I want to go for lovely long walks but I can't be arsed.

[LordOfTheThings]

How do I get my arse into gear? Last year I went for lovely long walks and it honestly made me feel so much better physically and mentally. I live in a lovely village with lots of options but I've got myself back into 'sluggish' mode and I don't know how to get out of it. I have a dog but he's very old and his hips are not great so we only have short walks buy often.

Does anyone else want to do something but just can't get themselves started? 'Stop being a lazy bastard' is the advice I'm giving myself but it's not motivating me. 😂

This thread title made me laugh 😂

I feel your pain OP. I want to be really well read and interesting but I can't be arsed either.

Hope you managed a walk today.

Your thread title really made me laugh

I can imagine Victoria Wood sitting at her piano playing 'I want to go for lovely long walks but I can't be arsed'

@Anothermountain

Not sure Pandora206 sorry! It was my nephew who walked Hadrian's Wall virtually in the holidays and raised some money for our local hospice. I must confess I haven't tried it myself yet as although I hate exercise in general, I really quite like walking.

DH and DD have just walk Hadrian's Wall for real - DD's blisters are just about recovering! I like the idea of joining them virtually - that's about as far as I'll go!

normally I do a lot of v long walks in remote areas. If I need a wee I simply have one somewhere off any path and kind of hidden just in case. So does everyone I’ve ever walked with.

Op can I mention Blackberries ? Would a picking walk get you back into walking. Most august/sept I have a few weeks of hours long session snd then a years worth of berries frozen. Granted it’s a slow walk but might get you back to it?
I also when in country always go fir a long walks as soon as up and had coffee etc. Been known to be out at 6 or 7. I find it easier to just go than later on - and often see unusual wildlife who haven’t yet hidden away for the day.
Good luck.

[quote Anothermountain]www.theconqueror.events/[/quote]
Just looked at these - fantastic! It's DH's birthday and he always likes 'doing' presents, but there's no so much to 'do' at the moment. I'm thinking of getting him the Everest trek - keep him quiet for a while.

Thanks for the link @Anothermountain

I have just signed up for my last pre paid conqueror event due to this thread so thank you. I am feeling a bit flat and am hoping the challenge will perk me up a bit. They did a sale last January which included a free 2021 how far can you walk challenge which I am still doing. The medals are great.

My pleasure ajandjjmum and well done to your DD and DH. I walked it for real in my youth and I remember the blisters . I remember the beautiful, wild scenery too!

Is a dog realistic?

That sounds good Authenticcelestialmusic I might give it a go myself at this rate

Me:

HyggeTygge

I don't know about the rest of you, but I cannot just go for a walk, there has to be a focus for it, an end point with something interesting to see or do etc. Out my back gate is a lovely park with a 2k circuit, now I know I am lucky to have it, but to me it is like walking aimlessly around a prison yard, so that's a no then.

I live just outside a large, densely populated city, but the hinterland is magical with mountain trails, cliff walks, beaches and stately homes within arms length for most of us.

So twice a week I plan a route about 10k or sometimes less, with something to see at the end of it, and work around public transport back. I could manage 10k but not 20!

Just my two cents.

Audiobook, podcast, music, just go and think to just cover half an hour. Start small and build up.

Do it first opportunity that you can so you don't get sidetracked.

I once did a test 5k step walk from (and then back) my home central London. I had brief obsession with pedometer and 10k steps etc. Then drew circle on a map (old stylee!) and every other day stepped out in different direction. Slightly different route back. Lived here all my life but the things I saw (or noticed) on those regular walks were amazing. May get back to this.

Could you learn a language at the same time and kill two birds with one stone?

I am often way too knackered. Pulled in far too many directions with too many long shifts.

I am also a hefty bunt so getting out there and being all pink, puffy and sweaty often does not appeal.

I do have to walk the hairy persuader. (Not mine but the owner isn’t well enough to walk hairy every day. Most days really.

I can’t ignore the face. The guilt would get me.

And I nearly always feel better for it. Even if I am a hot, pink, puffy, sweaty mess.

The only thing that takes us home most days is my menopausal bladder.

Get into the habit. It’s hard, getting off your arse and just doing it, but it’s worth that first huge effort, that bit of discipline. It’s what I’ve done and now, if I don’t got for a walk every day I find I really miss it.

Bunt? Bint.

Use your phone as a step counter/fitness tracker.
Check meetup dot com or local council healthy walks site for local groups.

@Anothermountain

That sounds good Authenticcelestialmusic I might give it a go myself at this rate

I've just signed up for the Giza Pyramids one - give it a whirl over the next few days, and if it works, I'll sign DH up for the Great Ocean Road in Australia for his birthday. He walks miles every day, but I think he'd like the novelty.

Right @LordOfTheThings where did you go today?

I once saw a very good advertisement for a gym. Unhelpfully, I can’t remember the very pithy phrase they used (sorry 😂), but the sense of it was “Motivation gets you started, but habit keeps you going”. I bet you’d end up like that. Challenge yourself to do a lively long walk each weekend for six weeks; I bet on the seventh you’d then be in the swing of thinking “that’s what I do before lunch” (or whatever).

ajandjjmum hope you and your DH enjoy it! (Especially as I recommended it without trying it myself although my nephew loved it!)