friend. Hugs
Good for you, Carol. Setting goals is important and you have done especially well, despite the hurdles that you have had to overcome. I am a walker also and that Fitbit is such an incentive to keep moving.
I LOVE my FitBit! It's such a great motivator, and effortless. You've got this!
That is great news, Buttercup! I don't have a Fitbit. Since I am not on campus this semester (Directed Study) I am afraid my walking has become lax. I do stretch and use an exercise ball.
WITH MODERATION is the only way I can go these days Surely and slowly I'm making progress. I got a walker so I can walk longer periods of time. Hopefully it's eventually gong to build up my strength. I don't have a fit bit or anything to count the steps but my goal for now is going to be 20 minutes a day.hopefully that time will increase and I will get better.Little by little.
WoW, after all you've been through your mileage so far is great. Good for you, I hope you continue to get better and continue walking. I think walking is the best overall exercise a person can do.
Carol, you're my folk hero(ine)! Here I'm moaning about a little sciatica -- nothing like what you've experienced. I do love walking, but fell off the wagon last fall. Is there a particular (affordable) brand of walking shoe you recommend?
You, plus some other bloggers make me want to get out and walk. I need to change so much to do it though. I wish I could walk here at home and have a smooth surface but sidewalks around the neighborhood is so awful. I used to love to walk...and would like to get back to the enjoyment of it.
Good luck with your goal! I usually walk. It was so nice out today that I skipped the gym and hit the pavement instead. It was glorious :)
Colletta
I had been built up to a little over two miles a day with my rollator for several months. Like you, I have physical issues and am having to rebuild strength. Your post is encouraging me to keep working at it.
YOU ARE A TRUE ENCOURAGER!
Kudos to you on your walking achievements in previous years and good luck on this year's goals. I wore a fitbit for well over a year and it was great to track steps but the sleep tracking would get me so frustrated that I finally ditched it an now actually sleep longer. I miss seeing the steps taken in a day, but don't walk any less because of not having a tracking device. You are right in saying that the phone doesn't do the job unless it's always with you and mine is not. I do use the gym here in the mill apts and find myself missing it on days I skip.
your goals were ambitious but you conquered them. congrats. i would love to walk again . used to do 5 or 10 miles a day. but no more, i can barely walk from one room to the next. i felt so excited for you hearing all you want to accomplish this year. i live with chronic pain, so if you are pain free you're doing extremely well. hang in there.
I have Sciatic and I seem to get better then it flares up again. I see hubby and I sit and then I do walk for some without my cane . Then time I get home it starts again. I have done some exercises but it is some what better but then it starts again. I have had six weeks of this. I do have pain killers but I can go on half. Do you have any tips for me. Happy for you. How old are you? I am 78 passed January 8th. I have always been active and walked. This is a real blow to me as I need to be that care giver for hubby Sid. Hugs from Canada. I had time to look at your post before going to see Sid.
My email is sparkle7 @ hotmail.ca If you wish to write me. All small case letters.
This is truly amazing. Walking is good. But I have never been able to walk as much as you do. Great to hear you have kept close to the goal even after a hip replacement. I do a lot of yoga. Cardio is never my cup of tea. But I do walk for 30 minutes a day. Not sure how much miles or steps it counts.
Wow! It is so inspiring to read your blog. I appreciate you for continuing to do the same task without any confusion. Most people drop doing after a point of time.
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