walking Archives - Tammie's Take~

Incorporate Fitness Into Your Routine With These Top Tips

Reviews · July 27, 2020

We all know how important it is to get regular exercise. But it’s easier said than done. When we have busy lives and families to care for, exercise is often at the bottom of our priorities.

However, fitness doesn’t need to be time consuming or stressful. It’s something that
we can incorporate into our routines. Making small changes can make a big
difference, so here are ways to be more fit on the day to day.

Walk to work
When we get into the habit of driving everywhere, the idea of walking seems silly.
However, walking to work can make a huge difference. You’ll get fresh air and
exercise first thing, which will invigorate you for the rest of the day. Plus, you help the
environment, save money, avoid stressful traffic and potential collisions (see this
lawyer dealing with truck accident cases).

Morning stretches
Exercising in the morning is the way to go. You start your day well and feel prepared
for anything. But, if you don’t fancy a pre-breakfast 5K or sweaty gym session, some
simple stretches can be just as fulfilling. Moving your body and tuning in will relieve
muscle pain and help with flexibility.

Take the stairs
OK, so you might not have the time to spend half an hour on the stair master, but
don’t worry, you have your own stair master in your office! Instead of taking the
elevator, make it your motto to take the stairs every day. The elevator can take ages
to arrive and you’re stuck twiddling your thumbs – so make the most of the dead time
by being active and working those legs.

A standing desk
When we sit at a desk all day, we do all kinds of damage to our bodies. We find
ourselves slumping into the chair, causing back and shoulder issues. So, break free
from the masses and get a standing desk. This will improve your posture and make
you feel a lot more energized. You’ll find that you’re better at the job and feel more
tired when you get home.

Lunchtime walk
If walking to work isn’t an option, a lunchtime walk may be the solution. Simply taking
yourself out for a brisk ten-minute walk will help circulation and get your heart
pounding. If you have time for a twenty-minute one, even better!

A fitness tracker
It can be difficult to motivate yourself to think about fitness, especially when your day
is filled with other things. However, investing in a fitness tracker could really help.
You’ll start paying attention to your step count and finding ways to meet targets.
Make fitness a competition with yourself and incorporate it into everyday life.

Things to Do Instead of Spending Money

Reviews · May 10, 2018

We live in a society which very much encourages you to spend, spend, spend. However, most of us are not millionaires, and falling into this consumerist trap is going to cost us in the long-run.

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If you already find that you are in debt, you could always look into debtconsolidation.co to help clear it. But when you get back into positive habits, you need some ideas of how you are going to fill your time other than spending hours checking social media or binge-watching the next big TV show. So, in this article, we are going to give you some inspiration for some free activities.

Read a Book

If you have a whole shelf of books which you have been meaning to read but you haven’t got round to it yet, now is the time to start working your way through them. Otherwise, you could look into joining your local library or swapping books with your friends or relatives. There are so many ideas and stories out there just waiting to be discovered.

Go for a Walk

There is nothing more clearing for your head than going out on a nice walk. So, choose one of your favourite spots – or alternatively, explore somewhere that you have never been before. Not only will you be keeping yourself entertained, you will also be helping to keep yourself in good physical shape which is always a bonus!

Cook a Meal with Your Existing Ingredients

Most people tend to end up with all sorts of things in their cupboards that they never get round to using, so why not try cooking a meal with your existing ingredients? There are even apps and websites out there which can give you inspiration for things that you can cook with what you already have. It is always nice to have a new meal which you can add to your cooking repertoire!

Start a Journal

Keeping a journal is one of the most valuable things that you can create which is going to last you for years to come. So, dust off an old notebook and start writing about your experiences. Not only will this practice help you to discover new things about yourself, it will also help to strengthen your memories.

Volunteer Your Time

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There are all sorts of organisations and charities crying out for volunteers, so choose something that you are passionate about and start spending your time this way. Not only will you be able to spend as much time as you would like doing this, you also get the positive buzz from doing that you are doing something good.

Invite Friends and Family Over

Even though there are more ways than ever to stay in touch with people, you can’t beat face-to-face interaction. So, why not invite your friends or family over for a drink and a chat. As well as not having to spend money, you are also helping to boost your mood by spending time with people that you care about.

8 Things Everyone Should Know About Before Getting A Dog

Reviews · December 21, 2017

Image Credit: Pexels

We all love dogs. They are adorable and some of the best friends a person can have. That is why it is important that you look after them and understand what that means before getting one. Here is a quick guide to help you understand what having a dog means.

Regular De-Fleaing and De-Worming

Nobody likes fleas or worms, least of all a dog. It best to preemptively stop these things before they start to cause a serious problem for your dog. Fleas bites can hurt and can get infected causes more serious health condition, and worms can cause all kinds of damage inside a dog. Both of these can also be passed onto humans, and the last thing you want is for your family to get worms and have flea bites – especially if you have young children. Fortunately, there is an easy fix. You can buy de-fleaing and de-worming products from your local pet store, and all you need to do is use them regularly, and your dog should be worm and flea free. Another great way to help prevent worms is the prevent them from eating strange things when taking them out and about.

Check-Ups

One of the first things you should do if you get a dog is registered with a vet, just in case something bad happens. However, you should also visit the vet regularly for check-ups. This ensures that the pet is fit and healthy and can help to spot illnesses early meaning your dog will stand a fighting chance.

Walks

Dogs need to be taken on regular walks. The walks needs to be long enough that the dog can run and be out of breath. They need a lot of exercise and love to run around and stretch their legs. This doesn’t need to be a chore and should be one of the best things about having a dog. You can take a ball and throw that for the dog and play fetch in the park, or you can take them hiking through the hills and let your dog run ahead of you. The exercise will be good for both you and the dog. The dog will be happier if it gets enough exercise each day and it will help you bond with the dog and have a fun day out. You can bring the entire family or spend an afternoon with just you and the dog; the choice is yours. Different dogs need a different amount of exercise, and you should research online or consult your vet for further advice.

Training

Not enough dogs get proper training. Dogs enjoy being trained in the same way children actually enjoy having boundaries. You don’t need to take your dog to training classes – although that might be the easiest and most effective way to train them. Instead, you can buy a training book or follow an online guide. Whatever you choose you should make sure to properly train your dog. Otherwise, it won’t return to your when you take it out for walks, and it might run in front of cars which is dangerous to both the dog and the driver. A well-trained dog makes a brilliant family pet as it will be much nicer to have around children and will respond to commands better.

Food

Every dog breed needs a different amount of food and type of food, so you should check online or the dog’s food packaging or consult your vet for more details. However, you need to make sure not to feed a dog too much or too little. Dogs naturally don’t feel full, so if you try to feed your dog until it can’t eat anymore, then you are going to make it fat. An overweight dog suffers from similar health issues to an overweight person. It will also be less happy as it will struggle to run a long way or be able to enjoy its walks. An easy way to ensure you feed your dog the right amount is not to feed it table scraps, get a scoop that fits the food measurement for your dog and feed them at the same time each day. This will help the dog get into a routine and will train them to only want that specific amount of food at that time of day. It will be better for both you and the dog.

Treats

Dogs deserve treats. They are also a great way to help train and reward them for good behaviour. It also a nice way to treat a dog in the evening and give them something to chew. Most dogs will want to chew things naturally and giving them a healthy chew rather than something else is good for their behaviour and their health. Somewhere like Betsy Farm provide healthy dog treats that are 100% natural and won’t damage their health, teeth or your furniture. You should also use dog treats when training a dog as they will be more likely to perform a command if they know there is a treat at the end of it. This is especially true at first, and gradually they will start to do the command regardless of the treat.

Teeth

Dogs, like humans, need their teeth brushing. They can get tooth decay and gum diseases just like we can, so you should regularly brush your dog’s teeth. If you start doing this when they are a puppy, then it will be much easier as they grow up. However, if a dog is reluctant to let your brush their teeth, then another option is to buy dental sticks. These dog sticks help to clean their teeth while also being a healthy treat for the dog. They help make sure a dog’s teeth stay in good condition and can become part of their routine by giving them one each night.

Water

Dogs need water. This is simple. You need to make sure they always have access to a bowl of water and aren’t dehydrated. This is especially true on hot days and after walks. Just having a bowl around the house and keeping it topped up should be enough, but you might always want to bring some water for the dog on your walks, too.

Clothing Tips for During and After Walking in The Rain

Reviews · November 21, 2017

As much as we may love walking, there are not many walking enthusiasts who would say that a walk in heavy rain was their favourite thing to do. However, whether you get caught in bad weather on a hike, or you have to go out in the rain because your dog needs exercise or you need to get somewhere on foot, sometimes it is unavoidable to get a bit drenched out there!

Caught in A Downpour

If you know you are going out in the rain, then it is a slightly different situation to when you go out on a lovely spring day only to get caught in a downpour. Here are some tips for keeping, or at least getting, your clothing dry if you were not prepared with waterproof overclothes or even an umbrella when you set out:

Stop Somewhere Dry if You Can and Get Rid of The Worst Of It

If you are on a walk in the countryside and suddenly find yourself on the brunt of heavy rain in unsuitable clothes (actually, almost any clothes not designed for wet weather are unsuitable as you have probably found!), try and find somewhere you can stop and get the worst of the water out of your clothes and off of your skin. A pub can often be a very good option, as you can go in their bathroom and attempt to wring out your socks and any other very wet clothing, and use paper towels or a hand dryer to somewhat dry off your clothes and skin.

This won’t obviously thoroughly dry things out, but at least you won’t squelch when you walk, and you should feel a little more comfortable. If the rain seems like it was just a brief but heavy shower, relax and wait for it to end, or consider the option of calling a taxi if you don’t fancy hiking home or back to your car.

If this isn’t an option, it’s generally best to abort your walk if you can and take the shortest route to somewhere you can get dry, especially if it is cold as well as wet.

Once You Get Home

When you get home, you need to dry out your clothes as quickly as possible so they won’t start to smell bad. With most things, including trainers, this is simply a case of putting them straight in the washing machine. However, with some other things like wool or leather coats you’ll need to air dry them quickly. Hang them up as well as you can with something underneath them to catch drips, and turn on a fan if you have one, or place them next to a window that is open with a window actuator rather than wide open, so it won’t be letting further rain in but will aerate your gear.

Then, take a nice hot shower, as being in wet clothes is terrible for your skin!

We’ve all been caught in the rain at some point, but by trying to get your clothes dry during and after the walk, you should be able to prevent any damage to them.