Like I said earlier, its springtime. And this week, I am going to concentrate on activities that revolve around this season.

Spring is an optimum time to start an exercise program. Definitely better than Jan 1. Reason being the days are longer, and the weather is better. Exercise doesn’t feel so much like a sentence when you are able to do it outside. And by far the best exercise for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is walking. Why? Because the pace can be varied to fit your needs, and you can walk as long or as short as you need.

All you need is a pair of good shoes, and a bottle of water. Anything else is unnecessary. Although things like an ipod can make it a bit more enjoyable, if the scenic route you are taking isn’t so scenic. Music also can help you pick up the pace a bit. If you are interested in making your walking program serious – you might want to get yourself a pedometer, and all those other little toys.

How to start? Well make sure you stretch well first…and then just head out your door. Start slowly. Walk for 10 minutes. That isn’t so far. If you aren’t able to do 10, then how about 7 min? When you get home, make sure you stretch your muscles – as you really don’t want cramping. And I repeat: Drink plenty of water, before, during and after your walk.

I personally like walking to music (sometime podcasts, but they tend to distract me). Here is a list of 10 songs, that I like walking to – the pace changes a lot on these. So find an order that works for you. This list is in no particular order.

1. Bathtime in Clerkenwell – (The Real) Tuesday Weld

2. Flood Pt. 1 – The Acorn

3. How It Should Be (Sha Sha) – Ben Kweller

4. Maggie’s Farm – Bob Dylan

5. Delia’s Gone – Johnny Cash (slow pace, when it gets difficult – its slow but steady)

6. The 59th St Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Simon and Garfunkel

7. Everybody’s Going to be Happy – The Kinks

8. Bolero – Pink Martini – (helps when you need to groove a bit – but still keep a somewhat slow pace)

9. Flowers On The Wall – The Statler Brothers

10. Part 1 Koln Concert – Keith Jarrett – really good cool down music, almost meditative.

Remember that the best way to choose music for your walk, is to pick music that is going to make you smile. You will be more inclined to complete your walk, if you are happy with how its going. So if you would rather walk to the big band sounds of Glen Miller, or walk to thrash metal – that is your choice.

The point is – get walking!

**Picture Source – Flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Walk For Good Health

So its a great time to think of new projects, whether they are focused on getting healthy – or something entirely different. For me, getting rid of whatever current ailment is attacking my system is always the priority. So instead, I am going to concentrate on other activities that occur during the spring.

Spring is a time to get out of the house. I don’t care if you aren’t able to walk 10 miles….or if you aren’t able to walk 2 blocks. Go for a walk if you can. If you can’t find an activity that you can do outside. Gardening is a great activity. Or take a book outside. Too tired to read? Slap on some sunscreen, put on your sunnies, and sop of some rays. I know that is an activity we can all do. Going to be affected by allergies? Take an antihistamine before you go outside. The city air is too polluted? Take your oxygen tank with you. These may seem kind of ridiculous. But I hear all kinds of reasons for people not leaving their house…and they have NOTHING to do with being scared of the outside world. I am trying to say, is that for every obstacle you face, there is a reasonable solution.

Here is a list of some of the things that I plan to work on this spring.

* create an herb garden
* work on my walking program -which fell to the wayside due to some strange health issues. This is going to consist of 1 hr of walking everyday (not all at once), and on Sunday’s walk the Stanley Park sea wall – as long as it doesn’t rain. I do not need another bout of pneumonia.
* learn to cook more vegetable based meals (properly) and without setting things on fire.
* keep my house looking like I had just finished spring cleaning for the entire season, and not just the first week that I did it.

I have already started with the new spring regime, and added to the stuff I started from the new year. This gives me a lot of stuff to work on. But I thrive when my plate is at its fullest.

Now that spring is here, what changes are you going to incorporate?

Post from: Blisstree

New Season- New Outlook