Editor’s note: I’ve been keeping a “log” (or blog, if you will, LOL) chronicling my various “fitness pursuits” since the beginning of 2019. What follows is a look back on the month of February – which is a month I’m all too happy to look back on (as in good riddance)! Snowstorms, ice storms, high winds…(ugh)! 

During the month of February, I went out for walks on 22 of the 28 days – totaling 1,156 minutes. This averages out to 41 minutes per day on average – or more accurately, 52 minutes per day (accounting for the days I didn’t take walks). I haven’t been keeping track of total miles – if I had a pedometer or a FitBit, I would be able to do so. I think I have quite enough things to be obsessed about, however!

Me on the first day of March, 2019. Let the record show that I am NOT wearing a winter coat! I opted instead for layering a couple of long-sleeved shirts underneath a lightweight vest (which I jokingly called, “Aspen Chic”).

I logged 100 minutes of walking on Wednesday, Feb. 27 (in two installments) – and logged a 9 minute mile on Monday, Feb. 18! Something I’ve noticed as of late are that the later in the day I take the walks – the greater the impact they have on helping me get more sleep! With my “early birdie” job, that is EXTREMELY important! I will make an attempt to take some of my walks later in the day- which will also mean being able to go out with my “walking partner” (aka my husband Mike). We’ve both seen great improvements in our fitness! Mike, whom has suffered from crippling gout attacks in the past (so bad he’s had to use crutches) – and various arthritic symptoms (joint stiffness, etc.) is now able to keep up with me on the walks! Back in January, he kind of…struggled a bit. We’ve determined that the more he gets out and moves his ass – the better! Body at rest tends to stay at rest…(you know how that saying goes)!

Rear view of my walking partner Mike on the pathway at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. It’s become an ideal place to take winter walks because the city keeps the paths cleared. It’s always better to visit this park on a weekday than on a weekend, when it can become quite the congested “freeway!”

In the month of March, when weather will (hopefully) improve, I’d like to up the ante a bit! I want to take some real “hikes.” Hills, dirt surfaces…chances of seeing various wildlife…breathing in the “woodsy” air. It’s one thing to log a mile in 9 minutes on the flat surfaces in a shiny shopping mall, but quite another to have to work a bit to cover that mile of terrain! Climbing some hills will do wonders for getting my legs in even better shape. Plus, daylight savings time is coming soon, too! So I will be able to take walks later in the day.

That’s about it for this “fitness update!” Fingers crossed for better weather in this coming month – though I know Old Man Winter ain’t done doing his thing yet!