Walking? Benefits and any other comments.

I walk with Madam Dog daily. We go up hill and down dale and, if my knees and back are grumbling, I choose a flat route. During the winter when I worried about slipping on muddy bits, especially going up or down hills, I used a pair of walking poles. They helped me with balance as well as cadence. It must have given my body a good work out because my ‘muffin top’ (spare tyre) flattened considerably. Come the drier weather I decided in my wisdom to dispense with the poles. Two months later and that muffin top is back! As from now, this Telly Tubby is back walking with two poles! Lesson learnt!

I like to try get 10k steps in at least once a week but don’t manage every week. I listen to podcasts and try to aim for different routes so I don’t get bored.

Norah, I'm intrigued by the Parsons Terrier. Is it like a Jack Russell?

Thankyou LRavenscroft for starting this post. I am 74 and now woken up to the fact I need to walk more and have looked up our local Walk for Health. I have discovered a number of organised easy to walks to join. Can anyone make any suggestions about what to look for when buying walking poles please.

farmgran

Norah, I'm intrigued by the Parsons Terrier. Is it like a Jack Russell?

Very similar.

Parsons are a bit boxier in appearance, on slightly longer legs.

Yes, sounds just like the two dogs we adopted last time.

I've also discovered the Merlin app for bird recognition so I'm sometimes seen walking along with my phone held out in front of me like some demented selfie obsessive!

Same here but this is when we must watch our step - we don’t want any falls!

What a lot of lovely responses. Walking definitely is the way to go if you are willing and able. I have now started a star chart to guilt trip myself into walking each day for half an hour to an hour with a sticker if I complete, which I do most days unless the weather is foul. Here's to summer strolling!

I recommend that you walk first thing - then it's done! I was out at 08.00 with a friend for 75 minutes as most days - it really does get the day off to a positive start

Any other walking you do later is then a bonus and you haven't spent the day thinking 'I must get out for a walk'.

I have a few errands to run so that will be another hour's worth, but at a leisurely pace 👟👟

Riverwalk

I recommend that you walk first thing - then it's done! I was out at 08.00 with a friend for 75 minutes as most days - it really does get the day off to a positive start

Any other walking you do later is then a bonus and you haven't spent the day thinking 'I must get out for a walk'.

I have a few errands to run so that will be another hour's worth, but at a leisurely pace 👟👟

I agree Riverwalk. I get beach or park dog walk out the way first thing, then if I need to walk to town shops, they haven't got busy yet. But it's an effort to get daily 10k steps, it's taking me longer and I am so tired afterwards. I'm afraid I don't get the exercise buzz that people talk about, I do it because I love my dog. But then I got a dog to make me walk and make me get out the house.

Riverwalk

I recommend that you walk first thing - then it's done! I was out at 08.00 with a friend for 75 minutes as most days - it really does get the day off to a positive start

Any other walking you do later is then a bonus and you haven't spent the day thinking 'I must get out for a walk'.

I have a few errands to run so that will be another hour's worth, but at a leisurely pace 👟👟

... then it's done.

You make it sound as if it is a chore, sadly.

I like to work in garden and do other stuff in morning. And never think 'I have to go for a walk'. I truly look forward to it, and so does Yata (aka Princesse), and OH most days.

Had to wait till the heat died down a bit and chose a walk in the forest for shade. Magical- never seen so many orchids in my life.

Narrowboatnan, I see that you've chosen a slim companion who fits your mode of transport perfectly. She looks very chilled!