Walking gets endorphins going too!
I am walking more lately… and enjoying it! I walk at night with my husband, James. I walk while my daughter (#5) runs (see My Workouts). I also walk during some of my runs. All of this walking has got me thinking…is walking just as good an exercise as running? The answer to that question, I believe, is that it depends. Lots of us believe that because we are more likely to burn more calories running than walking, that running is better. However, as I find myself smack dab in the middle of my 45th year of life…I believe better is relative. [Read more…]
Finishing up our first year at 9 Kid Fitness, I want to thank all of you who have visited our site, contributed with comments, and just checked in with us via Facebook and Twitter. Launching last March, my hope was to engage with others who are trying to make fitness a priority in their very busy lives. Thank you for being a part of the 9 Kid Fitness community, and I hope that we will continue to find support and encouragement from each other in 2012! Today I would like to look back over the last year and highlight nine of the most visited posts at 9 Kid Fitness:
As I write this, I am feeling the after-effects of an early morning run with my friends Karrie and Susan…I feel calm, sharp, and ready for the day. Most of us know that exercise can help to calm us down, and during the Christmas holidays, calmness is a rare emotion for many of us. Certain forms of exercise (jogging, cross country skiing, swimming, hiking, bicycling) require a fairly consistent repetitive motion that can alter one’s state of consciousness. Described by some as “moving meditation”, the physiological effects of regular participation in these activities is very similar to what happens when one practices meditation. Breathing and movement act as a mantra and may in part be responsible for the feelings of calmness and tranquility claimed by some in response to exercise. Physical activity also revs up our endorphins, our brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, any workout that raises our heart rate and is over 30 minutes can boost the endorphins. These endorphins go a long way to bring us a little peace of mind, to calm us, and to improve our mood. They have even been known to lower symptoms associated with mild depression. 
A funny thing happened this morning on my run. I had met my friend, Susan at about 5:40 and we ran six and a half miles, mostly in the dark. When we parted ways, the sun was just coming up and I had about a half mile left before I got home. I love this time of morning when it isn’t still dark, but it’s not yet light, either…things appear shadow-like. 
1. Personalized Water bottle. Whether we run, swim, do yoga or lift weights, we all drink water before, during, or after we workout…so a water bottle is something most fitness lovers always need! And buying bottled water is not a cheap way to go. Stainless steel bottles work well because they can be put into a dishwasher to clean and they are very durable. Try the 
Follow Us