Nordic Walking

A few weeks ago, I went to a seminar on Nordic walking. Now I admit I didn't know a lot about it; I figured it was cross country skiing without the snow. Well, and the skis. That's partly true, because Nordic walking was developed by Scandinavian cross country skiers looking for a training activity during the summer months. But it's a little more than a warm weather version of skiing. Basically, it's a way to get your whole body involved in walking. You still use poles (obviously adapted for non-snow surfaces), and use them as a guide to your arm movements. You swing your arms in opposition to your feet. So for example, as your right arm is forward, so will your left leg, and vice versa. You also put your hips into it, so that you're turning slightly at your waist as your walk.

I admit, I felt a little foolish swinging and swishing across the parking lot with our poles, and we did get a few strange looks. But as I've tried to incorporate the movements (without poles) into my daily walking routine, I've discovered what a great workout it is. The seminar leader told us Nordic walking burns up to 40% more calories than standard fitness walking, and I believe it. You use much more of your body: not just your arms, but your hips and butt too. I can definitely feel a difference when I'm done.

So while you may, like me, feel a little silly the first time or two out, I think it's an activity worth checking out. And besides, if anyone makes fun of you, all you have to do is whack them with one of your poles! I've included a few resources below to get you started. Now let's get out there and swing those arms and hips. Happy Walking!

Nordic Walking USA
Books about Nordic Walking

Month #4 Report

It's been 17 weeks since I started (or re-started) my weight loss plan. Here's an update on month #4...

Diet/weight loss: I'd rank this about a 1. I've lost 15 pounds total during the 17 weeks, so my weight loss has basically come to a halt. No good excuses this time; I just haven't been eating well.

Cross-training/strength training: Again, about a 1. I just haven't made the effort to commit to making these things a part of my exercise plan.

Walking: This is much improved; I'll call it a 4. I averaged 18.5 miles/week during the past 4 weeks. Not the 20 I'm shooting for, but awfully close.

So overall, I'm at about a 2. Not a great month, and lots of room for improvement. Losing 15 pounds is a good start, but it's not where I ultimately want to be. I've been thinking a lot about my goals and how reasonable they are. Can I really get to 150 pounds by the end of the year? That would be the lowest I've ever weighed as an adult, so it's a little hard to imagine. And it's 36 pounds away. It's doable, but it will mean some hard work, and I'm asking myself some hard questions about whether I really want to pursue it consistently. Is the end of the year a good target? Should I extend it to something more realistic? Or is it just that I need to buckle down and work harder? I'm not sure I know the answers yet, but I'm working on it.