Days 1-7

I love to try new things to improve my overall health. Personally I find 30 days gives me an indication if something is helping or not making much difference at all.

In November my experiment was to follow a strict AIP Diet, which I managed and was happy to see so many improvements in my autoimmune symptoms. I actually just hit the 60 day mark on this plan and have finally started reintroducing food. So far walnuts and macadamia nuts are okay but eggs aren’t… yet.

In December I focused on fixing GERD, and have finally managed to get that monster somewhat under control. It’s still not perfect but much better then when I started. I continue taking Zinc l Carnosine and Mastic Gum which seemed to help the most. I was also able to move to a half dosage of my Rx so instead of 40mg I am now on 20mg. I’m still working to get off all the way but I can tell I’m not ready yet.

In late November I got a Fitbit and I knew that I would be doing this experiment in January.

The Back Story

Like so many people I work in an office 9-5. My job allows me to have more freedom than some when it comes to movement but still there are deadlines to meet that require a lot of sitting at the computer.

Since I’ve had my Fitbit a few months, it given me a chance to see what my steps are like when I’m not focused on taking steps. On weekends I’m definitely less active and the count is pretty low, about 2000-3000 steps a day. On an average work day it’s around 5000-7000. When we are building a new store or redoing a store I hit the 10000 no problem but I’m also beyond exhausted and I want that to improve.

The Power of Walking

So why am I choosing walking? Walking can do so many wonderful things for you both mentally and physically.

Let’s tackle mentally first

• It reduces anxiety by releasing endorphins and which elevates your overall wellbeing. Yes please! Bring on the happiness.
• It can help improve your memory and cognitive functions.
• It can improve your sleep patterns. You guys know I struggle with sleep so this is a great benefit for me.
• It can reduce cortisol levels which are your stress hormones. That wreak absolute havoc on your body.

Next up Physical Benefits

• It improves heart health.
• It increases bone density.
• It can reduce your body weight.
• It will increase the strength in your legs and help your overall Stamina. Yes I need this in my life.
• It boosts your immune system. It’s cold and flu season and if you’re like me with a weaker body you will do anything you can to not get sick because those of us with autoimmune diseases tend to be sick for weeks instead of days.
• It improves your posture naturally

What really makes me love it? It’s low impact and great no matter what fitness level you are at and it’s free. Why I’m at a healthy weight, my fitness level is not great. The coolest part is my Fitbitlets me track everything which I thoroughly enjoy.

I’m excited to get started so let’s begin

Day 1

It’s the first day and as usual I’m all revved up.

I get up and go through my morning routine. I’ve set little goals for myself throughout the day so I don’t get stuck at the end of the night trying to cram in 5000 extra steps. My apartment is small and it’s cold outside so if I can avoid running around in circles or freezing to death thats awesome.

Goal One, 2500 steps before I leave the house. On your mark, get set, go! I start cleaning my house as I do every morning, But this time instead of gathering multiple things and putting them away. I pick up one thing at a time and take it to the proper area so I can get those extra steps in. I’m almost at a thousand steps by the time I’m done.

Next up the work out, now I’m at 1800 steps. I want to be productive and I have about an hour left until I head to work, I make lunches, work on organizing my closet. By the time I walk out the door I’ve hit 2500… but just barely. Now let’s hope I get up to at least to 8000 steps at work.

It’s been a long day but the good news is I was up to almost 9000 steps by the time I got home.

When I’m done with dinner, I change into my pjs and do my nightly routine and by some magic I hit 10,000 steps just as I’m ready to go to bed. That went way better than I thought.

Day 2

One day down, and 29 to go. My back is hurting today so it may be a challenge to meet my goal but I’m hopeful it will get better soon. I walk out the door just under 500 steps. Not good.

I’m finally home after work and I’m only at 5000. It’s 6:30pm so I take a walk outside. .it took less time than I thought to get my steps in and it wasn’t too cold outside so not too horrible. Still tomorrow I need to spread out my steps better so I’m not walking so much when I’m exhausted.

Day 3

It’s the weekend and I know from experience that this is when I struggle the most to get my steps in. Even though I run errands on Saturday I’m always surprised at how few steps that adds up too. I’ll need to stay on top of it today.

I’ve been making sure I get up and move and I’ve done a good job making sure I hit a thousand or more steps every hour or two That is until I ran my errands. I have not been feeling great and I was suddenly exhausted and fell asleep for a few hours after we got home. I’d made it to 7500 steps before I fell asleep. Thank goodness I got most of them done earlier in the day.

The last 2500 were not easy because I did not feel like moving at all, but no way I was not hitting my goal on day 3. I finally finished my steps around 10:15 pm and then promptly fell asleep. This 30 day journey is not going to always be easy..

Day 4

At some point you are supposed to feel excited to go for your walk and get your steps in, so far I’m not there. I just want to be a bum.

What I have noticed since I’ve been walking 10000 steps a day I am sleeping an hour longer at night. That’s a nice benefit.

I went for a walk today with my friend which was such an enjoyable way to get the first 2500 steps completed. Then I indulged myself and just lazed around and did house stuff. About 5:30 I realized I better get it in gear because I was only at 5000 steps so down to the apartment gym for the first time and jump on one of the treadmills. I prefer to walk outside but since it’s dark I opted for inside. 45 minutes at 3.0mph and I get my last 5000 steps. Now I just need to prep my lunch for tomorrow and I’ve accomplished all my goals for today.

Day 5

Today is end of year audit which means I will be sitting at my desk for hours. I’m hoping we get done early so I can get some movement in before I get home but I know I need to try to get some steps done in the morning so I’m not doing a mad dash tonight. I leave the house close to 2000.

Surprisingly I ended up running around all day today and hit 10000 steps before I even got home from work. How nice not to have to worry about that tonight after such a long day.

Of course as usual I’m also beyond exhausted and promptly take a nap from 7:45 to 11:00pn.

Day 6

So interesting tidbit of information…I just read an article that said walking with your palms facing up will improve your posture. Do you look silly? Absolutely! Still I’m totally trying it.

It’s new year eve and by some miracle we have the next two days off. It’s almost like being on vacation. I recently organized my house so it’s beyond clean, That’s a good thing but now I will have to figure out a way to get my steps in besides doing stuff around the house. I find I am wanting to go out more, which is an improvement because I’m typically a go to work and then come straight home girl.

Well I set out on a small adventure and went to the nursery, the farmers market and the local tea shop and even though I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was so disappointed that all my walking was only 3000 steps.

So I ended up doing exactly what I wanted to avoid, I spent the evening pacing my apartment. With the support of my BFF pep talking me through each thousand steps until I hit my goal.

Day 7

Happy New Year! It’s January 1st and the end of my first week walking 10,000 steps every day.

So how am I feeling, overall okay but I haven’t felt that amazing feeling yet. What I do feel is proud of myself for hitting 10k steps everyday. Mostly because I didn’t always want to move that much but I’ve managed to push through every day until I hit that magic number.

Another perk, I have been falling asleep more easily. In fact I have fallen asleep several nights of this week without taking my melatonin. Last night being one of them. Mostly because I was trying so hard to stay awake to watch the fireworks. I didn’t make it, I fell fast asleep at 11:00.

It seems like in the beginning of each of my experiments I’m so tired. That adjustment period of a new diet/exercise takes a lot out of my body but so far it’s been worth it every time.

I also noticed taking a walk has helped some of my autoimmune symptoms. If the nausea/indigestion is bad a 20 minute walk takes the edge off. My nerve pain is better and going to the bathroom has become a daily occurrence. The AIP diet improved it to around three times a week but now it’s everyday. It used to be once a week.

Why I am enjoying the extra time off through the holidays, it’s been so much harder to hit that 10,000 mark. I’m just more active naturally when I work and quite frankly I’m tired by the end of the week and just want to rest.

For some reason it seemed like my steps weren’t counting correctly today. Even though I walked for 45 minutes this morning my Fitbit barely calculated any steps. I put it back on the charger, shut my phone off. Rebooted tightened my watch and everything seemed to be back on track. Still I hated losing those steps.

Because my morning was so unproductive, I headed back down to the apartment gym and got on the dreaded treadmill and got up to 8000 steps. It’s only 5 and I have to get everything ready for work tomorrow so I should hit that easily. If not I’ll be pacing the halls tonight.

Success.

Read my next post to see how I fare next week.

This post may contain afffiliate links.

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