Walking, Running and Weight Loss

The other day hubby and I took the dogs out for a walk.  When I saw walk, we don't stroll along as we have to keep up with the dogs.  As we were finishing up, I realized I was working up a sweat.  It was a better workout than my recumbent exercise bike.  I felt different muscles working including more of a stretch in the groin due to longer strides.  I wondered why I don't use walking as my cross training more often.  It is easy on the joints, works muscles differently than running and I still get my heart rate up a bit.  Silly that something we do regularly is overlooked as a way to recover from hard workouts and maintain fitness. 

On the other side is my true love--running.  It has been strange to run just to run.  Heading out the door without a clear plan feels weird, but wonderful.  I always give hubby a general range so he has an idea when I will be back.  In the past, it was always I am running this far at about this pace and will be on this route.  Running for fun becomes I am running about 4-6 miles without knowing which direction or how fast or slow until I get moving.   I get started and run what I feel.  Some days it turns into more of a tempo pace other times a fartlek and others just slow and easy.  Sometimes I start looking toward future races, but I am not ready to change the joy I am having just yet.  There are not many things that I do just for the fun of it and I think I will hang onto that feeling for a while!

And, last, but not least, weight loss.  I am back to the weight I was for the Portland marathon last year, but was already up a bit then.  So, I continue to be very careful about what I eat.  My clothes are fitting better.  I feel better.  Yes, I am tired for no sugar at all.  Yes, I am so hungry sometimes.  Yet I keep reminding myself that hunger is never an emergency.  Each time I refuse to break, I strengthen my resistence muscles!