Walking

Happy Saturday morning.

I hope everybody had a good and productive week. I know for me, it was a hard one. I completed my Prolon fast and successful lost 10 lbs in six days. It just goes to show (1) how much crap I put into my body while in Cape Cod and (2) how amazing the human body is at detoxing and cleansing if you give it the chance.

Today, I wanted to touch on the simplest form of movement that I think is one of the easiest and most beneficial activities to add to your daily routine – walking. Did you know that the American Heart Association (where my wife Angie worked for 16 years) recommends a minimum 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week with a goal of 300 minutes each week? For me that’s 6 days of trail walking for 50 minutes.

Walking is amazing, easy form of activity that humans have been doing since the beginning of time.

If you are currently following a Paleo or Keto diet, did you know that our ancestors walked an average of 5-7 miles every day? They were constantly on the move.

Walking also gives you time to think and reflect. I am very fortunate that we live on a street that has access to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. This affords me miles and miles of wilderness trails with uneven terrain and beautiful views. More importantly, I can take my dog Ziggy and let her off the leash so she gets her daily exercise. Some days, I stop and find somewhere to sit and meditate. It is very important for us to connect with nature. We all need to smell, hear and experience nature for our bodies to be in harmony.

My brother-in-law, Tony Dorsett always mentions that the healthiest old people in his lake community are the ones he sees walking every morning.

When I worked at AOL, it was very common to have walking work meetings. Everyone would meet and walk across the campus and discuss business while getting some fresh air and exercise.

Now in the time of Covid, it’s important to social distance, so perhaps meeting someone new and going for a walk outdoors is a way to connect.

No matter what your goals might be, adding a daily walk can only help. It provides aerobic exercise, fresh air and time to clear your head.