April catch up.....

So the first week of April wasn't exactly a roaring success.
Week one
Sunday - a stroll around my driveway and street
Tuesday - a walk along Browns Bay Beach
Thursday - a walk through Browns Bay town and along the boardwalk
Week two
Sunday - a walk along a very crowded Long Bay Beach
Monday - walking, playing and swimming at Browns Bay Beach with kids
Tuesday - walking, playing and swimming at Milford
Wednesday - longball and swimming at Te Rapa Waterworld
Thursday - today 14 members of our wider K. Whanau turned up for a circuit of the Hamilton Lake. 3.8km in approximately 45 minutes. Great turnout for our first attempt. Onwards and upwards from here. YAY WHANAU!!!

In my own backyard.....

In my driveway to be more exact. My 'walk' on Sundays will usually consist of a pleasant stroll with A. and tamariki in tow.
Today was me and my cute nephew hiking up and down our driveway, r.o.w. and street several times checking out the chickens, cats, dogs, birds, crickets and a trail of ants. Our walk also included rocks, flowers and leaves. He seemed to enjoy it more than playing inside with an array of toys.
Later M. and I took a stroll down the street too. He loves to recline in my arms and look up at the sky and trees. Or I hold him up close to plants and let him touch. It really calms him almost every time.
So, no sweat up, no great distance covered and maybe 30-40 minutes of my time but that's a perfect Sunday stroll for me!
Do you like to get out on a Sunday?

So to reach my goal of walking every day I might need to clarify a few points.  Walking to the mailbox does not count...for me.  Sometimes I walk to pick my kids up from school. 1 hour there, 1 hour back - that counts.  Walks could be along the coast/beaches, bush tramps, hill climbing, along city streets, around a family farm etc.
Also I do want to keep track of any changes my body might go through in terms of strength, weight, tone, size etc so sometimes those details might pop in to a post here and there(ie -2kg if I find I am 2kg lighter than my original weight as of today) or distance or time details will sneak in. Mapmyrun maps might make an appearance too.
For the month of April I am trying to do 3 simple things for my health:

1. Drink water - I have a water bottle that I will try to fill twice each day totalling 2.5 litres
2. Eat right - I am currently in to ancestral eating/paleo so I am trying to eat 3 high protein, high fruit/veg, unprocessed, low dairy, organic when possible, no wheat, no sugar meals daily.  Food prep and planning, budgeting and knowledge are all very important and the internet, the library and likeminded individuals are all valuable tools. Try your local farmers market, some fitness groups or ask around friends and family - you may be surprised at who else is 'into paleo'!?
3. Walk every day - Whether a stroll, an amble, a powerwalk or a hike - it all counts.  As long as I have had an honest outing and discovered somewhere new it counts. Or rediscovered an old walk too.  Just to get some movement happening and a bit of a sweat or some aching muscle to prove I'm still alive I'm happy.

Does a stroll around the Matakana Farmers Market count? I'll let you know!

I'M BACK!!!

Definitely time to reboot! I got slack towards the end of my pregnancy and this new year hasn't exactly been a raving success.  But the baby arrived happy and healthy on January 20th and I am happily back to my pre-pregnancy weight which is not all that impressive since I already felt I wanted/needed to be 15kg lighter.  ANYWAY..... weight is not my main concern right now.  My main concerns are:

• fitness
• health
• being active every day
• getting outdoors every day
• seeing more of the beautiful Auckland region (and wider NZ)
• creating memories
• setting a good example for my family
• preparing for a whanau funrun/walk in October
• having a life/hobby/outlet/sport(?)

So this is it.  I am officially back on board.  I'll be posting daily whether I manage to get a walk in or not. Wish me luck;)

End of Takapuna beach

OK so I am reasonably pregnant now and along with that comes a few of the posture/balance changes. It was my first real walk in a long time but I am officially back into it!!! Today was only a 15min/0.65km walk but I definitely took my time and put safety first (mine and puku's) as almost the entire thing was over rocks (ie slippery and sometimes steep). The one notable achievement is that I now know that from Narrowneck to Takapuna is one long stretch accessible at low tide. That walk is on my hitlist for next week for sure. Rain or shine! Won't be long now and I'll be hitting a decent Devonport walk.
DETAILS
I parked on Hauraki Rd nearest to the beach. - easy access to the Southern end of Takapuna beach.
Weather was beautiful. Sunny and clear blue skies. A little chill in the light wind but warm enough for some swimmers and paddle boarders. Lots of people out running, walking and strolling up and down Takapuna beach. Also lots of dog walking on the beach. I saw a couple prams so definitely doable for mums with littlies if you have a capable pram and don't mind some sand on it.
Low tide was at 8:44 (NZ Tides iPhone app) and I left my car at 9:30-35. The water was already up enough to make it necessary to walk over the rocks. I'm not sure if the tide ever goes out far enough to make access around the rocks possible.
That rocky access is not too bad but I wouldn't suggest it if you aren't confident or if you have very small children or you're pregnant- BEWARE OF SLIPPERY UNEVEN SURFACES.
From there you can progress all the way to Narrowneck beach it seems. I would suggest this walk on an outgoing tide close to low tide time. I decided not to walk along the beach at the other side as the tide was incoming and I was unsure of my ability to climb up the rocks from that side.
There are toilets on Hauraki Rd and also at Narrowneck beach (as I recall from a previous visit). Both sets of toilets are pretty decent and provide changing areas. Take along hand sanitizer as there is no soap or handtowels provided.
There is a cafe on the beachside and also a kids playground, picnic area and fields (across the road) at Narrowneck if you want to make a day of it. There are many cafe/dairy/restaurant options in and around Takapuna even the foodcourt and mall or supermarket is available if you prefer. Personally I'm off to Little & Sunday on Eversleigh Rd. YUM!
Also note there are great views of Rangitoto etc. There is also a rock that juts up out on its own at the end of Takapuna beach. There is a Maori legend that goes with it. Apparently there used to be 2 and they are said to have been twins who were turned into rocks as punishment. For more detail see 'A Field Guide to Auckland'. I'll post more details of this book later.
ENJOY.
My suggestion: check the tide (and the weather) and plan a Saturday or school/public holiday day. Get hold of the field guide mentioned and find out more about the legend mentioned. Park at Narrowneck (a little more parking available there) and set off for a walk. Make sure you have togs, towels, walking shoes and gear on. Get round the rocks checking out pools, shells, rocks etc (and some of the lovely homes). Walk over rocks and even in the water when it gets hot. Show the kids the rock and tell them the story then head back (swimming, walking or running) set up lunch or let the kids play/swim
Take along a football or frisbee, picnic lunch or money for the cafe, picnic blanket and a change of clothes if you want to head into Devonport or Takapuna afterwards. Lots of shelter at Narrowneck but an umbrella/gazebo for out on the beach could be good.
Also important of course is hats, sunscreen, basic first aid (maybe a mobile for any big emergencies), hand sanitizer, wet wipes and LOTS OF WATER for drinking.
Sounds like a plan to me.

Campbells bay to Kennedy bay

So today I thought I would try to get around the rocky coves that separate these 2 bays. I have walked along campbells bay before and also taken the stairs down from JFKennedy memorial park to walk along that bay but I wanted to make the trek between them so I could assure myself I've walked that bit of the coast.

September

So for the month of September I have been trying out a few of the beach/coastal walks in my area.  Here are some of the guidelines I have established:

- I try to walk after dropping my children off at school each morning - usually between 8:30 and 9:30 am I make a start
- Walks may take anywhere between 20-60 minutes
- I try to keep up an easy but steady pace - basically a quick stroll - anything is better than NOTHING
- Being coastal, most of the terrain is sand but also be aware of rocks and of course water
- I always check tide and weather information before I go out - 3 hours before until 3 hours after low tide seems to be best for me
- I try to let someone know where I am walking and about how long I will be
- All hazards are natural/self inflicted - by this I mean be careful for slippery or uneven surfaces, falling rocks or branches, waves suddenly rushing in - also there are always dogs walking along the beaches so be aware of these
- Most walks are suitable for the average (even inactive) adult and I suggest you organize to go with at least one other capable adult on these walks before attempting to take along a child
- I try to list public toilets and cafes where relevant to help plan better

Remember your gear 
- shoes with grip, preferably waterproof (don't bother buying new shoes as long as your shoes have some good grip left on them old sneakers or tramping boots are better because you won't be scared to get them wet or dirty)
- comfy close fitting clothes (loose clothes could be dangerous if you get wet or they get caught in the rocks, and REMEMBER it's not a fashion show)
- a sunhat or a warm hat (depending on the weather)
- layers (a light rain jacket, a hoodie, a tshirt, a singlet as the wind and sun can change your body temperature very quickly)

OPTIONAL gear
- a small backpack (can be handy to keep your layers in so your hands are free)
- a bottle of water
- a snack (if you plan to be more than an hour)
- sunglasses
- ipod or similar (good for motivation with your fave music)
- phone (great for emergencies and even better if it has a GPS tracking app so you can measure and record your walks)
- camera (great for online journals, blogs, scrapbooking or just inspiration for your next walk!!!)

So go forth and enjoy.  I will try to put up some of the preliminary walks I have managed this month.  Next month I will start posting my walks daily as an example of what you might like to do in your area.

Any questions (specific or general) feel free to ask.  If I can't answer I may be able to direct you to a website or expert.  Likewise if you have any experience please feel free to share.

DISCLAIMER: I do feel I should point out that I am definitely not an exercise expert.  At all times your number 1 concern should be your own safety.  If you have any health or safety concerns you should definitely seek individual expert advice.  However if your only excuse is that you don't get out and walk because it's boring or you don't know where to start then I hope my personal journey will help you get out there.  By the way I was 23 weeks pregnant when I started doing this so ask yourself honestly whether you're making 'health' excuses for not getting out there and just doing it.

Joyful Journey :)