TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022 - WALKING PART II

 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022 - WALKING PART II

Yesterday I wrote about walking from an article about The Truths about Walking

https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness/walking-workouts-myths-and-facts-to-know

I wanted to add some comments today.  

First - I am competitive.  I like to push myself to be better.  My daughter talked about using an app called “Map My Ride” when she rode her bicycle.  There is a parallel app called “Map My Walk”.  

The first competition for me was to get to 1022 kilometers this year.  (I think it would be expecting too much to get to 2022 kilometers - and definitely expecting a lot to get to 2022 miles.  (A kilometer is about 60% of a mile).  I reached that yearly goal on June 13, 2022 (WOOO!!)

This app keeps track of my walks.  Currently, I am numbering 3,951 out of 168,188 people which puts me in the top 2.4% of all the people using the app.  So, I get to celebrate that I’ve walked more than 97.6% of the people using the app. (So, some people don’t record their walks every day like I do).

This “Map My Walk” app is sponsored by UnderArmour - and I can start the app when I start to walk.

BUT - the app only works when I remember to turn it on.  (It does have some good statistics like split quarter miles, elevation, and more).  

Three years ago I was ready to get a Fitbit (or comparable) device.  That would keep track of all of my steps as long as I had the device on my wrist.  I actually had ordered one online and was picking it up after a music rehearsal - and they didn’t have one in stock.

I bemoaned that situation to a friend who said “Gee, you have a built-in app on your iPhone.  HUH?  But, yes, I do have the health application on my iPhone.  (I guess that Android phones have something similar).  Not only does this built-in app keep track of my steps (as I write, I’m at 1, 242 steps but it also gives me additional data). It tells me if I am walking “asymmetry/balanced” - that is, am I relying more on my left foot or right foot - or am I limping?

The minor hassle is that I need to take the data from my Health app and import it to the Map My Walk map.  

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And, a second feature.  The Health app also compares my walking with last year and last month. I get messages like “You are walking more this year than last year”, or “You are walking less this month than last month.  

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So, back to the Map My Walk app.  . Yes, I like being at 2.4% - meaning I’m doing a lot of walking as compared to others.  I’m doing better than 97% of other users (which makes me feel good.)  Now such comparisons are maybe a little bogus.  Some people might not get so avid about recording their steps or don’t always carry their phone while they walk and exercise.  

And, last year, I was in the top 4% of all users and this year I’m in the top 2.4% of all users.

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My next comment is insurance related.  At age 75, I am on America’s version of social medicine (aka “Medicare”).  And, the Medicare Advantage programs vary by location.  My current plan pays me $10 on a gift card if I reach 7,500 steps for ten days.  I haven’t spent any more on that card - which is a Visa card - and I have $50 on the card for five months meeting my goal.  And, before you think that I must have missed a few months, the program started in June - so I’ve reached my goal for June, July, August, September, and October - and I have walked 7,500 steps about 19 days out of 27 so far this month, so I’ll have $60 on that reloadable card soon.  

In some respects, my competitive brain likes that I’m in the top 2.4% on the Map my Walk app; my competitive brain likes that I’m earning $10 a month.  (In today’s world, $10 in a month isn’t much, but for somebody whose first real job paid 75 cents an hour, $10 is still real to me.  (And, no, $10 will cover filling my gas tank).

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So - walking - yes, I feel healthy (see yesterday), I do it regularly, and I’m keeping track (or, rather, my iPhone is keeping track for me), and I’m in the top 2.4% of users of the Map My Walk app and that I’m making $10 a month by reaching ten days of walking at least 7,500 steps.  

So, as a senior person, I’m happy that I’m fit and active. 

A recent (September 2022) CNN article says, “People between the ages of 40 and 79 who took 9,826 steps per day were 50% less likely to develop dementia within seven years, the study found. Furthermore, people who walked with “purpose” – at a pace over 40 steps a minute – were able to cut their risk of dementia by 57% with just 6,315 steps a day.” 

So, I cut my dementia risks by staying active.  

I guess walking is a WIN/WIN/WIN for me - fit, less likely to have dementia, making some money, and being competitive.

Hopefully, some of you will challenge me next year!!!

LOVE WINS / LOVE TRANSFORMS
WALK WINS / WALKING TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © NOVEMBER 29, 2022