Better than the gym
In my last blog The best tips from ‘Why French women don’t get fat’ I waxed lyrical about walking being your chance to relax, think and dream. For me this lesson was so powerful that I’ve made a big call: I’ve ditched my gym membership.
Breaking up is hard to do
As a former gym junkie, I’d hit the treadmill, stepper, rower and cross-trainer (followed by a short session with the weights) up to four times a week. And then, something would change—an unexpected wave of work or a busy week of socialising—and my routine would stop. For weeks.
That was money wasted and a mountain of guilt created—after all, when you’re laying down good cash for a languishing gym membership, you feel like a failure.
The last time my routine was broken, however, I stopped to think: did I really love the gym? I certainly loved the high I got from a solid, intensive cardio-workout. But it was something I felt I had to do, not something I enjoyed from start-to-finish.
What works for Charlie
Around the same time I witnessed my colleague Charlie getting HUGE benefit from her lunchtime walks.
Here’s what she said (in the early days of her habit): “After walking for just one week, the most noticeable change is that I'm more energised in the afternoons. The mental break I get at lunchtime means I come back to work with a clearer head and get more work done more quickly. I set up two playlists on my iPod so I can easily flick between fast and moderate tracks. It's a lot easier to walk at the right pace if I let the music guide me.”
I wanted what she was having.
What works for me
Finding a sustainable exercise routine is as individual as your choice in clothes. But for me, evening walking just fits because of the mind-body benefits. I’ve just celebrated my three-week anniversary of walking after work (sometimes running if I’ve got leftover energy from the day).
I get home at 7pm, put down my handbag, strap on my runners and head out into the night air.
So far, so awesome: I feel more connected to the world around me (and it helps that I have the world’s prettiest park a short stroll from home, equipped with a singing flock of kookaburra’s at twilight).
But most importantly, it helps me decompress the day, keeps me moving everyday—as opposed to three or four days a week—and gives me space to tap into my brain’s creativity.
I’ve lost two kilos (not my goal, but a big bonus!) and I’ve had a nest of fabulous ideas for almost every area of my life.
Long live the twilight walk!
Tell me: what exercise works best for your body and mind? I’d love to hear.