By Lori Welbourne
I started out this year extremely depressed, low on energy and reluctant to get out of bed. Like an alcoholic falling off the wagon, I had once again succumbed to my junk food addiction, knowing full well I was making my situation far worse. I’d gained weight and felt sick, both physically as well as mentally. I was also avoiding people because I didn’t think I had much to offer in my darker state.
When I finally agreed to meet up with one of my best friends for coffee, she confessed to me that she was feeling some of the same things that I was. Like me, her stress and anxiety were taking a toll and she was also self-sabotaging with junk food and not taking good care of herself. We decided to help each other, but we weren’t sure how to go about doing that.
At first, we’d just talk about our troubles and support each other’s efforts to eat clean, get more active and do things that would improve our well being. But despite our mutual desire to shape up, nothing much was happening for either one of us.
After several weeks of healthy eating and exercising separately, we saw little to no change and decided to try walking together to see if that would help. It did.
My first stroll with Kim was by the lake in Peachland and she walked so fast I had a flashback to being a little kid trying to keep up with my dad. I couldn’t believe someone the same height as me was able to make strides as though their legs were twice as long, but she walked that way the next time we met as well. I hadn’t thought of this simple form of exercise as being much of a workout, but with Kim it definitely was.
It wasn’t too strenuous though. I used to work really hard running and lifting weights, and I never considered walking – even speed walking – enough of an aerobic challenge to make any significant changes to my body. Yet it is all I’ve been doing for exercise the last few months, and I’ve lost 35 pounds as a result.
I can thank Kim for getting me started on all this, but she’s no longer my only fitness friend. From the moment I get up, my ridiculously excitable dogs start following me around the house visibly eager to go for their morning hike. Witnessing their unmistakable glee as they frolic in the woods has been an amazing and healing way to start the day, no matter what the weather might be like.
I’m not lying in bed reluctant to get out of it anymore. I’m now enthusiastic about moving my legs and breathing in the fresh outdoor air, just as much as the dogs are.
Many of my friends that I’d typically sit and have coffee with have become my walking-talking partners as well. Even my husband and kids are joining me and the pups.
I feel ready to intensify my exercise routine, and I have plans to do that, but I don’t imagine I’ll ever stop going on my wonderful non-workout feeling walks. Besides helping me slim down, they’ve been inexpensive and effective therapy sessions for my depression and anxiety.
They’ve also been so enjoyable that this whole experience has felt easy. Turns out I like easy. It seems to like me too.
Lori Welbourne is a syndicated columnist. She can be contacted at LoriWelbourne.com
