Walking is probably the easiest exercise as it can be done at any time. Most days it’s my only outdoor exercise so I really appreciate it. I take my lunchbreak every day without fail, that time is far too important for me to de-stress to miss it. I feel I return to the office more refreshed and studies have found those who take a walk at lunchtime are actually more productive in the afternoon than those who don’t. I understand jobs are busy etc, but I cant imagine any company can sack somebody for taking a lunch break when they are fully entitled to one.
I work full time – 8.30am to 5.00pm with an hour lunch break. The weather has to be extreme for me not to go out and when that happens I get anxious and agitated, I hate it. This is the same in the evening, I need to get out to switch off and de-stress after a busy day of work. This could be a run, walk or whatever.
I usually walk at pace, aiming to go a little faster than my normal speed to get my heart rate up a little, this will increase metabolism and burn a few extra calories but getting out is the most important thing so it generally depends on how I feel and how much energy I have.
A companion to walk with is great which brings me onto Marvin.
Marvin
We brought home our little eight-week-old golden retriever puppy in August 2018, we told our boys they could name him. The only rules were the name couldn’t be embarrassing to call out in the local park and something we weren’t likely to come across on another dog. They came up with Marvin, great choice and it suits him although I am more the paranoid android! He is definitely starvin Marvin though, anyone who has ever had a goldie will know they can and do eat. He can eat a full meal and act starved five minutes later as they are the dustbin of the dog world! Marvin is a large goldie weighing in at around 45kgs (he isn’t overweight, just very tall and long) and needs lots of walking and exercise – perfect! We all adore him. Marvin is also a stress reliever in himself, despite his size he thinks he is a lapdog and loves a good snuggle. He is always happy to see you and never grumpy, doesn’t answer back either. Nothing like a teenager!
He is walked three times a day, I walk him in the morning but that’s only 10-15 minutes and I spend most of it avoiding bushes etc that might need sniffing and therefore slowing us down – It doesn’t matter what time I get up in the morning, I’m always running late so this is a quick and not very exciting walk.
Now I am working from home, I walk him for the second time at lunchtime. At the moment (winter) this is his main walk of the day so we are out for 50-55 minutes. We are lucky to live very near to open fields with a river running through and woods so he gets a great run and swim and I get to breathe deep and free! In the evening he gets another 20-30 minutes around local streets. In the summer we do the shorter walk at lunchtime and the longer walk in the evening. Marvin doesn’t care what the weather is doing so we go out regardless of torrential rain or whatever, the only thing that will stop us walking him is a very hot day.
Marvin also recently started the couch to 5k running app. I always intended to try running with him and, so far, he loves it. Like humans, a dog is unlikely to just be able to go out and run 5k so he is building up to it gradually. The only problem I have with him is if he doesn’t want to leave the park then he will just lie down and at 45kgs I cant lift him! This does provide a laugh to anyone nearby.
Before we got Marvin I would walk at least twice a day, lunchtime and evening if I didn’t go for a run. My daily steps have definitely increased with a dog in the house!