shovelling snow in the winter and , of course , going for walks . But about ten years ago , she started looking for something a bit more consistent , an activity with baked-in motivation .
“ I thought I ’ d sign up for a fitness class ,” she says . “ I thought if I was paying for something , I ’ d be motivated to go so I didn ’ t feel like I was wasting my money .” Her motivation strategy soon began showing other benefits . “ I always used to have back problems : pain , muscle soreness , you know the sort . Well , when I started going to these fitness classes , no word of a lie , I would come out of there and my back would not ache . I discovered that my body was much happier when it was moving .”
Of course , the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary hold on these fitness classes , but once again , Margaret knew she had to transition to a new activity , rather than quit outright . And while she has always been somewhat of a walker , the pandemic gave her a new appreciation for the activity . Still , it wasn ’ t a seamless transition in terms of either her stamina or her motivation ; she had to build up to where she is now .
“ There ’ s a forty-minute loop not too far from me that I love ,”
Margaret says .
“ But when I first started getting back into walking , it was too long for me . I had to break it into smaller chunks . But once my body got back into the activity , it was amazing , and now I have no trouble with it .” Margaret walks around her neighbourhood , on the riverside trails , and even while on trips to visit with family . The more beautiful the location , the better . Even in the winter , she will drive to trails she knows the City of Calgary has plowed and sanded , just to get a walk in .
And while Margaret typically walks alone , sometimes she uses her walks as an opportunity to connect with her sisters , her neighbours , or her granddaughter and great-grandson . “ It lets us get our chat in , while we ’ re doing something good for our health ,” she says . “ Try calling up a friend and asking them to walk with you to the mall , or for a coffee . It ’ s a great excuse for both of you to get out .” But even with a generally positive mindset , overcoming the desire to stay inside on a chilly day isn ’ t a certainty . “ I still have days where I may be feeling a little low , and my first thought is usually that I would like to lie down and have a rest . But I always feel better if I get out and go for a walk instead .”
As Margaret discovered , thirty minutes of activity a day , four to seven days a week , is something that almost anyone can accomplish . But if you ’ re someone who is trying to build that routine , it ’ s not an accomplishment you should expect immediately ; it ’ s something that comes with time , patience , and by making fitness a priority . news & views SUMMER 2023 | 25