Going for a lunch time walk seems like a bit of a cop out in the exercise stakes but I actually love a brisk walk. Before I had the boys I walked to work a couple of times a week. It was a 12 mile round trip so I had to power walk to get to work in time to shower and get to my desk on time. During that period of walking exceedingly fast for nearly 3 hours a day, twice a week, I became pretty lean. It was a great workout and my leg and bottom muscles toned up a treat.
There's lots of evidence to suggest that walking is perfect exercise for most people. Almost anyone can take a walk, at their own pace and in the area around their home. No effort required. This week reports have suggested that walking can delay the onset of dementia. That's a pretty good reason to get back in to walking when I can find free time, so this morning I dug out my trainers from under a pile of washing and chucked them in the car with the boys. The little tikes are at nursery today while I go to work, so I can squeeze in a quick shuffle round the block in my lunch break.
Of course, like everything these days, leaving the office for lunch takes a bit of planning. If you spend most of your break walking, you need a lunch that doesn't take long to eat. Yesterday I had a chicken salad with raw vegetables (broccoli, beans, baby corn) and it took me about 50 minutes to eat (trying not to crunch too loudly). Today it's a chicken and salad sandwich (on rye of course) which I can knock back in 5 minutes. Now I just need to check the weather forecast because if it rains, I'll be staying put!
There's lots of evidence to suggest that walking is perfect exercise for most people. Almost anyone can take a walk, at their own pace and in the area around their home. No effort required. This week reports have suggested that walking can delay the onset of dementia. That's a pretty good reason to get back in to walking when I can find free time, so this morning I dug out my trainers from under a pile of washing and chucked them in the car with the boys. The little tikes are at nursery today while I go to work, so I can squeeze in a quick shuffle round the block in my lunch break.
Of course, like everything these days, leaving the office for lunch takes a bit of planning. If you spend most of your break walking, you need a lunch that doesn't take long to eat. Yesterday I had a chicken salad with raw vegetables (broccoli, beans, baby corn) and it took me about 50 minutes to eat (trying not to crunch too loudly). Today it's a chicken and salad sandwich (on rye of course) which I can knock back in 5 minutes. Now I just need to check the weather forecast because if it rains, I'll be staying put!