I’ve been injured and sedentary too long. A couple of weeks ago I started walking along the bus route until it hurt too much, then hobbled onto a bus back home.
Today I made that distance and back with low/manageable pain.
Next time the same route will be less pain, and soon I’ll try going as far as I can in the other direction and bus back again.
It was a lifestyle and it feels like a dream or a different lifetime. I don’t feel like that person anymore but I do have all the memories!
Today I’m lucky if I log 7,000 steps on my pedometer (3 miles, or one hour).
I’m convinced walking is the most sustainable fitness activity there is. Almost everything else trends toward injury, but walking is the first real physical feat any of us accomplished. Walking is the only activity that can be done for nearly every waking hour in a day. You can even eat while walking (though it’s not very enjoyable).
The other thing most people don’t consider is that walking is a form of meditation. Especially strenuous walking when you get your breathing consciously synced with your steps.
You also might look into Tai Chi walking. Basically super slo-mo balanced walking. It strengthens all of your walking muscles without all the hassle of going on a walk.
7000 steps is really good though! Even if it doesn’t seem like a lot compared to the extreme walking you used to do, it’s good.
Yes, to my understanding humans evolved for long distance walking and running, not for sitting. Which sucks, because I love sitting almost as much as I love lying down, haha.
I looked into tai chi walking, thanks for the tip! I’ll probably not attempt it as a routine, but I think walking slower is better for my pain and I can perhaps try to do the slow balancing steps for a short portion of my walks.