Do you have to have an excuse to go for a walk?
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
April 10, 2008 10:21pm CST
For instance, do you go for a walk not to loose weight but to see what is at the Mall? Is it an excuse to see your friends? Do you just want to get out of the house? In other words, you are not going for a walk because of the health benefits, but because you have to go someplace, see someone, or want to buy something? So what happens when you do not need to go someplace, see someone, or you have no money to buy anything, do you decide not to go for a walk on those days? With me, I need an excuse to go to a walk because I cannot see rambling off, but since I am incurable window shopper, I just keep on walking. The only thing that would stop me is if it is cold. I cannot stand the snow and I cannot walk fast through icy roads.
Now what about you?
19 people like this
53 responses
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
12 Apr 08
I love Manhattan. I walk to see the sites, NYC is huge, huge, huge.
I don't do winter. I become an absolute hermit unless need be.
Ainge
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I saw the pictures of New York on the old movies, and even the new Tv shows, and I wish I could go there. I used to live in Vancouver, and we would walk everywhere and it was not as if here were just houses for twenty minutes as it is in Winnipeg before you got to the stores, there was always a busy street with stores. But my husband does not want to go. 
I would really love walking around New York or at least one district of it. I doubt I could do all the city.
I would really love walking around New York or at least one district of it. I doubt I could do all the city.1 person likes this
@briggitta (47)
• China
12 Apr 08
walking is a sweet thing i enjoy, and i think it a good way to make one healthy. i work and live in a beautif campus so i can always have a walk to relax myself, and, i don't have to have an excuse to go for a walk!
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I just live in a residential area and there are no big parks nearby. We have to drive out to get to one, there is no big parks in our district. They felt it better to build houses instead so in order for us to enjoy things we have to look in other people's yards to see who has the best flowers this year. It is so depressing. But there is the Mall and the stores.
1 person likes this
@tholmes (100)
• Canada
29 May 08
I have a multi challenged lady I look after and the spring and summer are her months, she can get out and about a lot easier. But she still can't walk that far so we have an power chair (electric) for her, and I control it, so we can get out and about and see the flowers, and take pictures of everything.
So in the nice weather, we are out almost 2 or more times a day just wandering around, looking at everything and also doing any errands that need doing..
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
29 May 08
I find it helps to have a reason for walking, like the Mall is about twenty to thirty minutes away. The trouble is that I only have time to walk to one particular place. I am too busy at home for me to take two or three hours out of my day. I do love the spring and summer when I can get out and about, and I do love listening to music while I am going for a walk, and when the spring and summer arrives, so do all the flowers. And I am a born window shopper as well.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I would love to walk more, but our neighborhood is not safe. We have "Johns" trolling around looking for "working girls" and several people I know have been mugged. But, I ride my bike around and go to the gym. There are a couple of small city lakes that I like to go around. I like getting out in the fresh air. Also, sometimes my weight will go up and I need to do more exercise. But, mostly I just like being outdoors.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
29 May 08
I used to live in a bad neighborhood before I got married. I had a basement apartment and there were needles out in the lane that I saw from my basement window. I did get a lot of exercise because I walked from work, and I lived in Vancouver and it was quite hilly. Now I live in Winnipeg and even though I do a lot of walking every day for forty-five minutes, it is quite flat so I do not get the results I should. I do love going to the Mall and I would love to go to a park if we had a large one in our area. There is about two or three parks but they are not in walking distance.
@AmbiePam (94117)
• United States
12 Apr 08
I want to walk for my health, but I'm glad I have a dog as an excuse. Walking by myself around an apartment complex and neighborhood, I feel weird (people occasionally stare), and sometimes unsafe. I don't walk in malls because I get hot no matter what time of the year. So having a dog is a great 'excuse' for me to get out and walk, for myself as well as for exercise for Sherlock.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
21 Jun 08
That is a reason why I do not want to move into an apartment. Most of the apartment blocks in Winnipeg are around downtown and it gets depressing seeing all that sidewalk and having people look at you funny. We used to have a dog, she lived for twenty plus years, and she was so cute, that it spoiled us for having any other pet. But she was more of a going to the fire hydrant and sniffing around trees then for walking. I am afraid if I had lived downtown, I would not have gotten much walking either.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72289)
• United States
12 Apr 08
I suppose it would depend on where I was walking that decided on the reason I would walk or not. If I wanted exercise I would go somewhere like a quiet park or anywhere as long as my kids were with me then it gives me the excuse of getting excercise while getting my kids outside! I see some people walk around tracks at the local school. I couldnt do that I just feel to weird going around and around in circles when I could just walk along a road a long ways and see different things. I love walking!
@GardenGerty (161006)
• United States
12 Apr 08
That kind of walking suits me more. We do have a park with a walk around a "lake" and it has hills up and down and landscaping. People will walk that a lot, or they will walk the paths in the cemetery. I have not done that, but I have walked the track around the lake.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
11 Apr 08
Yes and no. I don't really need the excuse, but it helps me get motivated. I find it hard to just go outside and take a walk. I can go to the zoo or park and walk around no problem though.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I like to walk to the Mall or to Walmart, but lately I have decided that I will tempt myself, go for a walk, but before I get to the Mall or Walmart, turn around and go back home. Then I can say to myself I did not spend any money today. I wish we had a park near us. All we have is those mini parks that is just enough for the monkeybars and a swing set. We wanted one, but they put up houses instead. we are the only district in Winnipeg that does not have a park so we have to go either to Birds hill or way to the other district.
@GardenGerty (161006)
• United States
12 Apr 08
I think I have to have motivation or purpose to get out the door and on the road. Once I am out walking, though, I really enjoy it. Need to do it more often. I like to walk just after sunset, so that houses have their lights up, but shades not drawn. Then I get to look at their decorating. We have some wonderful old homes around here.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 Apr 08
whenever you walk it is exercise regardless of the reason like going to see your friends, it is still exercise and you still reap the benefits from it. Me too, I am not disciplined enough to just go out for a walk for the sake of a walk, but I do walk everywhere I go so I get my exercise in that way.
Health specialist say you can combine exercise with things you like to do it doesn't matter as long as you get it in and if your having fun whiling excising it really is better because if you don't see exercise as a chore you will do it more often.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I am not what you call a health nut. I am not into walking or exercising just for the sake of being healthy. I love to walk to get anyway, because I love listening to music or I love to think and solve problems on the way and then there is the Mall, Walmart, Futureshop, Best Buy, Staples, etc. and I happen to not like being in the house all the time. So I have to get out and do something. That is the reason I love dancing for exercise because it is not the you have to do type to get your exercise in. That is spoiling all the fun.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
13 Apr 08
I like to walk, but here it's so hot, that unless I go early in the morning it's just too hot' I'm looking forward to getting another dog. Then, the early morning walks are fun, and become habitual.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
29 May 08
It is starting to get hot here. I was not ready to walk until 10:15 this morning, I had my slacks and my t=shirt and I goes outside and the first people I saw had on short skirts or shorts. So I thought well I can go for a real good walk today, and I am not going back to change to a skirt and I wish I had another knee length skirt instead of those long ones. So I went down to Walmart, bought a couple of plants after going to the bank and that was my walk for today.
Oh and I miss my dog, Jessie. She was so cute.
@Kaeli72 (1229)
• United States
12 Apr 08
Actually, the best excuse I have to go for a walk is my two year old boy. We LOVE taking a walk after dinner. Sometimes, it takes us 30 minutes...sometimes an hour. All we do is walk around the neighbourhood and see the beauty of the desert in bloom...and the houses. If anything, it gets us out of the house and gets all that energy out of his little system. It works like a charm because he goes to bed pretty easily afterwards.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
It has been years since my sons were small and my granddaughter lives so far way that we have to get in the car and drive there for me to take her for a walk. I do like seeing the other mothers and fathers taking their children along when I go for a walk so at least that is some compensation. I have not been in a desert, it must really be lovely.
@whittby (3072)
• United States
11 Apr 08
I have a lot of excuses to walk, so I walk everyday. My dog is my main excuse - four at least short walks a day. I walk to lose weight too, but not everyday. I don't walk much in the cold - maybe a mile a day total because I just hate being out. I like going to the malls too but don't seem to get there too often.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I like walking, but not in winter. It is way too cold and I hate snow and ice anyway. But in spring and summer I am out all the time. We have a shopping center about less than a mile away and I find I have to go more than three times a week because I only have enough time to walk to one store and get something done. Like today I went to get a couple of plants and with the waiting, it took quite a lot of time for me to go to the bank, wait in line, and then go get the plant and there was this lady in front of me who got sixteen plants and she had to go into great detail. So tomorrow I will go on another errand.
@kirow_zhang (2)
• China
11 Apr 08
I do not like shopping as well as I hate going out alone without any purpose.So I wonder you usually go out alone or with some friends?In contrast,I like snow.I think maybe you need to study skating so that you can walk fast and steady through icy roads.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
12 Apr 08
I cannot take the cold, so I avoid snow as much as possible. The sidewalk has to be clear. Besides if I loved the cold and snow, then I would have to love Manitoba and am a true Canadian who thinks that cold is wonderful and complains at the heat, loves hockey and curling, and that would be a lie. But I love shopping, not spending the money - it is mostly window shopping, and I like to see what is new in the shop as well as when spring is here and summer, and the trees are blossoming, the sky is blue, and I can see how long it takes to get from here to there.
@gxnfly (1147)
• China
11 Apr 08
I like walking,don't have to do anything,just relaxing.I think it's good.I spend most of my time alone on the internet,so I need to talk a walk to take the load off,get some fresh air,see the beautiful views.The problems is I always feel that I don't have too many places to go,maybe I am a bit lazy.So I just take a walk at the campus which is near to my apartment.I like the atmosphere there,take a walk and see the green trees ,enjoy the beautiful flowers,the fishes in the river.That's really pleasant and soothing!
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Not really but now it is good for me to get out and walk for my heart .
and we walk around the block almost every day. I hate walking in the malls wears ya out real fast and my grand daughter dont like the malls we dont know why but she gets real fussy when ever we have to go for something which isnt very often
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I go for the Malls to look around. There are Mall walkers there, and someone suggested that I do Mall walk to get some exercise. I told them that it takes me over thirty minutes to get to the Mall, so I got my exercise already and then once I am in it, I will start window shopping. Oh that Mall walking wears me out but that is because I do the Mall running. And I do love the people and love losing weight.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
29 May 08
I used to love my early morning walks with my dog. However since 'Arnie' passed away, I haven't been for any morning walks. I have moved to a smaller house now, and there's no room for another dog yet. However when I retire at the end of next year we will move, and I'll get another dog and startwalking again.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
21 Jun 08
That does not sound that good. I do not know how I could live in a place with no trees or grass around. I do hope you move to a nicer area. It is not that fun walking when all you see is bare sidewalks and not much of anything that brings you more enjoyment.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
30 May 08
There is no scenery near where I live. Ocassionally my wife and I will walk along the sidewalk beside the beach, but closer to our house are just rows of townhouses, no sidewalks, and lots of stray dogs. Not a pleasant walk
1 person likes this
@megumiart (3771)
• United States
11 Apr 08
I try to walk, or take my dog for a walk everyday, even if its raining or snowing. I don't have a car yet, so I usually walk a mile or two to the stores or downtown when I need something, too. :]
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
11 Apr 08
Our Mall is about a little under a mile and our Safeway is a mile away, and that includes one of my favorite dress stores so that gives me another excuse, only in the latter, by the time I get there I am too tired to do much shopping. :)
@asawanialvin0611 (1877)
• Philippines
28 May 08
Walking is a free and it ios good to enjoy window shopping while doing so
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
21 Jun 08
Now my husband and I drive to the Mall and go Mall walking, because he had a stroke and cannot walk that much. And when we go shopping, we are walking around the grocery store. I want to go for a walk today, but I have to mow the lawn in the back. So I guess I will leave it for a while.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
11 Apr 08
as of now i have a 2 years old toodler and when we go out it is not just walking for he is active. i get really tired catching him around but still enjoy what we do. now that i have a toodler to catch around i dont have any excuse.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
10 May 08
I remember when our boys were small, they were running all over the place. After that we got a dog, but she was always looking for male dogs and going towards fire hydrants, not much of a walk doing that.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
11 Apr 08
Yes, I don't like walking aimlessly. I don't mind walking aimlessly if I am with someone, but if I am alone I find it boring. I might do more walking for my health during the summer when it is warmer and nice, rather than cold, snowy and raining.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 May 08
I have to go someplace. There is no mind just to go to admire the scenery. I am always going to the Mall, or the stores even if I have no intention of buying anything and if I am just walking around to clear my head or think of ideas for my novel, I consider it as work. And now since I am taking singing lessons, I can practice my singing exercises while walking.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
28 May 08
I like walking to the shops, because I love shopping, but at the moment if I need to get out then I walk to the gym, go to a gym for an hour and walk back.
1 person likes this
