Friday, June 15, 2018

It's Only A Kilometer... Right?

I am not the model of physical fitness. I am not proud to admit that and when the doctor asks me if I get exercise I answer somewhat evasively that we get lots of walking in in Mexico. Which we do, or at least did. We have not been there in three years and do not get the same exercise in the USA or at home. We are far enough from everything important that we tend to drive instead of walk.

We keep meaning to fix this. We talk about it all the time. We just don't actually do it. I have to go in for a cardio stress test in a month or so and I want to be able to walk at least a few steps without collapsing. OK, it's not THAT bad but still...

The community mailbox is located down the highway a bit and there is a beautiful taxpayer funded walkway all along the waterfront to it. Right across the highway from the mailbox is the Fogg Dukkers Coffee Shop on the beach. What a perfect reward for walking to the mail instead of driving! I drove past there and measured the distance. It is a half a kilometre each way. One kilometre in total. It's not going to kill me. EDIT: Google Maps is kind to me and says it is 0.6 KM each way. That makes it 1.2 KM total!

We walked down there yesterday and rewarded ourselves with an Americano espresso, sitting in some chairs beside a beach fire in a big tire rim that appears to be burning all the time. It was very nice.

Today Norma was busy doing whatever around the house so I walked down myself, cell phone handy in my pocket in case I decided I wanted a ride back. No problem, it was much faster and more effortless than yesterday. In fact I skipped the reward of an espresso.

I am on my way to fitness!

Image result for fogg dukkers coffee

20 comments:

  1. Start slowly and work your way up. Then, never stop. Because if you do, you will never start again.

    As you know, we do a ton of walking and hiking. After a while, when you see that something is 2 or 3 kms away, you'll think "meh, that's nothing"!

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    1. You and Ruth are part of our inspiration!

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  2. I agree. Amazing how much progress you can make in 30 days. Make a daily advance and in a month you'll be doing 5km a day.

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  3. Good for you Croft. Poco a poco, keep at it. Proud of you. You are in control of your life.

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  4. The next goal is to walk the opposite way on the walkway 1 1/2 KM each way to the Tim Horton's. I will deserve a muffin if I do that!

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  5. Walking and swimming are the best ways to get in shape. I'm in shape, round is a shape right??

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    1. Round is a shape! And nothing wrong with that!

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    2. Peter, LOL! You are so funny! LOL!

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  6. Hey, even I was able to make those walks when I was there! The Timmy's was a bit further, as I remember. Nice walkway, though, I'm glad you are enjoying it.

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  7. All good advice above and it gets into your blood after a few months I can give you some Camino advice😃 les

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    1. I am still a ways from the Camino Les, but I will let you know if I ever need a guide for it! :)

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  8. Way to go. And just think about the fuel you are saving.😃👍🥐

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  9. If you attempt it this week, bring along some water. You’re gonna melt.

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  10. Croft, your environment of cool weather makes it nice to take a stroll (except maybe some rain now and then). My doctor recently gave me the same instructions, exercise, because I am overweight in spite of all the walking we do when we travel. He says that being consistent in exercise is the way to do it and recommends 20-minute walks (no matter how slow) twice a day. But sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate; for example, yesterday, it hit 100F. with very high humidity, and our wi-fi has been out for one and a half days because of end-of-the-day storms trying to cool things down. For those days, my solution was to purchase a Pro-Form treadmill and put it in front of a flat screen tv showing National Geographic nature specials and pretend I'm taking a walk outside. I think I will include your idea of a treat at the end of the daily exercise, maybe a cup of non-fat fruit yogurt (had to give up ice cream, my favorite treat). What is great is that you and Norma are mostly doing the walks together, and you have each other to talk to, which cuts any boredom.

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    1. This is actually the ideal climate for walking (except for the rain). There is also a gas station / convenience store along the way that sells ice cream treats which the doctor hasn't taken away from me yet! The promise or expectation of a treat makes it much easier and we can always decide not to when we get there.

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