Does anyone else on this forum walk or hike on a regular basis? I mentioned a while back that I walk five miles a day. Recently I started walking between 8.5 and 9 miles for six days a week (except on Saturday or Sunday). It is torture, but it feels so good at the same time. I don't know whether to call it walking or hiking, because it's really a mix. There are a lot of dirt roads and trails near my house. Lots of differing terrain. I walk on them rather than the road, because they are much safer. You don't have to worry about being run over or breathe in vehicle exhaust (which is probably pretty bad for you). I started walking again in January. I have come by sufficient motivation (I got a scheme going on ). I like to push myself, and I like to explore (What is beyond that bend? Where does this road lead to?).

I try to walk an hour after I awake. Right after I wake up I drink a huge glass of water and take some vitamins. Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin C will give you a good energy boost. Now the weather is warming up. I have a family history of skin cancer so I wear a long sleeved shirt and a hat. I don't have the money to buy a nice Stetson, so I make do with a baseball cap and a bandanna. I bring at least two liters of water, but today when the temperature reached 90 degrees I found myself barely squeezing by in the water department. I am going to bring another liter or two or water with me tomorrow, perhaps in the form of water bottles in an old backpack.

When I started out walking I was wearing cotton tube socks that stretched up over my calf. I was getting blisters on just about every walk. Cotton absorbs your sweat and keeps it close to your feet. This increases friction and heat in your shoes. Short socks that only go up to your ankles that are made of synthetic fiber are much better. I have never gotten a blister since I changed the style of socks I wear.

I also have a pedometer. Today I took more than 18,000 steps. I don't really record any numbers, because I tend to forget my pedometer and I tend to lose important pieces of paper (if I was president, I probably wouldn't be able to produce a birth certificate either). I only know how far I walked because I measured it in Google Earth.

Anyway, I was just wondering if there are any other walkers/hikers on here, or cyclists, runners, joggers, swimmers ... or any other kind of exercisers for that matter. I would like to hear from you. We could encourage and motivate each other in our efforts to improve our health and well being.

God Bless

Hi Cayce17! Yes! I am an avid exerciser - though not quite as much as you! I started out in 2001 by taking Taekwondo. I spent 6 years in heavy training while getting my blackbelt. After that, I started running and teaching kickboxing. I am now a part-time personal trainer and have started using the kettlebell and doing Yoga for strength and flexibility. I am so thankful for PM's teachings because I don't have the hang-ups with martial arts and Yoga that some people do. I can enjoy them for the health benefits and ignore the "spiritual" side of them.

I struggled with my weight throughout high school and most of my 20's but Taekwondo helped me to become a more healthful person and exercise became an integrated part of my life. I still struggle at times, but I have learned to go with the "ebbs and flows" of life.

I would love to see some pix from your hiking. Have you changed your diet since starting? I, too, love the feel of challenging my body and seeing how far I can go. My main purpose is overall fitness! I love to be strong!

Susie

Congratulations, both of you! I use to run, every morning.
Then I followed up with a vigorous routine of 'dance' or stair stepping for 45 minutes. I also used a treadmill.
Generally I was done by 7:30 a.m. before the children were fed and off to school.
Then I move to the mountains and exchanged it all for yard work and wood chopping. I'm not so
sure this invokes the same cardiovascular benefits, but it still feels satisfying.

YHVH bless
MarysLove

You sound like quite an avid exerciser, Susie! You could probably (definitely) beat me up! I just started out walking in January. I became very ill two years ago and it took me a long time to recover. I used to lift huge weights and jog, but it will be a while before I start doing that again! I am indeed looking to lose weight. I'd like to get back down to 175-180 pounds; that's what I used to weigh. At first I was walking every other day for one or two miles. Then I started walking four miles and in the last few weeks I walked at least five miles every day. Last week I started walking eight and a half miles. 8 1/2 miles sure feels a lot longer than five miles! I try to walk four or five miles an hour to burn extra calories. I figure I will get used to it here in a week or two; at least I sure hope so. LOL I am thinking of taking a break or not walking as far tomorrow. My legs are sore!!

I have been eating better since I started walking. I have noticed if you eat bad and then exercise the next day ... you don't feel so good. It's like your body gets even with you for feeding it slop. I have had to make other adjustments in my diet (don't eat very spicy food, don't eat before bed, etc). I still eat many of the foods I have always enjoyed, just in lesser qualities, smaller portions. I drink a lot more water than I used to drink. I used to get a lot of headaches, I realize now it's because I was dehydrated all the time.

MarysLove, I think chopping wood is the best exercise you can get! I used to have a reclining stationary bike. I could burn 500 calories an hour! But I hurt my knee on it going too fast. If we all lived in the mountains, or exercised like we did ... none of us would have weight problems.

Now I took some pictures today, but there is a storm system passing through Phoenix. Yesterday there wasn't a cloud to be seen and it was over 90 degrees outside. Today the temperature was in the mid 50s, the wind was blowing and it was humid. Welcome to Phoenix, aka the Pacific Northwest.

Anyway, I hope you will enjoy these pictures:

Thanks cayce17 and everyone for sharing. This is super motivating. I woke up this morning determined to begin this diet anew. I have 40 pounds to lose. Stationary bike, gym, hiking, walking, the whole deal. I know the more you guys talk about it the more it will motivate me. Please post pics and any info that will help.

I would like to be the best that I could be. I mentiioned before that my family owns the Miss California franchise and when I'm in LA, that's all they talk about. Ofcourse, I don't really care, however, I know where I need to be and after three kids it hasn't been easy.

The superficiallity of it all makes me rebel and get angry. But good health, is good health and I need to make sure I set an example for my kids and represent God the best way I can.

I don't know why, but, when I saw this post I became very interested. I think it's because I value the thoughts of the elect and know that their motivations are good and pure.

Anyways, I appreciate any encouragement on this subject.

Thanks again everyone

FOREVER HE IS KING

Cayce,
Wow! you really believe in giving it your all! Unless you are really enjoying, that length of a hike, I'd cut back a bit. It is much better to walk 3-4 miles daily ,and remain consistent over the longer term. 8-9mi. are really not necessary, to loose weight and maintain good health. Diet plays a very big part, in our over all health and well being. You need healthy calories to sustain your ability to excercise safely. Low fat choices, lots of fruit and veggies and whole grains. You are blessed to have such beautiful trails to walk on! I really enjoyed your pic's! I do a tremendous amount of yard work, these days, but have actually climbed two mountains, to the summit, about 8yrs. ago!! You will be the picture of health brother, before you know it. Keep up the good work and stay consistent.
God Bless,
Louise

Wow! The pix are beautiful Cayce! I would definitely hike more often if we had trails here in Indiana like that! I have always wanted to mountain climb. I think it would be amazing!!!

Thanks for sharing!

I need to get motivated too....I would like to be in shape when it's time to be delivered up...right now I would be so winded after climbing the temple mount steps

Hi Cayce,

I found your's and everyone's posts here inspiring. It is important to keep good health and work with the body given you. I've been diabetic since I was six years old. I take numerous shots of insulin daily. I also run three miles a day. Several years ago they detected a heart murmur. As long as I stay on top of blood sugar levels and insulin adjustment, I do great. I feel much better with daily exercise and my body fat has returned to the athletic range. Since moving back to east Texas from Dallas, I have found actually LESS areas to run - at least safely and without driving far. That has been my biggest challenge. My current doc has advised me to cut back on the running and turn in some fast walk, for my knees. I run for a purpose tho. My life lived and life to come are with me on each and every run. I give Father the glory for allowing me to go the distance, or any distance - healthwise - each and every day.

It is so wonderful to see your encouraging testaments here. I have the highest respect for this family here.

God bless.

-kristen

Hi everyone and thank you for your replies!

Louise, I heeded your advice today. Last night I rode into town to the store. My right leg, the one with the bad knee, was so sore! I was thinking of not walking today, but every time in the past I have "took a break" I ended up taking a break for two days, then, three, then a week, etc. Consistency (SC probably has a study titled just that). So I took a walk today, but instead of walking eight or nine miles at a fast pace, I walked five at a moderate pace. Instead of being exhausted near the end, I was energized and in a good mood. For anyone else that is just starting out (I practically have) I would suggest not walking, running, cycling too far in too short of a time. I still have to build my body up to withstand walking that kind (9 mi.) of distance every day. I realized today that five miles a day is not too bad itself! Many people that walk for weight loss and fitness carry a pedometer, and slowly work toward reaching a daily goal of steps/miles walked.

dollinabubble, I wish you success in your efforts to lose weight! I have tried to diet many times and failed. I have changed my diet, but I would not say I am on a diet. I just eat smaller portions and I eat healthier food. I grill or bake chicken instead of frying it, for example. I don't pick the vegetables off of a sandwich anymore lol. When I was a kid I would gag if I ate lettuce or carrots! I can now eat a a salad but I can not subsist on vegetables alone (how do vegetarians do it?). There are certain foods I have cut out altogether, but I still enjoy many foods I used to. I used to eat potato chips (which are fried in oil/fat), but now I have switched to corn chips, which are baked and lower in calories. Regarding something else: My ideals of beauty and the Miss California ideals of beauty ... greatly differ to say the least.

kristen, thank you for your testimony. Congratulations on managing diabetes and your weight! I used to have very bad heart palpitations all the time. I take magnesium to minimize heart palpitations. I hope you do find a safe place to run; buy a treadmill or find a gym if you need to. My family sometimes fears for my safety out in the desert, but I carry a cell phone and several "self defense implements". A nice solid walking stick can have a lot of uses.

"My life lived and life to come are with me on each and every run. I give Father the glory for allowing me to go the distance, or any distance - healthwise - each and every day." AMEN. That's just about how I would say.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

God Bless

Hey All!

I, too, am enjoying this thread. Kristen - you are such a great example of what we can all do if we put our minds to it! When I was training in Taekwondo, I felt very close to our Father because I knew that I was training my body to be better. It was such a great parallel for me because I was training to be a fighter and I was fairly new to the Word. I knew that I was training to be both a physical and spiritual fighter. Throughout, my experience was repeated and I felt as if Father was taking me by the hand and teaching me discipline in a very methodical way (I'm not a quick study sometimes!). I found one set of scriptures to be my sort of personal mantra and I have always relied on these in times where I have doubt or when I want to quit. Ironically, I am studying Corinthians right now in my private studies:

1 Cor 9:24-27

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Happy Friday!

I'd like to dedicate this scripture to all of my elect family, who are striving, for better health. May Father Bless your efforts.

Is 40:31-But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their STRENGTH;they shall mount up with wings as eagles;they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. AMEN.

Best of Success, to all!
God Bless,
Louise

Cayce, Susie, and Doll - All are such an inspiration here.

Susie, I loved that scripture. I had to go highlight it in my Bible

So much of Corinthians calls to mind my favorite scripture:

Jer. 12:5
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

God bless.

-kristen

Ok, reading this makes me feel like such a wimp. I am doing about 5 sets of 12 sit ups a day to try to get rid of belly fat.

However, on healthy eating, I am on it. I eat mostly organic. I do lots of veggies. I really enjoy the flavor of different veggies and I just love them. I mean God created them, what is not to love? I could be a vegetarian, but the hubby likes meat. Sometimes I try to make like vegan substiutes of meat and he gets mad, so I just stick to real meat. I used to go to the gym every day, but since I have my son. I don't have time. So I try to make it up by eating healthy.

Working out everyday is the best thing you can do. Keep on keeping on all of you!!! Something is better than nothing. You feel so good and you eliminate so much disease by doing so. I am really proud of you all. This is really motivating.

Well, it has been a little while, about two weeks since I last posted in this thread. I have continued to walk five to six miles a day from Monday to Thursday. Now I only walk the eight and a half/nine miles on Friday. If I walk nine miles every day it takes too much out of me. I figured out that if I leave a certain time in the morning I can get to a wash where F-16s fly right over as they leave Luke Air Force Base. On Wednesday or Thursday I was walking back home and I happened to be by the wash when I heard an F-16 a'coming. I tried walking faster because I did not want to be right under it but I think the pilot adjusted his course to go right over me. This F-16 went about 100 feet over me and I could make everything out very clearly. I felt the roar of the jet engine and I was very glad to see it. It did not send chills down my spine though, like the huge rattlesnake that slithered across the dirt road not five feet in front of me on Friday! Since I have started walking in mid/late January I have seen plenty of snake tracks, but never a snake.

We also have "blister beetles," insects that produce substance that irritates and blisters human skin. If a horse eats a bale of hay, and even if there is even one of these insects in it and the horse eats it, the horse can die. I have prairie dogs and jack rabbits and the many butterflies, but when I see blister beetles crawling on the ground ... smash.

Nature flipped the switch on our seasons here in Arizona, from "extremely cold" to "extremely hot." I have got a slight tan from walking so much but I not going to kid myself. I am an Irishman, I could walk outside at night and get a moonburn. JK. A thin long sleeved shirt and a hat are musts. I started going out earlier too.

I put some Louis L'Amour audio-books on my mp3 player, because even though all the music I have on it is excellent (hey I think it is) I don't want to get tired of it.

I can feel the fit of my pants and shirts getting loose. On Friday I could see and feel a slight sunburn on my neck/shoulder area because my shirt was loose and left that area exposed. So I am losing weight, slowly but surely!

So that is

That's a happy thing to read, Cayce. Good for you!

Your F16 story reminded me of an episode of "Myth Busters" as they experimented with
AirForce jets to see of sonic bombs actually could break windows. Those were flying
super low.

YHVH bless
MarysLove

Cayce - that's awesome! Losing weight slowly is the best way! When you make changes that you can live with, the weight will stay off...that is the only way that has worked for me. I wish my husband and I had places where we could hike. We live in the country but around here, the scenery is pretty boring. Corn fields, bean fields, hay fields. Yep. That pretty much sums it up! LOL!!!

Did you ever hike the trail outside of Branson when Passover was held there? My husband and I hiked it every year that we went. It was around 8 miles but took us nearly 3 hours to complete. It was a great trail! We also did some hiking when we stayed at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, one year when we went out for Fall Fellowship. There were a lot of neat trails there.

So glad for you - keep up the good work!!!

Susie

For what its worth I would do stretching first then light weight work.

A thing that a lot folks have trouble with is their diet.They go in

thinking of the exercise the pain of too much,but run onto a

case where they really have a hard time giving up the sweets,

deep fried, all the bad foods that cause them to be heavy.

For some,its really hard giving up the "pogy" food.

Thank you MarysLove, Susie and JAY.J.

Not too much new. I saw a gila monster a couple weeks ago lol. I am used to seeing snakes now. There are other people that use the same trails, or parts of it. They all started waking up real early too. I hate waking up early because I am a night owl by nature. But it is too hot to walk in the afternoon anymore, or even after 9 am. The temperature reached 100 today!

I put Shepherd's Chapel studies on my mp3 player. It is kind of hard without a Bible in your hand. When I get home I read the verses though. I have been learning a lot as a result. If I try to rewind on my mp3 player to go back and hear something 9 times out of 10 it will skip back to the last lecture or song. I have noticed that Pastor Murray's Irish starts to come out at about the 30 to 35 minute mark; I break out in a big smile at that point.

I have been walking so much the soles of both my shoes and the left shoe is falling apart. A real hillbilly real get the most use he or she can out of any object before he repurposes it or junks it. I have a new pair of tennis shoes, but I want to see how much usage I can get out of these old shoes.

You know how you can tell a fly about 18 years old in fly years apart from a fly that is getting real far on in years by their speed? That's kind of like me. I'm full of vinegar and other substances Monday morning and by Friday I am trudging along.

Well that's about it. I have to get up early tomorrow and then I am going to sleep in and laze on the weekend!

God Bless

Cayce - just wondering how you're doing with the walking? I have started upping my mileage in anticipation of a 15k "race" on Labor Day. I use the term "race" very loosely because I am in no way a competitive runner. Jogger is probably a better term! LOL! It has been difficult with the weather here. I'm in Indiana and the humidity and heat have been torturous! I'm so thankful for the summer weather, though. I love it!

I've discovered that having a training log of what I am supposed to run on what days has helped with my motivation. After I've finished a run, I love to plug my numbers in and then change the color of the cell (electronic worksheet). It makes me feel like I've accomplished something!

I found a really cool excel file online that was put together a long time ago by the "Dead Runner's Society." With a little bit of set-up, you're on your way to tracking your progress. It will keep track of mileage on several pairs of shoes, graph your journey around the world and to the moon! Here is the link if you are interested:

http://www.davidhays.net/running/runlog/runlog.html

Hope all is well!

Susie

What a fun way to keep track.

It's HOT there in Arizona! How are you doing Cayce? My daughter lives in Arizona, they had a power outage
after one of their famous monsoon type storms. They had no air conditioning and she said it was about
110 degrees! Do you run in that heat?




YHVH bless
MarysLove

Thanks for asking. I ordered a stationary bike. I used to have a recumbent stationary bike, but it put too much stress on my knee. It used magnetic resistance, whereas this new stationary bike I special ordered uses air resistance. I noticed everybody else that used to jog/hike/bike through the desert quit. I quit seeing their tracks. Unfortunately out here we apparently have a high concentration of evil souls from the first earth age, who dump garbage, furniture, and dead animals in the desert, and neither the county nor the sheriff care much about enforcing the law. Somebody dumped a goat out there a little over a week ago, I called every state agency there is because it is on state land, and, well, it's still out there. Amazing how people treat the land. Then there is a (expletive deleted) that lets their huge satanic dogs run loose and I have to deal with them each time I go out. When you have to carry a knife and a rifle with you on hikes it is just not fun anymore. It is also hot and humid, so the rattlesnakes and insects are more active. You have to start walking when it it still dark to avoid melting in the heat. So now I am waiting for the store to get my stationary bike in so I can get my exercise done in the air conditioning.

MarysLove, I was working construction up in Northern Arizona for a few weeks, and just this last week it rained so much it flooded. I am home right now, and Phoenix and the surrounding areas have not seen much rain, just a lot of clouds. I remember when I was a kid a storm came through and knocked down all the power lines. The power company got tired of replacing the wooden power line poles and put in steel poles.

Well that's too bad, Cayce, that you're not able to enjoy the beautiful nature in your area. You're right that there are a lot of evil people who just cause mischief wherever they are. Hope you enjoy your bike.

On one hand it is a bummer. But on the other hand I am very glad, because now I will be able to exercise at any time of the day (or night), more effectively, and more often! Thank you, I will definitely enjoy my bike!

hey Cayce. i live in the city and sold my car. i forced myself to walk. i was getting out of shape and lazy. now i walk a good half an hour a day. probably could use even more exercise because i spend way too much time at me computer these last few years. i wear bare feet in sandles in the summer because shoes and socks make me way too hot.

I read earlier you ran into rattlesnakes gila monster,now troubles with mean dogs. Sorry about that. I myself

used to walk down to the shop,to work,its only mile maybe, but two weeks ago, I walked home as normal

that afternoon,I looked down the road,..... OH @*$&, BIG Black Bear out right on my path. He then dove down into

the clover field,crouched down, there were four deer in the rear in the hollow,he was trying to get some fesh meat.

Thats bad,when a Black bear is that hungry,he can be mean,mean mean! I drive my car now,I saw him again

yesterday.I hope he moves out to another track of woods,there are some small kids down there that bothers me.

Yes I was a little scared,my heart was pounding. Lucky for me,I was in my driveway,thank GOD.

I'm glad that black bear had already decided what was for dinner! Normally I don't care much about dogs, but these are rottweilers, probably about the size of small bears. The only way I would feel totally at ease is to carry a firearm, and I don't have any handguns. I lived in Washington State for a short time and I once hiked out into the forest despite a warning that bears had been sighted in the area. I would be standing perfectly still, hearing twigs break and leaves rustle. I decided I liked the desert more - a lot more - and moved back to AZ.


Walking back and forth to work is a great way to get in shape. It's cool that you can walk around barefoot up there. There are big stickers called "goatheads" that you'll get in your feet down here; you can walk outside and have dozens of them stuck in the bottom of your shoes. And it IS actually hot enough by noon to cook an egg on the pavement!

i wanted to add that i am in a city, and truly it is a rat race of cars, pavement, noise and smelly garbage dumpsters. i wish i was in a rural area where i could walk in quite, tranquil nature.

Most cases they are not aggressive,mostly they like our blueberry patches,strawberry patches, find deer been hit.

Many of the berrie producers have put up small electric fences to keep bears,deer out. They now pick up

hit deer fast,where they use to lie around for three days. Deer hits would be gone the next morning ,these bears come

at night,or a dusk,drag it back into a deep recess,then in the morning they eat the dead deer. I have found the carcass

of one of these,bones threw all over the woods ,they really rip it apart. We will just have to watch for him.

This is the biggest black bear I have ever seen, in the wild at least 300Lbs I am being a little "Hopeful" too.

Yes rots and dobermans pitbulls these are great dogs,just have horrible owners in many cases. Very sad.

GOD BLESS

The wooded area where I USED to do some running has wild pigs. Wild pigs are mean, pack together and will come after you. Last spring after spying one not far from the path I was jogging on, he saw me and started snorting. I was no longer posting a leisurely jog but probably ran faster than I had in some time Anyway, I've changed locations since. East Texas is always pig season and they are huge and mean. Many people in this area trap them, have them butchered and eat them. I don't think I'll be doing that...

Kristen that made me laugh. Reminded me of an online game i played once. It had wild boars, and when they spotted you they would snort, and then chase after you.

I read in a outdoor magazine that Texas has terrible trouble with wild boars,ranchers,cowboys are allowed in some

areas to kill to eliminate. I have heard they are thick,rip up the ground everything in sight. They are mean. When a

Black Bear gets mean he will snap his teeth,real fast spread his front haunched,then if mad CHARGE.