Powerwalking by Becca

Published 05 June 08 10:50 PM | Corinne

I asked Becca, a moderator, to share a story she told me on the phone yesterday.

I didn't want to go to the gym so I decided to make a dog walk "count." You see, my dogs like to stop and smell the roses. Literally, they love the smell of roses and stop frequently. It used to really bother me that when I wanted to use a dog walk for exercise that they would dilly-dally at every rose bush dropping my heart rate down. A few weeks ago, Corinne and Trish started talking about powerwalks and today I decided that if the pooches could stop and smell the roses then I COULD TOO. The roses of PNP LIFE!

I took advantage of this sniffing time. When the pooches took a break, I did some pop squats, walking lunges, pushups on the side of the road, etc. It was challenging and fun to take advantage of all the neighborhood has to offer. It simply took me "stopping to smell the roses" to see how much exercise equipment mother nature has available.

Since my neighborhood has hills, I did some backwards walking up hills, jogging, walking, and side shuffles. As soon as I could barely breathe, I would walk, catch my breath, and then off to something new. I plan on doing this again and again - it's a great cardio workout! By the time I got home our 6 year old dog, Sydney, was barely picking up her feet. She was tired! I figured that I am helping both of us "condition" ourselves for a long, healthy life.

Girls, six months ago, I would never thought about doing this. I would have been mortified to make "a scene" in my quiet little town. Not today. Today I wanted to keep my HR up and I made the walk work for me. In 37 minutes, 370 calories burned up lightening fast. This made for a great burn and a fun walk the dogs will never forget. To top it off, I have been doing pushups, pop squats, walking lunges, and squats throughout the day while I do my regular housework.

So what can you do to add to your walk or your housework? Let's find new ways to make our days active and PHIT!

Want to see how we do it in action? Visit my Youtube videos. Woot! 

 

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Comments

# Candace said on June 6, 2008 07:53 AM:

I am going to have to try that. I've been asked by hubby not to take Baloo the 6.8km's again until she's more conditioned, but a shorter walk with more of this stuff sounds good. I did take a look at the videos yesterday, but really don't have speakers at work and really want to hear 'The Queen' and put a voice to that pretty face.

# Buckeye said on June 6, 2008 08:38 AM:

It sure makes the time go faster! I do a dog walk without my dog (otherwise I think both of us would be tangled in the leash). This morning as I was pop squatting and a runner I knew went by, I invited him to join in-I figured if I acknowledged what I was doing, it wouldn't seem so "weird"! I had a great calorie burn and am done with cardio! I am looking forward to getting more creative as time goes on!

# Jill said on June 6, 2008 08:58 AM:

I have started doing the same thing... I used to just power walk and then 'stand around' while the dogs sniffed and sniffed. But then the post a few weeks back by Trish about getting in a GOOD workout... well I now pop squat and side shuffle like nobody's business. I have 2 dogs... 1 is older and really likes to sniff the other is simply CRAZY... she side shuffles WITH ME... I can get about 10 side shuffles in on each side (length of the leash) I do that about 4 times and a few pop squats and puppers is ready to walk again. The other day I was doing this and a lady on a bike came by. Mind you she was for sure taking a LEISURE bike ride... she looked at me and said "WHOA" I think like (you are CRAZY) I nodded my head and said 'yep'. The last 2 weekends we have done this and I feel so GOOD being outside getting in good exercise spending time with the 'fur babies' I just LOVE it. P.S. my CRAZY dog even wears a weighted back pack... she is a bundle of ENERGY!!!

# Lorie said on June 6, 2008 04:18 PM:

Becca great blog.  While I don't have any pets, I do have a 2 yr old that likes to dilly dally a lot :)   great pointers my dear.

# Becca said on June 6, 2008 06:56 PM:

Its been fun and I love getting funny looks from the crazy old ladies. Planning on doing this again tomorrow and I am going to side shuffle by my Uncles house! HAHA!

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