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Regular walking
Almost every morning I take myself off for a beautiful walk along the river or through the park. It is a practice that I have gradually begun to do as part of my recovery from binge eating disorder. For years I had sporadically exercised because I felt I should. Something would disrupt my routine, usually the school holidays, and it would be months before I would re-establish a pattern. Now I walk because I really enjoy the peace and quiet to think about my life, as well as looking after my body. |  |
The most wonderful thing I have discovered during my walks is the sound of the birds. When I was bingeing, my brain was so fogged out from sugar that I never noticed the beauty of nature. I didn’t know the birds where making the most beautiful twittering sounds because all I ever thought about was my next binge. Today the food obsession has gone and I have so much more time in my life to appreciate what is going on around me. I am often amazed at how loud the birds are.
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| As I walk along I will think about things that are going on in my life. Some days it feels like my daily meditation where thoughts just pop into my mind. Many of the articles I write come as a result of my walks. I have time to think about what would be useful to others, what would be a good article that does not rehash what so many have said before. |
New ideas are born, as well as having time to toss around the pros and cons for each new thought. I am able to put things into perspective because I have removed myself from my busy life allowing myself to have an undisturbed 40 minutes or so. Changing Lives Online Counselling Service was one of my original thoughts. I imagined setting up a website for people who wanted online counselling, knowing that many people felt too ashamed or embarrassed to seek help in a face to face situation. I knew that it would be a very challenging thing to do as I was one of the first seven people to qualify from Toronto University as an online counsellor. Whilst there are many counsellors who have set up online counselling, it is terrifying how few ethical and professional standards they abide by, mainly through ignorance.
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Of course the benefits of walking are not just purely mental wellbeing; there are also the benefits to your body. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise that is suitable for most people, with few exceptions. You can gradually build up the speed you walk at, as well as the distance. If you are very unfit you may only be able to walk a few hundred yards and for some people it may be a case of actually taking a couple of steps.
Last night I watched a programme about morbidly obese people in a specialised rehabilitation hospital where one man took his first ten steps after being confined to bed for the previous three years. What an amazing achievement that was.
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If you suffer from any medical condition that may worsen as a result of your walking it is essential that you get clearance from your doctor. The aim of walking should be a positive experience.
You might want to find a companion to walk with. This can be an excellent way of keeping you motivated if you know that someone else is expecting you to turn up. As you chat away, it is amazing the distance you can cover before you know it. I recently went on a walk with a group of people and before I knew it we had walked 5 miles. I had been so busy chatting, I found it hard to believe that I had actually walked that far as it seemed like we had only just set off!
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| Children love to go on nature walks too. Don’t use them as an excuse; encourage them to be part of your walking routine. When they are tiny, you can either push them in the pram or carry them in a back pack designed for children. As they get old they may want to bring scooters or bikes if they find it hard to keep up. The more you walk with them, the more they will accept it as normal. |
My children love to go on country walks through the fields or woods. We walk miles with them and it is something that they all enjoy. We are members of the National Trust so we make the most of all the beautiful countryside walks they have to offer. Many places have different coloured trails so you can decide before you set off how far you are going to walk.
Today walking is part of my self care routine. I used to go on the treadmill but today I prefer to walk outside unless it is absolutely pouring with rain. Why not start today by taking a few steps and before you know it you will find an activity that looks after both your body and your mind.
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