Some of you might remember as a kid how it was a "treat" to get to go out to eat. It was like Christmas come early if I ever got to go to Bob Evans or even McDonald's! A rarity for sure, for obvious reasons, but fun and enjoyable none the less! Then I can remember becoming an adult and ... wait for it ... having my own money to ... order an appetizer!!! WOAH! Unheard of ... then came the MIND BLOWING experience of not only ordering an appetizer but DESSERT!!! Shock and awe folks. Why were these such crazy experiences? Because they're indulgences. Things we don't do often for caloric and financial reasons. But really ... sometimes being naughty can be so awesome! I want to share some of my all time favorite indulgences ... food or otherwise!
First of all ... the new Chocolate Chip Frappe from McDonald's. Holy mother. This tastes 10 x better than it sounds! It's a little pricy, $3 and change for a small, BUT it doesn't drink fast and it tastes amazing!! It's a chocolaty delicious mess of a drink. Be prepared for the calories and it does contain caffeine, however I don't get the weird buzz I usually do when drinking caffeine. Just a delicious refreshing drink!
Next is International Delights Iced Coffee. YUM!! If you're like me during warm months, I don't want to drink a hot beverage! This was a vice for me during the summer. It's about $4 for a carton (half gallon) which lasts about 5-6 large drinks. They come in 3 flavors, regular, mocha, and vanilla. Naturally vanilla is my favorite, but for $4 I love this treat! Better value than Starbucks 4 pack iced drinks! (HINT wait for it to go on sale and use an awesome coupon to make it a better value!!!)
A Turtle Sundae from Mr. Freeze (aka Sweet Retreat) Waterville, Ohio. No other place makes this Sundae like Mr. Freeze. It is hands down my favorite ice cream treat of all time! But if you don't live near Waterville, Dairy Queen offers a close substitute, the Turtle Pecan Cluster Blizzard. Oh mama this is good stuff! A small is all you need and it tastes fabulous!!
Cinnamon Hotcakes from Bob Evans are the diggity ... Seriously if you love breakfast and you love sweet things ... these are the BEST. The portion is big, so make sure this is the only thing you get and don't put any sugar in your coffee! I LOVE these pancakes!
Sunchips ... Done. These things are fabulous. But be careful. They look and sound healthier than regular chips, which they are a little bit, but they can still cost you in the calorie front. My favorite flavors are original, Peppercorn Ranch, French Onion and Garden Salsa. Delish.
Krispy Kreme donuts. I really don't think these need an explanation, but just in case. These are hands down the worlds best donuts. Just plain glazed hot out of the oven absolutely melt in your mouth. If you eat more than 2 you may get an atrocious stomach ache, but if you're not on a weight loss plan you'll thank yourself!
Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter popcorn is the best. Not a nightly treat though, calories are super high (in case you haven't noticed a trend here). No contest it's the best store bought microwaveable popcorn. It's really so good!
Fried Cauliflower at Whitey's Bar and Grill in Richfield, Ohio. (That's near Cleveland if you don't have a map handy) I have had other fried cauliflower but NO ONE does it like Whitey's! Plus while you're there you can burn off those calories playing a little beach volleyball on their sand volleyball court out back! It's a fun time, great atmosphere and the BEST fried cauliflower EVER!
Oh My! Chai from Tastefully Simple. This is easily one of the best drinks I've ever had. It's not expensive, SUPER easy to make and tastes fab!! I know I indulge a lot on drinks, but when you mostly consume water every day ... your indulgences tend to go the bevy way! ;) Try some when you can, you'll never go back! Um go back to whatever you were drinking before ... or whatever ...
Now for my non food indulgences - yeah you can have those too!!
Lysol Dual Action wipes. These seriously live up to the hype. I LOVE that it has a scrubber side. It works very well on stubborn things like, bathtubs, counter tops, sticky floors, blinds - yes blinds need cleaned too! Very handy to have around the house, but not super environmentally friendly, so I wouldn't try to use them for everyday cleaning.
Shopping at Target. This is an indulgence for me because when I go, I RARELY stick to my list. I end up buying that super cute clutch for $10 or that hand soap that's on sale or a new belt. They have a great selection of excellent items at very good prices. I love shopping at Target, but need to be careful if I walked in for 2 things that I don't walk out with 50! (PS if you have never been or haven't been lately, they have a DOLLAR section with really cute fun stuff for under 5 bucks!!! You GOTTA check it out!)
Hobby Lobby. If you have never been to this store you need to go! Crafts are not usually my thing, but they have a wide variety of neat "already crafted" things and DIY made easy. They're also a Christian operated store and value their customers. I asked a question about a discount once, and because no one in the store was sure of the answer, they gave me the discount! That's customer service folks!! Check them out because they have GREAT discounts and prices for Christmas!!
So remember, don't read this blog and go out and eat or do all of these things at once! Pry shouldn't even do more than one of them in a week! But indulgences are just that, indulgence. A time for us to partake on something that isn't everyday. Do something we don't normally get to ... and it feels so right!
Indulge in moderation my friends!! And leave me some feedback on the products and things you LOVE to indulge in!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Oh Baby! ... Shower
I got to go to a baby shower this past Saturday. First of all the mommy to be is adorable! And I was really excited to be invited. As some of you may know I take invitations seriously because it's an honor for me to be included in such a happy occasion! The shower was lovely of course and a great time was had by all.
The gift opening was the last part, which it usually is, and she had some great gifts! I want to tell you my top 10 list of gifts to get for expecting parents, and a couple SUPER cute and even easier ways to present them!
These gifts are in no particular order, but if you're stumped these are gifts they'll thank you for! (No seriously thank you not just like "oh yeah hey thanks for that stuff, it's cool.") In no particular order:
1. Baby wash in the pump bottle; GENIUS. At first I just thought oh whatever, I don't need it in the pump, until I went to use it. SO much handier and makes tubby time that much faster and easier. Plus, soap is a must have and a will go through item so it doesn't matter if you get duplicates.
2. Diapers - okay this one is obvious I know, but hear me out. Everyone always wants to get diapers in the newborn - size 1. I say, get them size 2 or up. Babies will spend most of their time in 2, 3 and up. They grow out of newbie diapers quick so steer clear of those and go for a bigger size that will save the parents money later!
3. Boudreaux's Butt Paste. This stuff is the DIGGITY!!! It's amazing, it will clear up diaper rash in a matter of hours not days! I had a friend who's baby is the same age as my daughter. And she had a NASTY diaper rash, I lent my friend a tube of my Butt Paste and she said it was gone the next day. She honestly couldn't believe it because nothing was working. She loved it so much she went out and bought her own!
4. Pacifier cleaning wipes. Holy Moses these things are amazing. I buy the Munchkin brand from Target, about 4 bucks for a packet of 36. They're alcohol free, no chemicals and they work on anything anywhere. Even if the parents don't use pacifiers, you can clean cups, bottles, toys anything your baby wants to drop at the exact moment you can't clean it. Just put these babies in your diaper bag and go!
5. Lansinoh anything. Even if your mom to be isn't going to nurse, she may still lactate and leak she may need nursing pads. Lansinoh brand is the BEST and it's middle of the road in terms of price. If your mommy is going to nurse the nipple cream is a LIFE saver. I had a terrible time nursing my baby early on it was so painful, this cream was recommended to me and I've never felt such awesome relief! Works like an amazing charm!!
6. Bibs. Again, this is an easy one. But when I realized I didn't have ENOUGH bibs and wanted to buy more, I was kinda shocked at how expensive they are! When you're a parent, especially one on a limited income, everything seems expensive. I never ended up buying anymore but wish I had. Bibs get used up quick and it feels like you're always having to wash them! So as many as possible are great!
7. Receiving blankets. Man o mighty these things are awesome!! You can honestly use them for anything. Swaddle blanket, burp rag, clean up spills, clean up puke, you can use them as a changing pad. They can have tummy time on them. Receiving blankets are another item you just can't have enough of!
8. Any kind of soft chewy toy. My baby loved these as a baby and I don't think I had enough. She'd get bored and I ran out of them to give her. You can buy them just about anywhere and they make a great filler item. The kind that can hang from your car seat are awesome!
9. Onsies. I kinda can't emphasize this one enough. Babies will live in onsies til they're 2. (Well a lot of babies will) I was and am always out of them. Babies, especially new ones will spit up on, puke on, drool on, snot on, poop on, and pee on their clothes almost as if it's their job. Sometimes I think it is, but you'll change clothes like nobodies business so you'll need a lot of onsies. For those who don't know, they are the shirts that snap under the crotch. They come in short and long sleeve and most parents will use them for everything from sleep wear to and extra layer under an outfit. They are an essential must have and it'll always seem as if you don't have enough! Plain white are recommended because they will match anything. Colorful ones with patterns are cute, but your baby will look like it was dressed by a crazy person if you need to layer it underneath something that doesn't match.
10. Baby proofing items. Again, everyone likes to get things for the baby right now. But we all forget that babies grow pretty quick. Most pediatricians recommend that as soon as your baby rolls over you should baby proof your house. Well if you're like our house, our baby rolled over at 6 weeks. Holy early for most babies, but we didn't even have a baby gate! So you can make the big purchase of a baby gate, or a small filler purchase like outlet covers or cabinet-keeper-closers. Yeah I made up a word for an item I don't know what it's called! We can fight about it or we can move on your choice! We just installed the last item and let me tell you ... GOD SEND! Emma was into every cabinet in the kitchen and always pulling out either potentially dangerous items or freshly washed baby eating items. Either way it's annoying and hazardous. So these will be put to great use and if the parents have them, they can just put them on and not have to worry about running out and getting some.
Those are all things I use and think are positively amazing. I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't but I stand by them all totally. Now for a few things I WISH I had and recommend. A cover for grocery carts and restaurant high chairs. What a great idea. Most babies go through a phase of gnawing on EVERYTHING. It's a combination of learning (babies learn the world by putting things in their mouth) and teething. They need to chew like a brand new puppy. So having a cover for the shopping cart would have saved me a lot of headache and gross out. On many occasions I would look back or down and there was my little princess with her precious little mouth all over that infested metal cart! BLEH. Covers are the way to go! Also, a plastic roll up place mat with suction cups. My friend, previously mentioned in this post, has one and it's just amazing. You can put anything on there and know it's clean instead of worrying about food falling onto the table you know was cleaned with some now brown but started white semi clean dishrag. It suctions to the table, has a catch that hangs off to catch falling toys, crayons or food, dishwasher safe and can just roll up to go anywhere. You always have a clean eating space for your pumpkin!
Keep in mind, any gift given to parents is going to be supremely appreciated! Every little bit helps. But these items I feel like parents NEED to have. They will all definitely get used a LOT. So save your money from buying that ridiculously cute newborn outfit they'll only wear once, maybe. Or that over priced stuffed animal and buy them something everyday usable. Let the grandparents and close aunts and uncles buy the cutsie stuff and you stick with the practical. It's easy on the wallet and they really will thank you. If nothing up there strikes you, BOOKS are always a great go to. Cardboard books are fabulous and often you can get them for less than $5. Other books, are plastic bathtime books; can go anywhere, your baby can chew on them, easy to clean, and durable. Great gift!
Now. Quickly, because this post is getting long. Here are two ways to prepare your gift that will get ALL the ladies talkin! The first is a diaper cake. I'm sure most of you have either heard of this or have seen one. Super fabulously cute and very easy to make. Buy a pack of diapers, package of rubber bands, receiving blanket, bottle, and bibs. Cut a piece of cardboard in a large circle like you see for cakes. Cover with receiving blanket covering tightly and taping into place. Roll up the diapers and secure with rubber bands. Stand them up in the cardboard forming a circle. Make sure that you have enough diapers to do at least 2 layers. The top layer stand the bottle upright and pack the rolled diapers around it. (The bottle should look like a candle) Secure your cake rounds of diapers either with a giant rubber band (to be covered by ribbon) or tightly tied ribbon. The bottom layer should extend further than the top layer. Drape bibs over top layer to resemble icing. For added bonuses you can put a package of wipes in the middle of the bottom layer when you are forming your diapers in a circle. You can also add things like pacifiers, rattles or little toys and secure them with ribbon. Finish product is useful and adorable. The idea I saw this weekend is even easier and just as practical! Buy onsies and socks in matching pairs. Fold the onsies in half then roll and stuff the socks in the middle. Bingo you have onsie cupcakes! Secure with tape or a rubber band and put them in a cute cardboard box with a plastic window. They look just like cupcakes bought from a bakery!
So now you are prepared either as a first time parent wondering what the heck you need, or as a shower guest going ... I can't afford a $245 mattress! Have no fear your gift ideas are here.
Good luck and have fun!! :)
The gift opening was the last part, which it usually is, and she had some great gifts! I want to tell you my top 10 list of gifts to get for expecting parents, and a couple SUPER cute and even easier ways to present them!
These gifts are in no particular order, but if you're stumped these are gifts they'll thank you for! (No seriously thank you not just like "oh yeah hey thanks for that stuff, it's cool.") In no particular order:
1. Baby wash in the pump bottle; GENIUS. At first I just thought oh whatever, I don't need it in the pump, until I went to use it. SO much handier and makes tubby time that much faster and easier. Plus, soap is a must have and a will go through item so it doesn't matter if you get duplicates.
2. Diapers - okay this one is obvious I know, but hear me out. Everyone always wants to get diapers in the newborn - size 1. I say, get them size 2 or up. Babies will spend most of their time in 2, 3 and up. They grow out of newbie diapers quick so steer clear of those and go for a bigger size that will save the parents money later!
3. Boudreaux's Butt Paste. This stuff is the DIGGITY!!! It's amazing, it will clear up diaper rash in a matter of hours not days! I had a friend who's baby is the same age as my daughter. And she had a NASTY diaper rash, I lent my friend a tube of my Butt Paste and she said it was gone the next day. She honestly couldn't believe it because nothing was working. She loved it so much she went out and bought her own!
4. Pacifier cleaning wipes. Holy Moses these things are amazing. I buy the Munchkin brand from Target, about 4 bucks for a packet of 36. They're alcohol free, no chemicals and they work on anything anywhere. Even if the parents don't use pacifiers, you can clean cups, bottles, toys anything your baby wants to drop at the exact moment you can't clean it. Just put these babies in your diaper bag and go!
5. Lansinoh anything. Even if your mom to be isn't going to nurse, she may still lactate and leak she may need nursing pads. Lansinoh brand is the BEST and it's middle of the road in terms of price. If your mommy is going to nurse the nipple cream is a LIFE saver. I had a terrible time nursing my baby early on it was so painful, this cream was recommended to me and I've never felt such awesome relief! Works like an amazing charm!!
6. Bibs. Again, this is an easy one. But when I realized I didn't have ENOUGH bibs and wanted to buy more, I was kinda shocked at how expensive they are! When you're a parent, especially one on a limited income, everything seems expensive. I never ended up buying anymore but wish I had. Bibs get used up quick and it feels like you're always having to wash them! So as many as possible are great!
7. Receiving blankets. Man o mighty these things are awesome!! You can honestly use them for anything. Swaddle blanket, burp rag, clean up spills, clean up puke, you can use them as a changing pad. They can have tummy time on them. Receiving blankets are another item you just can't have enough of!
8. Any kind of soft chewy toy. My baby loved these as a baby and I don't think I had enough. She'd get bored and I ran out of them to give her. You can buy them just about anywhere and they make a great filler item. The kind that can hang from your car seat are awesome!
9. Onsies. I kinda can't emphasize this one enough. Babies will live in onsies til they're 2. (Well a lot of babies will) I was and am always out of them. Babies, especially new ones will spit up on, puke on, drool on, snot on, poop on, and pee on their clothes almost as if it's their job. Sometimes I think it is, but you'll change clothes like nobodies business so you'll need a lot of onsies. For those who don't know, they are the shirts that snap under the crotch. They come in short and long sleeve and most parents will use them for everything from sleep wear to and extra layer under an outfit. They are an essential must have and it'll always seem as if you don't have enough! Plain white are recommended because they will match anything. Colorful ones with patterns are cute, but your baby will look like it was dressed by a crazy person if you need to layer it underneath something that doesn't match.
10. Baby proofing items. Again, everyone likes to get things for the baby right now. But we all forget that babies grow pretty quick. Most pediatricians recommend that as soon as your baby rolls over you should baby proof your house. Well if you're like our house, our baby rolled over at 6 weeks. Holy early for most babies, but we didn't even have a baby gate! So you can make the big purchase of a baby gate, or a small filler purchase like outlet covers or cabinet-keeper-closers. Yeah I made up a word for an item I don't know what it's called! We can fight about it or we can move on your choice! We just installed the last item and let me tell you ... GOD SEND! Emma was into every cabinet in the kitchen and always pulling out either potentially dangerous items or freshly washed baby eating items. Either way it's annoying and hazardous. So these will be put to great use and if the parents have them, they can just put them on and not have to worry about running out and getting some.
Those are all things I use and think are positively amazing. I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't but I stand by them all totally. Now for a few things I WISH I had and recommend. A cover for grocery carts and restaurant high chairs. What a great idea. Most babies go through a phase of gnawing on EVERYTHING. It's a combination of learning (babies learn the world by putting things in their mouth) and teething. They need to chew like a brand new puppy. So having a cover for the shopping cart would have saved me a lot of headache and gross out. On many occasions I would look back or down and there was my little princess with her precious little mouth all over that infested metal cart! BLEH. Covers are the way to go! Also, a plastic roll up place mat with suction cups. My friend, previously mentioned in this post, has one and it's just amazing. You can put anything on there and know it's clean instead of worrying about food falling onto the table you know was cleaned with some now brown but started white semi clean dishrag. It suctions to the table, has a catch that hangs off to catch falling toys, crayons or food, dishwasher safe and can just roll up to go anywhere. You always have a clean eating space for your pumpkin!
Keep in mind, any gift given to parents is going to be supremely appreciated! Every little bit helps. But these items I feel like parents NEED to have. They will all definitely get used a LOT. So save your money from buying that ridiculously cute newborn outfit they'll only wear once, maybe. Or that over priced stuffed animal and buy them something everyday usable. Let the grandparents and close aunts and uncles buy the cutsie stuff and you stick with the practical. It's easy on the wallet and they really will thank you. If nothing up there strikes you, BOOKS are always a great go to. Cardboard books are fabulous and often you can get them for less than $5. Other books, are plastic bathtime books; can go anywhere, your baby can chew on them, easy to clean, and durable. Great gift!
Now. Quickly, because this post is getting long. Here are two ways to prepare your gift that will get ALL the ladies talkin! The first is a diaper cake. I'm sure most of you have either heard of this or have seen one. Super fabulously cute and very easy to make. Buy a pack of diapers, package of rubber bands, receiving blanket, bottle, and bibs. Cut a piece of cardboard in a large circle like you see for cakes. Cover with receiving blanket covering tightly and taping into place. Roll up the diapers and secure with rubber bands. Stand them up in the cardboard forming a circle. Make sure that you have enough diapers to do at least 2 layers. The top layer stand the bottle upright and pack the rolled diapers around it. (The bottle should look like a candle) Secure your cake rounds of diapers either with a giant rubber band (to be covered by ribbon) or tightly tied ribbon. The bottom layer should extend further than the top layer. Drape bibs over top layer to resemble icing. For added bonuses you can put a package of wipes in the middle of the bottom layer when you are forming your diapers in a circle. You can also add things like pacifiers, rattles or little toys and secure them with ribbon. Finish product is useful and adorable. The idea I saw this weekend is even easier and just as practical! Buy onsies and socks in matching pairs. Fold the onsies in half then roll and stuff the socks in the middle. Bingo you have onsie cupcakes! Secure with tape or a rubber band and put them in a cute cardboard box with a plastic window. They look just like cupcakes bought from a bakery!
So now you are prepared either as a first time parent wondering what the heck you need, or as a shower guest going ... I can't afford a $245 mattress! Have no fear your gift ideas are here.
Good luck and have fun!! :)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Feeling Fallish
Oh man ... I love Fall! Well I love all seasons, but I get excited when a new one comes! It is such a PERFECT time to start fitness goals! Take for example, I want to lose 30 pounds, Fall is a great time for this because I start to walk farther than I am able in the summer. I have a huge Great Dane named Brutus and he is also 30 pounds overweight (even though we walk daily) and his heart just can't handle the summer heat. I've even asked other Dane owners who say the same thing about their "smaller" Danes. It's just not a good time for big dogs. It takes a lot of effort to pump blood through that big body and takes a toll on the heart. So we take short walks in the summer time so he can make it. Cooler fall weather means longer walks and more calories burned! It also means that I will be more in the mood to cook! Who wants a hot kitchen on hot summer nights?? YUCK. But again, now that the windows are open, I feel the need and want to get the crock pot out and fire up the oven.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that we don't all have to run marathons to lose weight. Walking is an EXCELLENT source of exercise. In fact, the last time I went to my primary care physician office, they had a flyer out about the awesome health benefits of walking. Kaiser Permanente is taking part in a "Every Body Walk" campaign ( www.everybodywalk.org) Here are some statistics to get you out and walking and enjoying the beauty of fall!!!
Walking 20 minutes a day will burn 7 pounds of fat per year.
Walking 45 minutes a day cuts your risk of getting a cold in HALF. AWESOME!
Walking 1 minute ... yeah I typed it right ... ONE MINUTE can extend your life by 1.5-2 minutes!
Walking 6 miles a week can cut your risk of developing Alzheimers disease in HALF.
Women who walk for 1 hour a day 5 days a week and consume 1500 calories a day can lose and keep off 25 pounds!
Walking 30 minutes a day 4 times a week can reduce the risk of Diabetes nearly 60%.
Prostate cancer patients who walk 90 minutes a week have nearly 50% lower mortality risk.
Women who walk regularly are 31% less likely to develop colon cancer (than those who exercise less than one hour per week). Looks like my rump is safe ... for now!
Walking 30 minutes a day 5 times a week can cut the risk of heart disease by HALF.
Walking triggers endorphins which promotes relaxation, prevents anxiety and depression, reduces stress, cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition walking burns more calories than jogging, improves your balance, reduces risk of glaucoma and builds bone mass. Walking is especially beneficial for seniors, but I believe that building a good base now will only increase those benefits when I am older. So walking now is creating good habits to keep when I am in my 70's and up!
I love walking. It gives me time to think and clear my head. It is a great energy release for my dog. It gets my baby out of the house. I love enjoying nature and sucking in some fresh air and I always think about the benefits for my body. I have a very bad lower back and genetically I was preconditioned to have the awful knees I have. Walking is low impact which means I can easily walk for miles if I choose and still feel fine. I can't physically do that with running. If I ran a mile right now, I would be sore for at least a few days. In addition, you can add extra walking into your life anytime. You can walk on your lunch break at work, you can park far away at the grocery store or walk to the store, you can walk when you get home from work. Running I always feel has to be much more scheduled. I have to figure out when I have time and I must shower afterward. I don't have a jogging stroller right now so I can't take my daughter with me. My dog is too big to run as far as I would need. When I walk, I can include everyone and go anytime.
Long story longer. You don't need to prep for the Boston marathon to lose weight or feel better about yourself. You just need to walk baby!! Yeah! Get that walk on!
So get out there and walk your booty off ... LITERALLY! And burn those tailgate calories honey!!!
Get up get out get walkin!
**All facts and statistics provided by Kaiser Permanente visit www.kp.org for additional information**
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that we don't all have to run marathons to lose weight. Walking is an EXCELLENT source of exercise. In fact, the last time I went to my primary care physician office, they had a flyer out about the awesome health benefits of walking. Kaiser Permanente is taking part in a "Every Body Walk" campaign ( www.everybodywalk.org) Here are some statistics to get you out and walking and enjoying the beauty of fall!!!
Walking 20 minutes a day will burn 7 pounds of fat per year.
Walking 45 minutes a day cuts your risk of getting a cold in HALF. AWESOME!
Walking 1 minute ... yeah I typed it right ... ONE MINUTE can extend your life by 1.5-2 minutes!
Walking 6 miles a week can cut your risk of developing Alzheimers disease in HALF.
Women who walk for 1 hour a day 5 days a week and consume 1500 calories a day can lose and keep off 25 pounds!
Walking 30 minutes a day 4 times a week can reduce the risk of Diabetes nearly 60%.
Prostate cancer patients who walk 90 minutes a week have nearly 50% lower mortality risk.
Women who walk regularly are 31% less likely to develop colon cancer (than those who exercise less than one hour per week). Looks like my rump is safe ... for now!
Walking 30 minutes a day 5 times a week can cut the risk of heart disease by HALF.
Walking triggers endorphins which promotes relaxation, prevents anxiety and depression, reduces stress, cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition walking burns more calories than jogging, improves your balance, reduces risk of glaucoma and builds bone mass. Walking is especially beneficial for seniors, but I believe that building a good base now will only increase those benefits when I am older. So walking now is creating good habits to keep when I am in my 70's and up!
I love walking. It gives me time to think and clear my head. It is a great energy release for my dog. It gets my baby out of the house. I love enjoying nature and sucking in some fresh air and I always think about the benefits for my body. I have a very bad lower back and genetically I was preconditioned to have the awful knees I have. Walking is low impact which means I can easily walk for miles if I choose and still feel fine. I can't physically do that with running. If I ran a mile right now, I would be sore for at least a few days. In addition, you can add extra walking into your life anytime. You can walk on your lunch break at work, you can park far away at the grocery store or walk to the store, you can walk when you get home from work. Running I always feel has to be much more scheduled. I have to figure out when I have time and I must shower afterward. I don't have a jogging stroller right now so I can't take my daughter with me. My dog is too big to run as far as I would need. When I walk, I can include everyone and go anytime.
Long story longer. You don't need to prep for the Boston marathon to lose weight or feel better about yourself. You just need to walk baby!! Yeah! Get that walk on!
So get out there and walk your booty off ... LITERALLY! And burn those tailgate calories honey!!!
Get up get out get walkin!
**All facts and statistics provided by Kaiser Permanente visit www.kp.org for additional information**
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