Thursday, July 10, 2014

Walking Dogs to Lose Weight

For the past 6 months or so, I have been the biggest couch potato you've ever seen.  I'm not kidding.  Don't get me wrong - I do things in between all the Netflix and Internet-surfing.  I write (I am currently working on a novel, though I realize it's kind of a long shot), volunteer, and blog.  Blogging eats up quite a bit of my time.  There's just so much involved in it:  writing your posts, planning your posts, promoting your posts, commenting and promoting others' posts, reading and researching other blogs, and the list goes on.  Though it's quite a bit of work, it's work that's primarily done sitting down.

Throughout these months, I have been slowly but steadily gaining weight...and so has my dog.  Plenty of research shows that how you care for yourself is basically the same way you care for your dog, and the habits that I am forcing Riley into are not healthy.  I reward myself for finishing a project with treats; I reward Riley after going potty with treats.  I am lazy; therefore, Riley is lazy too.  Our lifestyle needs to change.  Besides changing my own diet and trying to cut back on treats for the both of us, I want to get outside and exercise together!

"Seriously, Mom?  The Kardashians can wait until after our walk!"

I am terribly, horribly out of shape.  I was a cheerleader/dancer in college, but haven't done much in the way of exercise since (awful, I know).  Though I generally dislike exercise, I love walking...and I love dogs.  So what better way to get exercise than sticking to a schedule of walking Riley and volunteering at various shelters?  Here's how I plan to do this:

Get checkups!  Before getting into a more intense walking schedule, I'd like to get both myself and Riley to the doctor.  I have a heart condition that can cause me to pass out frequently, so I want to see what my cardiologist has to say.  Riley, at 8 years old, is considered a senior dog, so it's important to make sure that everything is in tip-top shape.

"C'mon, Mom, I wanna go pee on that mailbox!"

Make a schedule!  I'm thinking at least an hour spent walking with Riley daily, plus three days a week walking shelter dogs and playing fetch.  What do my readers think?  Is there an app for keeping track of this?

Check with neighbors and see if they'd like Fido walked!  We live in a small town that is absolutely full of dogs, and besides one very energetic Beagle, they very rarely get walked.  I'd love to at least offer!


Be smart and safe!  I hate to say it, but just like his Mama, Riley is very out of shape as well and gets tired fast.  Cold water will be a necessity on these walks, as will a harness for Riley and comfy shoes for me.

I'd also like to direct you to this website, which is a great movement all about the importance of walking shelter dogs.  It's an easy, fun way to get exercise, and the dogs appreciate it more than we know.  In some shelters, the only time those dogs get outside is when a volunteer walks them.  There really is nothing more rewarding than seeing the "grin" on a shelter pup's face after you've walked them!

Shelter dogs like Tipper LOVE to play fetch! :)

Are there any bloggers that would like to challenge themselves along with me?  I need to make some changes, and I'd love to be able to give one another encouragement and support, as well as hold each other accountable! :)  Let me know in the comments!




15 comments:

  1. Even though we regularly walk at least five miles a day, it is SO hard to get up and out on hot summer days- we walked at 11:30PM on Monday! My favorite tracking app is expensive but worth it: Runtastic. I have been testing out another walking app and will likely post a review next week!

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    1. I agree! Hot summer days are miserable for walks. I would love to walk Riley at night, but the mosquitos have been horrible lately at night! Morning is probably our best bet for a while. I will definitely be checking back in for your review! :)

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  2. We are highly motivated at our house, so it is hard to understand how you cannot be, but we know for many, that is the case. Our best suggestion is to set up your walks first thing in the morning every day. Roll out of bed and into your walking shoes. It will wake you up, improve your mood, get your body burning calories and best of all, by lunch time you barely even remember you walked or worked out. No excuses about other things going on first thing in the morning. I bet if you do this daily for a month it will start to be a habit and your pup will beg for it! Good luck!

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    1. First thing in the morning will be good for us - not too hot and fewer mosquitoes! This is definitely a great idea...routine is key for us :) Thank you for your suggestions!

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  3. We have been using the Wooftrax Walk for a Dog app that keeps track of all of your miles walked and then donates money to the shelter of your choice for each mile you walk. It's a free app, so sometimes there are a few glitches, but nothing major in the month we've used it! We've also used CharityMiles which is the same concept, but has non-pet charities you can earn money for. We have a Garmin GPS watch, which was pricey, but we've been using it for a year plus and it keeps track of our mileage, our pace, calories burned, and all kinds of other great stuff--without using our data on the phone! Setting a goal and keeping it in mind has been a great motivator for my pup and me.

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    1. Wooftrax sounds AWESOME! I will definitely be downloading! Thanks so much for your advice :D

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  4. You have come to the right place for motivation...and of course there's an App for tracking your walks - the SlimDoggy App, You can enter Riley and any of your shelter dogs as well and keep track of their walks AND their food intake. Check it out. I commend you on your commitment to fitness and encourage you to join our Hop each week for great tips and motivation.

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    1. I will definitely be checking it out - I didn't realize you had an app; that is awesome! :) Thanks for your suggestions...I will definitely be joining the Hop for more tips.

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  5. That is definitely a good plan! I can sooo relate to much of what you said. You will find that the more you walk, the better you will feel! Go get 'em!

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    1. Thanks for the encouraging words and motivation! :D I have already noticed that being out in the fresh air several times a day improves my mood SO much! I just need to stick to it, that's always my main issue :/

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  6. I have three ideas for apps. Two, wooftrax and SlimDoggy's app, have already been mentioned. I have an android phone so I have only used Wooftrax. But I have also used Endomondo. It is a free fitness app with so neat features.
    Keep us up to date on your progress and take pictures on your walks!

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    1. I have never heard of Endomondo but will for sure be checking it out - thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely be taking more photos on our walks...your posts and photos are always super inspiring!

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  7. It's easier(?) in our household because Mr. N will hold me accountable for walks. He will stare you down, then whine then follow you around with accusing eyes if you don't take him for his walk by a certain time. And if he thinks it's too short, he'll refuse to budge.
    This may or may not be doable for you depending on where you live but I normally combine most errands with walking time. We'll either walk there and back or I'll drive and we'll walk around the area before or afterwards.

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    1. Ha! Love that! Riley only stares me down when he is trying to telepathically get me to take him potty. The running-errand thing is actually a really great idea! We live in a super small town, but there are still errands to run (post office, city hall, bank, etc.), and I guess I never thought of taking Riley with me. Thanks for the suggestion! :)

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  8. I really need to start exercising too. Perhaps an excuse to get a dog?!? Haha… hopefully soon! Anyway, good luck on your new exercise goals. All of your tips are great!

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