Tag Archives: walking

Sep21

A Perfect Walk With Your Pup

Posted on by
Standard
A Perfect Walk With Your Pup

Daily walks with your dog are one of the greatest joys of dog ownership. But not everyone sees it that way all of the time. When it’s cold or wet or you’re feeling tired, walking your dog can be the last thing on your mind!

But the truth is, walking your dog is a great activity for you to bond, as well as helping you both get some daily exercise. It’s a must for your dog, and should be a must for you too! So how can you make your dog walks more enjoyable? Take a look at some of the following tips.

Make sure you’re dressed for the occasion:

A dog walk is much more enjoyable when you both feel happy and comfortable. By making sure you’re both dressed for the occasion – with a nice coat for your dog and either waterproofs or removable layers for you, you can make sure your walk is a good one no matter what the weather.

Take some water for your dog and yourself:

Water is a must for you and your dog – you both don’t want to be dehydrated. There are some fantastic lightweight bottles you can get with a built-in bowl for your dog that will make it easy to keep them hydrated as needed.

Change up your route:

Taking the same route every day can soon get boring for both you and your dog. Switch things up by exploring different routes and making sure you vary the length of the walk too. You can even turn your dog walk into a workout! Explore different terrains as well as areas they can be let off the leash to burn off some excess energy and play with other dogs too.

Use it as a chance to socialize:

Dog walking is a great chance to socialize – you’ll be surprised at how much people want to talk about their dogs! By approaching other dog walkers or walking with a friend, you’ll be able to enjoy some conversation and social time. It’s also ideal for your dog, as they’ll get to meet other dogs and perhaps make some new friends of their own!

Reward yourself after a walk:

As with all exercise, a little reward once it’s done can be a great motivator. Whether it’s a coffee on your way back or a tasty treat, you’ll soon be able to develop a welcome post-walk ritual. You can do the same for your dog too! A nice treat for a job well done will keep them happy, while some petness.com balm can also be welcome to soothe tired paws.

Walking your dog can be a wonderful and rewarding part of your day. Find ways to make your walk more enjoyable for you and your dog, and it will soon become something you look forward to as much as they do.

Featured Image By: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Aug31

Pacer Update (Finally!)

Posted on by
Standard
Pacer Update (Finally!)

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I updated you guys on my Pacer pedometer app progress and, honestly, that’s because there wasn’t much. This past month and a half has been a total doozy. I was so mentally and physically drained, and the last thing that I wanted to do was commit to walking 10,000 steps per day when I could have been laying on my sorry behind watching TV!!

But, that wasn’t really getting me anywhere and, as soon as the events that were taking place in my life that caused me a lot of anguish turned around, I was excited to pick up the Pacer again. This past week, I have been really dedicated to getting my 10K steps in at least four days of the week and I have blown that goal out of the water. It feels good to get myself moving again and although a lot of progress hasn’t been made, I’m back on the horse and I’m proud of that. Take a look at my stats:

  • Steps Taken: 1,364,282
  • Calories Burned: 33,311
  • Miles Walked: 445
  • Hours Active: 211
  • Days As A Pacer User: 177

I was also really pleased to see that I’ve been more active than sixty percent of the users on Pacer because, the last time I did an update, I was at a measly thirty percent. I doubled that! Things are looking up, and my exercise regimen is back in full swing, which makes things seem like they’re looking up even more! I feel really happy, and I can’t wait to get my 10,000 steps in today! 😀

Who else uses a pedometer app? How do you get back on the horse after a hiatus from working out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

Pacer Progress (Or Lack Thereof)

Posted on by
Standard
Pacer Progress (Or Lack Thereof)

Hello everyone and happy Thursday! This past month has been a total and complete shit show and, needless to say, my activity level has been pretty low. All of my motivation to make big gains on my pedometer app has essentially flown out the window, and I’ve been having a hard time peeling my depressed self off of the couch. So, my stats for the month are definitely not the best. 😦

  • Total Steps: 959,262
  • Calories Burned: 23,591
  • Hours Walked: 148
  • Miles Walked: 315

And, to make matters worse, my activity level dropped from being ninety percent more active than the people using Pacer to a whopping forty-three percent. Whomp freaking whomp.

Now that I realize how low I let my movement get during my depression stupor, I am SO ready to get back on the horse and keep going until I start making good progress again. It’s going to be difficult, because I’ve been feeling so sluggish lately. But, once I get started, it will go back to being easier to get my 10,000 steps in no time. So, here we go!

How do you get yourself back on the horse after a stint with depression? What motivates you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun16

More Pacer Progress

Posted on by
Standard
More Pacer Progress

Hello everyone and happy weekend! My last Pacer pedometer update was written on May 19th with a step total around 600,000. That’s a pretty big number, so I wasn’t expecting a huge amount of progress to be made in twenty-four days. So, imagine my surprise when I checked my stats for this post and ended up adding an extra 275,000 to my step count! I couldn’t believe it either, but I’m so happy about it! Here are the rest of the stats for this month’s update:

  • Steps Taken: 874,580
  • Calories Burned: 21,546
  • Hours Active: 135
  • Miles Walked: 287

After seeing such great results, I found myself wondering just what I was doing to get myself there. And, it has a lot to do with the wonderful Metro Parks that Ohio has to offer. For the past few weeks, I have gone on nice, long hikes at least twice a week if the weather allows it. Dogsitting for my neighbor and walking her pups twice a day for a week didn’t hurt, either!

For the most part, I have been exceeding my goal of 10,000 steps per day and I’m really proud of that. It feels good being more active, and completing my goals almost daily like it’s nothing now makes me feel such a huge sense of accomplishment. I had no idea that downloading one simple app would work such wonders on my self esteem, but I am so thankful for it and am looking forward to reaching my goal of 1,000,000 steps soon. 😀

If a pedometer app isn’t for you and you prefer your Apple Watch, be sure to check out Mobile Mob for the best accessories to keep you stepping in style!

Who else uses a pedometer? How many steps do you walk or run per day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May10

Flowers & Frogs

Posted on by
Standard
Flowers & Frogs

Howdy! The weather in Ohio has been absolutely perfect for hiking and just hanging out in the great outdoors. It is the type of weather where you have the windows open, eat food from the grill, and have bouquets of spring flowers on the table, like these lovely pink and yellow tulips:

floraly1

So, the above is the flowers part of this post, because who doesn’t love to see a lovely bouquet sitting on the kitchen table? But, what about the frogs?! Well, since the weather has been awesome, I’ve been able to go on a fair share of hikes this week. They were all great, but my favorite was the one I went on on Sunday at the Nature Realm in good ol’ Fairlawn, Ohio.

The Nature Realm rules. They have paved walking trails and actual hiking trails, along with the most lovely flower and herb garden, ponds full of fish and turtles, and an indoor center where you can watch Ohio wildlife from a window and see cool reptiles in their enclosures. While exploring the flower and herb garden, I was lucky enough to spot two little froggies hanging out among the lily pads in a pond. It was a fun game trying to spot the frogs camouflaged in all of the green, and here they are:

floraly2floraly3

Ahhhh! They are so cute I can’t even stand it! 😀

Spring time always teaches me about appreciating the little things – freshly cut flowers from the store, playing I Spy with frogs in a pond, and going for a walk with a light jacket on. It almost makes the drawn out winter worth it! 😉

Who else has been enjoying hikes now that the sun is out? What type of wildlife do you have in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Pacer Progress

Posted on by
Standard
Pacer Progress

Hi everyone! Roughly fifty days ago, I downloaded the Pacer pedometer app on my iPod. Since then, I have been dedicated to reaching 10,000 steps or more every day. Of course, this hasn’t always been possible, but I’ve been trying my best and I’m happy to say that I’m still motivated even after close to two months.

On the app, you can see insights into your progress each day or over a span of time. I only just discovered the page where you can see your steps since downloading the app, and I was really happy with what I saw:

  • Total Steps: 382,550
  • Total Calories: 9,502
  • Total Active Hours: 58
  • Miles Traveled: 127

(I am also prewriting this so my stats are higher than this by four days!)

It’s easy to feel like 10,000 steps a day is nothing. But, when it was put into perspective of  just how many miles I walked or how long I was active for, it makes a big difference. I am hoping to reach at least one million steps by the end of summer and I know that with my motivation to keep making progress, my goal is more than achievable.

Who else uses a pedometer app on their smart devices? How do you fit more activity into your day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

10 K A Day With Pacer

Posted on by
Standard
10 K A Day With Pacer

Hi everyone! On March 17th, I downloaded the pedometer app on my iPod called Pacer. I have been completely obsessed with it, and have tried to complete at least ten thousand steps every day. By walking my dogs and increasing my steps per day whether that be through marching in place or walking around the house, I have been motivated to hit my goal of the ten K mark daily.

In just about a week and a half, I can tell how much my stamina has increased from walking close to four miles every day. I’m also really looking forward to when it gets warm enough so that I can start running outside and really put the app to the test! For someone who has a pretty sedentary job, I am so pleased with walking ten K steps and over each day. Beach body, here I come!!

How do you motivate yourself to work out? Do you use a pedometer app, too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Lollipuff

Mar17

Pick Up The Pacer

Posted on by
Standard
Pick Up The Pacer

Howdy! While it may not be warm enough to run outside at the moment in Ohio, I do try to walk as often as I can. Whether that be a quick walk around the block with my dogs or walking around the room during my TV time, I try to stay active. I am one of those people that love to have numbers. How many steps did I take? How many miles was it? How many calories did I burn?

Since warmer weather will be among us soon and that means tiny shorts and crop tops, I have been trying to get in the best shape possible. And since I love numbers, I decided to download the Pacer pedometer app. And, I have to say, I’m obsessed.

I’ve been using Pacer for the past week or so and have really been enjoying it. It gives you your step, calorie, and distance count, which is all of the information that I want to know. The counts update every time you view it and, believe me, I view it often. When I see the numbers going up and up during the day, it gives me such motivation to increase it even more to get to that next mile or next thousand steps.

Thanks to Pacer, I can definitely say that I’ve been more active and it’s only been a week of using it! When I’m watching TV, I almost look forward to the commercial breaks so that I can get up and begin my walks around the room and hallway. I even take my steps in place during the actual show so that I can get my walk on and still view my guilty pleasures! It’s not much, but I sure feel good about it!

How do you increase your activity during the day? Who else uses a pedometer to monitor their movement? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Lollipuff

Mar2

Hello, Spring!

Posted on by
Standard
Hello, Spring!

Hi everyone!! A few days ago when I was walking my pups, I noticed some lovely little flowers poking out from underneath the layer of leaves that are still damp with melted snow. It was such a sight for sore eyes, especially because the sun was shining and it was FIFTY DEGREES at the end of February. Oh my goodness, guys, it was amazing.

To walk outside with a light jacket on, with my pups keeping up pace beside me and the sun shining on my face was such a treat after a long and grey winter. And, then, to make things even more glorious, I look down and see bright yellow crocuses and another yellow flower that I’m not sure what it is popping out to say hello:

springgspringg1

Of course, it’s not quite lovely spring time yet. But, on that day, it felt that way and I could literally feel the crippling weight of seasonal depression on top of normal old depression being lifted from my shoulders. I was so happy to be breathing in fresh, clean air and looking up to no clouds in the sky. And seeing the first promises of spring flowers in tiny yellow buds peeking out just added to the delight. It was a great day.

Are any flowers popping up in your neck of the woods? What is the weather like in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul21

5 Tips For Walking A Reactive Dog

Posted on by
Standard
5 Tips For Walking A Reactive Dog

Walking your dog should be enjoyable. You should be able to spend quality time with your dog, enjoying the outdoors, getting fresh air, and exercise. However, not all walks are as smooth as you would like. If you have a reactive dog, there are some walks that can be a downright nightmare. Whether your dog has always been reactive or has become reactive because of a bad experience, there are times when you need a few tricks up your sleeve to keep your walk peaceful, like these:

Don’t React:

So, you’re walking your dog and suddenly another dog appears from around the corner and the loving companion you once knew turns into a snarling, growling beast. There’s no way to know for sure how the dogs are communicating, but you can bet they aren’t blowing kisses. Most dog owners first reaction is to panic, especially if there have been incidents in the past. Your dog will calm down a lot quicker if you remain a cool as a cucumber example.

Plan Ahead:

If you can see a dog approaching you from a distance, cross to the other side of the road, so the two dogs don’t have to come into contact. Your dog is still likely to react, but continue to walk confidently and calmly away, praising your dog if he remains quiet. If you happen to walk into a situation that you weren’t prepared for and your dog is likely to react, do a quick U-turn. For dogs, it’s often a case of out of sight, out of mind. If you’re having difficulty getting your dog to walk away with you, encourage your dog to run a little and praise him as soon as his attention is facing forward and he’s keeping up the pace.

pupppp1

 Credit To: Llee Wu

Focus:

There will be times when the only way that you can avoid your dog reacting is by getting his focus. If you see another dog and owner approaching, take your dog to one side and practice the lessons you’ve already learned. Ask your dog to sit and stay, while focusing his attention towards a treat. If your dog is still likely to react, you may need to block your dog’s line of vision while the other dog passes. Once the dog has passed and you’re safe to continue your walk, reward your dog with the treat.

Have the Right Equipment:

There’s no point in walking a reactive dog if it’s likely to slip it’s lead or harness. Reactive dogs aren’t always the ones that lunge at other dogs, they’re sometimes the ones that try to flee in fear. When you walk your dog, you need to be sure that they’re safe. The two hounds design dog harness will ensure that your dog doesn’t pull and can’t easily escape. It’s a way of making sure that you have control over your dog, should the worst happen.

Know Why:

You know your dog better than anyone else, so it’s likely that you’re able to understand his body language. Does your dog react out of fear of bigger dogs? Is your dog protective of you? Knowing why your dog reacts will help you to address the problem better.

Walking your dogs should be a walk in the park. These tips and tricks will hopefully make you that much closer to leisurely stroll status!

Featured Image By: Driton Avdyli