Thursday September 2, 2010
Peter Shankman is a popular blogger who produces the "Help a Reporter Out" contact list, a very valuable guy to many others of us in the writing biz. He has set up for himself a walking-only challenge. He lives in Manhattan but intends for the month of September to walk, and only walk, everywhere. No bus, no subway, no taxi, no car. He lives in public transit Nirvana but intends to deny himself its convenience except to get to the airport or when leaving the city. Luckily, he lives in one of the most walkable cities in America. Because he travels a lot, he intends to do the same in other major cities he visits in September.
On September 1, he posted on Facebook that he logged 11 miles and was "beyond tired." Good job, Peter. He intends to keep this up in any weather.
Have you ever set up a walking challenge for yourself? I am feeling good that I logged an average of over 11,000 daily steps through the month of August. I'm ready to tackle September with the same goal. But it might take making some walking-only rules to sneak extra steps into your day.
Tuesday August 31, 2010
Add 2000 more steps per day during September, eat 100 fewer calories per day and make small lifestyle changes that add up to big results. That is the challenge and promise of America on the Move's STEPtember program. It's a free program to track your steps online. There are weekly prizes (by random drawing of all participants) and a grand prize of restaurant gift certificates, Reebok walking shoes certificates, a $500 certificate to a national sporting goods store, and a $500 gift certificate to a national grocery chain.
I had great results from our local Get Going Oregon August challenge. I averaged over 11,000 steps per day, and walked the equivalent of the Oregon coastline. And so now I am enthusiastic to leap into STEPtember.
Why 2000 more steps per day? That adds about a mile's worth of activity (15-20 minutes) and burns around an extra 100 calories. It's a small step that most of us can achieve by taking a walk during a work break. And one of the founders of America on the Move thinks it is the difference between gaining weight and maintaining or losing weight.
September can be a busy month. Put on a pedometer and take credit for all of your STEPtember steps!
Top Picks for Pedometers
Monday August 30, 2010
If it's been months since you shopped for shoes for your kids or yourself, the styles have been changing, little feet have been growing, and they may need new shoes for new athletic activities.
I am all about comfort rather than style. If you're looking for good comfort shoes for wearing around campus or to the office, here is my Comfort Shoe Top Picks list.
If you're thinking of buying toning shoes to sneak in extra exercise while you stroll about your daily tasks, I suggest you first read our readers' reviews. Toning shoes may be exactly what your feet want, or you may end up with new aches and pains from them. If you are going to experiment with toning shoes, buy them from a store that has an easy return policy to get your money back or get a pair of shoes that works better for you.
If you and your kids want style, browse our Sneakers site and Shoes site.
But for fitness walking, stick with well-designed and well-fitted running shoes that are flat, flexible and don't have a flared heel.
Friday August 27, 2010
I was trying to get a photo of a Don't Walk signal but discovered that the lights at the nearest intersection had...mutated. What used to be a red hand is now a red...something.
Photo © Wendy Bumgardner 2010
What do you think it looks like?
- No Lobster Claws!
- Beware of the Hook Man!
- American Sign Language - Letter C, maybe for Don't Cross?
