I love walking. The rains have made my city more beautiful and I don't appreciate it as much as I should. I have set about walking the by-lanes and main roads of the suburbs. The otherwise clogged up lanes are more appealing and I love the freedom that comes with walking. I am so happy to have taken up walking over the past couple of weeks.
I had become lazy over the past couple of months,when it came to physical forms of exercise. This resulted in piling on those extra kilos rapidly coupled with the fact that I didn't restrict my food intake (taking into account my physical inactivity).
Yeah,the weight piled on and I started to see the extra weight and didn't like it as my trousers grew tighter. I decided I had to put a stop to that. I couldn't let all that weight add on. I had to do something about it and I didn't want to shell out for a gym membership.
I have a walking example in my family. My grandfather! Extremely fit even at 80,he walks for a minimum 45mins daily. He had a heart condition way back in '93 and doctors had adviced surgery but he decided to let his heart beat and beat the condition by walking. He did it then and he has followed that routine till date. The discipline and motivation to walk made way for a natural love for walking. He walks to different places for the enjoyment and loves to talk about it. If he goes to walk at our local park,he can easily do 15 rounds and can easily beat a man half his age in terms of stamina,speed and zest.
Its a good habit to pick from him and I started walking. I wanted to lose weight and feel good. The walks I took initially were at the local park and initially I would do a 15 at a brisk pace which took about 30mins. In a few days I increased walking for an hour and stopped counting the rounds. I made it a point to walk fast for 45mins. Talking to my friend or listening to music took away that initial nay-say in my mind. I started walking out and took it up to walk on the pavements and set targets.
Every weekend,I go on a long walk to indulge myself. This weekend I decided to walk to my favourite place,Bandra! I started walking at 6pm and reached Turner Road at 635pm. I walked at a brisk speed. Walking in the direction of traffic,I loved the fact that the traffic didn't have me waiting. I was free! I could walk and reach faster than those buses and cars. The traffic slowed them down,not me!
On my way back,I walked on Linking Road. The clothes and shoe stalls were my motivation (*wink*) and I passed lines of clothing racks,admiring from a distance. The shoes were amazing too! (and affordable! ). I walked back,vowing to myself that I need to work harder and earn more if I want to get myself those things. For now,they looked great on the racks.
I picked up my pace and crossed one busy junction after another and it felt good. I was approaching the end of my walk and I felt tired but satisfied.
The satisfaction that I get after a long walk, can be best described as contentment. I love walking and it is good for me. Its my way of pampering myself and I will continue to do so. This could be the best habit I could gift myself.
I see only the upside of walking and the advantages are numerous. I have also lost weight,toned up and I fit into my favourite pair of jeans again! The only investment you need to make is in a good pair of walking shoes and ensure healthy tendons. There are no visible downsides unless you over-do it (Anything in excess is poisonous (and painful) ).
The only danger I see is in you coming across a pack of aggressive stray dogs.
But hey,carry a packet of biscuits and a bottle of water on your walk and you'll be fine!
