Naturally Curvy

I know exercise isn’t my forté, but I didn’t expect to have to stop a week and a half in…

The other night I screwed up my back something fierce, putting myself into a massive amount of pain all the way around my lower ribs and lower back. As you can imagine, getting right out there the next morning for a fitness walk wasn’t exactly my highest priority.

When I did give walking a go, I ended up either limping slightly or doing this very unattractive waddle.

Mmm. Get me some of that fat girl, yeah?

Anyway, so I took yesterday off and I’m taking today off as well. The pain has (thank the health gods) moved away from my ribs and is mostly settled into my hips, which is infinitely more tolerable. The limp seems to have disappeared for today, but I’m still being extra careful, as the husband and I have an overnight trip coming up, and the last thing I want to do is mess things up again.

I know I’m doing the best thing for my spine and my hips, but I can’t help feeling disappointed still. I had a good thing going.

Though cloudy, I enjoyed this morning’s walk a lot. It had the cool, crispness to it that makes you feel more awake.

Unlike yesterday, quite a few joggers, walkers and cyclists came out to play on the trails this morning. A special moment came when a border collie dashed excitedly around the trail, attempting to sniff anything and everything at once.

He ran up to me and stopped right in front of me, completely halting my walk for a moment. I almost reached out to pet him, but his owner didn’t look too friendly. Of course, he didn’t mind. He ran off about three seconds later, and I could just imagine what was going through his mind:

“We’re on a walk! We’re on a – Smells! New smells! Walkies! Oh, I love walkies. Look at that! Wow! Person! Ooooh, new smell. SMELLS! I LOVE WALKIES!”

So adorable. You just can’t help but smile.

I truly wish we had a dog. I’d love to have the wild exuberance and enthusiasm around me all the time.

Do you have a dog? What are your walks like?

Having started my new walking routine in Australia during the winter, I have been quite fortunate to have not gotten rained on during any of my morning walks so far.

Alas, today I traded the hand weights for the umbrella and got out there.

I’m quite proud of myself for having gotten out there on a rainy morning (of course it’s bright and sunny now). I had the thought that I could just put in some time on my elliptical, but I can’t go for a half hour on there, not to mention I’m trying to establish a habit here, people.

Besides the humidity on the last quarter of my walk, I actually didn’t mind walking in the rain. The bike/walking paths were blissfully empty.

For some reason, the rain brought out the – erm – ’strong animal scents’ along the trail, but they didn’t last long. (Thank goodness!)

I’m still struggling a little with the whole food and mood things, but that’ll get sorted out. I’m just glad I got out there this morning!

Plus one exercise diva points.

This morning I got up early to go for my morning walk. It was a gorgeous, sunny morning (and has continued to be a beautiful day) and I almost regretted going out in my sweater. It’s still winter, but things are definitely warming up Down Under.

I saw a strange sight on my walk…

I don’t know about you, but where I am from, ducks stay on the ground.

Sure, they can fly. They fly around the water, the air, they fly south each winter. But they nest on the ground. They walk/waddle on the ground. Eat on the ground or in the water.

Today I saw not one but three ducks in a tree. A tree.

I have the feeling I am the only person who will find this weird, but where I am from, ducks to not go in trees. They just don’t. I couldn’t believe my eyes for a bit this morning, but there they were. Three ducks on a tree branch. A really, really tall tree branch, at that.

Are Australian ducks just weird or were the ducks we raised growing up just really unadventurous?

Weird…

I need to start bringing the camera on walks.