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10 benefits to walking, a few Valentine gift ideas ad more on weekend meanderings.
Good morning friends, how are you?
Today I am joining Kim and Juliet for weekend meanderings, our weekly series of things that caught our eye, piqued our interest. Adventures, style, life and so much more. If you want to see more of Kim and Juliet make sure to check out their “Live” on Instagram, most Thursday mornings.
We are starting the weekend as we always do, slowly. Coffee and cocoa, a book and a pile of magazines and 3 snuggling pups.
Last night we had friends for street tacos and sangria among others things and had a lot of fun and laughs. A nice way to start the weekend.
Today is a football day, Bill loves the Kansas City Chiefs and they play today. Before the game we are headed to our favorite antique store to check out the new stock and all of the puppies. They are having a puppy/dog adoption event as well, let’s hope I don’t fall in love with a pup. Aside from that I think it will be a pretty quiet weekend.
Ok, let’s meander.
10 Benefits of Walking, Valentine’s Day Gifts and More on Weekend Meanderings
January 1st is like the starting gate of a sports event, everyone seems to be off and running on a new fitness regimen. Sadly most fall off the plan January 19th according to Strava the fitness app. By February, 80% of New Years resolutions have failed. Why? Because the plan is usually too ambitious. Slow and steady wins the race and that’s the good news. Even better news is that if your plan for 2023 was to get healthier you already have everything you need, your 2 feet. Now all you need to do is get up and start walking.
10 Benefits of Walking
Can I be honest? I’ve gained a few pounds over the last 11/2 years. I could blame it on menopause, or our remodeling projects, and that could be part of the problem. But the truth is that since we moved I stopped taking care of myself. In Virginia I went to hot yoga 5-6 days a week( for 6 years), then we moved and I haven’t found a studio that I like or one that is close.
So I slacked off. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t a total slug, I did ride the Peloton and go for walks on the weekends but I wasn’t consistent.
After the holidays I was feeling bloated and clearly my clothes did’t fit so I put on my shoes and started walking. In the past I have been religious about getting a minimum of 10,000 steps and for the last 20 days I have been doing just that. Hopefully, I have created a new habit and am on the road to feeling better.
For those of you that are like me, and have not found your exercise of choice why not try walking? Here are 10 benefits that you may or may not have know about.
1.Walking Lifts Your Spirits
Walking can help reduce anxiety, depression, and a negative mood. A stroll outside gives you a daily dose of vitamin D and may lift your spirits as you take in a bit of nature.
2.Walking Eases Joint Pain
According to the Harvard Medical Center, walking protects the joints, especially the knees and hips, by lubricating them and strengthening the muscles that support them.
3.Walking Curbs Your Cravings for Chocolate
A 15 minute walk can cut snacking on chocolate while at work in half, according to research by the University of Exeter.
4.Strengthens the Heart
According to the American Heart Association, walking at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week can reduce your risk for coronary heart disease.
5. Walking Can Tones Your Legs
Walking can strengthen the muscles in your legs, to build up more strength walk in a hilly area or an area with lots of stairs.
6. Walking Is A Great Way to Catch Up with Family and Friends
A walk with friends offers not only the chance to exercise but to enjoy time connecting with your children, friends and other family members while enjoying a little fresh air.
7. Walking May Help Keep Your Pet Healthy
Not only does walking give you and your pet a chance to get outside it may also help your pet’s joints, digestion, weight and behavior. Not to mention that it’s fun for your pet to meet new people and animals.
8. Walking Helps Burn Calories and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Regular walking can help reduce fat and help your clothes fit better. It’s not all about the number on the scale.
9.Walking Boots Your Brain Power
Psycial exercise can improve can improve brain function, in one study, people who walked briskly for one hour three times a week showed the decision-making areas of their brains worked more efficiently than people who attended education seminars instead.
10. Can Improve Your Sleep
Physical activity boosts the effects of melatonin, the sleep hormone, which in turn impacts the quality and length of sleep.
Walking is the easiest most effective exercise that you can do to not only get healthy but to stay healthy physically and mentally.
Are you a walker? Where is your favorite place to walk? By the ocean? In the woods?
I ordered Do Walk this week. I will let you know how it is once I read it.
One morning in 2011, Libby DeLana stepped outside her New England home for a walk. She did the same thing the next day, and the next. It became a daily habit that has culminated in her walking over 25,000 miles – the equivalent of the earth’s circumference.
In Do Walk, Libby shares the transformative nature of this simple yet powerful practice. She reveals how walking each day provides the time and space to reconnect with the world around us; process thoughts; improve our physical wellbeing; and unlock creativity. It is the ultimate navigational tool that helps us to see who we are – beyond titles and labels, and where we want to go.
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Valentines Day Finds!
Do you buy Valentine’s Day gifts? Or dress up for the day? If so I found a few things you might like.
Target has lots of candles and most are under $10.00 You can add them to a gift basket with a thow blanket , a book and some chocolate.
A snuggly throw for you, your pups or kids.
This ring, which could be worn all year long. This cute embroidered sweater.
Oh la la, a pink and red striped shirt paired with jeans is a festive outfit for gray days. It comes in blue and white as well.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Monday I shared + 5 Things: what I read, watched, and discovered this weekend and more.
Since it is soup season, I shared this creamy chicken cauliflower and leek soup. Try it, I think you will like it.
Friday Favorites was filled with recipes for Mediterranean bowls, French Bread pizza, brownies for 1. As well as interesting articles, finds, this cute outfit and lots more.
THAT’S IT
I hope that you enjoyed the 10 Benefits of walking as wells as meandering today. When you leave here don’t forget to pop over to see all of the things that Kim and Juliet have discovered this week.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here
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MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
Have a wonderful and safe weekend!
5 Ways to Survive the Holidays
How to Practice Gratitude
13 Self-Care Ideas for Spring
Vibeke Svenningsen, Olympia Le Tan, Holiday Outfits and More on Weekend Meanderings. 
Hi Elizabeth!
Your weekend sounds fun – and I would love to see the pups! I just want to take home all the adoption cats and dogs. all the time..
I love your post about walking and my dad walks daily as did his mom. I have begun since the new year every day, but y husband and I try and do a loop around our neighborhood every day at least once. We are lucky to have a big circle through a park and we just go. I listen to my book often if alone. Glad to hear it’s so good in many ways.
I love your Friday posts so much and will catch up with all the links this afternoon!
Hope you have a lovely weekend! xoxo
Thanks for mentioning the LIVE!
Kim
Elizabeth! Thank you for including my terrarium post here! I read this post with interest because though I KNOW how beneficial walking can be I absolutely hate it! I will literally avoid it at all costs! So you’ve got me thinking! 🙂
Sheri, I think you might “fall in love” with walking if you listen to a podcast or walk with a friend. I love the terrarium and am going to make my own! Have a wonderful weekend.
Good morning, Elizabeth! Happy Weekend! Like you, I’m a walker. Getting in at least 10,000 steps used to be no problem, but a lot has changed in the last few years. I think that’s the case for many people. Getting a dog got me into walking … 23 years ago or so, and I love it. As you point out there are so many benefits and nearly everyone can partake. And it does make the pups happy … if they miss more than a day they get a little grumpy. Like me! Can you believe Valentine’s Day is around the corner? Yikes … we’re already cruising through the New Year! xo
My husband is watching KC/JAX game as I type. I always chuckle at the weird sounds Patrick Mahomes makes when calling a play. But he sure is good!
I bought a similar shade of OPI polish to wear for Halloween. It’s called Berry Naughty. It’s a beautiful shade, but when I tested it on one nail it stained the nail. So I painted all my nails first with a nude color, then applied the berry shade. No staining!
Love your blog!
Sarah, that is such a great tip! I am going to try that because I had the same problem. I like dark shades in the winter but I don’t want my nails stained.
I hope for both our husbands that KC wins!
Thank you for coming to visit and for your kind comment.
I walk a lot.
I love walking and I love reading the health benefits…makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing! Although….hot yoga 5 or 6 times a week…wow! That’s impressive Elizabeth! I wish I could say I did that! ha
xx
I exercise with Peloton pretty much every day, but I always love it when I get out with Maddie and Cisco for a walk too. Walking in the woods up here brings me such a feeling of peace. And it brings me such joy to see M&C running with such unbridled joy! Good for you for taking charge and getting moving again!
I just read today that walking 5k steps twice a day rather than all at once is healthy for you but I’m not really sure about that. Most importantly, did you get a pup?!?