Thursday, November 19, 2009

Energy Management for Dummies




Now that Lulu has had her puppy shots, I have one less reason to avoid walking the dogs. Poor Sammy doesn't get to join us, but takes his walks with John. Walking Sammy is like attaching a seventy pound bowling ball to a leash - he rumbles around in any direction except where I want him to go. Whew. He consumes more of my energy per linear foot than the schnauzers do for an entire walk. Sorry, Sam, old boy. You are just too energy expensive.

So the girls love their walks, and once I'm bundled up and out the door, I have to admit that I do too. I've been a bit more adventuresome recently in seeking out other routes aside from the trudge around the block routine. Maggie and Lulu are thrilled - can dogs be thrilled? Yes, I think these two can - to hop in the car and explore new walking paths anywhere that I am willing to take them.

We discovered this wonderfully moss covered tree on our last outing.



The moss is just as soft as it looks.



While educating Lulu on the finer points of walking on a leash, I've had to learn a few things on these outings too, and the most important is this: By the time I feel tired, I have already crossed that invisible energy danger line. The key to successful exercise for me is to stop before the needle on my energy tank hits E.

I have been dealing with autoimmune fatigue for so many years, you'd certainly think that I'd know this by now. Perhaps I need some sort of remedial energy expenditure class. Gee, Julia - let's try to solve this educational math word problem, shall we?

If a clueless woman with autoimmune disease walks her rambunctious schnauzers for fifteen minutes in a direct line AWAY from her car, how long will it take for her to figure out that even though she's completely pooped, she and said schnauzers still have to walk the fifteen minutes BACK TO the car? 


Wonder what my report card would say if I took this class?

2 comments:

annie said...

It is difficult for people who have always been active to suddenly find themselves having to
limit their activities and slow down or stop altogether. This is especially difficult on days where you feel you have some extra energy, and want to squeeze one more chore out of your day, or to walk that extra 5 minutes. It is my personal belief that chronic illnesses are given to people that are too stubborn and hard-headed,(this really pertains to me) as we never seem to learn from past mistakes, especially when we can't seem to pace ourselves and give in and give up.!!!!Kudos to you for taking walks and getting exercise.

Julia Oleinik said...

You know......I think you've described me to a "T", Annie. You're onto something there. Stubborn, yes, yes....hard headed? Natch.

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