June 17, 2007

THE NORDIC LIFE …

I have new toys — Nordic walking poles, and every writer should have them!

After several back-to-back deadlines hunched in front of my computer 24/7 I was having back and neck issues (never mind personality ones ). This exercise is the perfect solution since it really works that upper body area. I spent two hours on the trails today, and one hour yesterday, and am totally hooked — especially after reading Deborah MacGillivray’s article in the recent Romance Writer’s Report …. about how to juggle the stresses of writing for more than one publisher. As she states, “your health will be the biggest obstacle you face.”

Good sleep, nutrition, and exercise are vitally important if an author wants to sustain a brutal deadline pace, yet these are the first areas to be shortchanged.

Well — these poles now form part of my career game plan . If you use these things properly (ie get yourself into proper four-wheel drive and find a good rhythm) Nordic walking also increases your heart rate on average 10-15% more than normal walking. This means you can burn up to 450 calories per hour compared to around 280 with regular walking. And apparently, an additional energy consumption of 1500-2000 calories a week while doing physical activities reduces your risk of getting sick. You can achieve this by walking with your poles approximately 3 hours per week.

Normal walking, even with a fast pace and good stride, uses about 70% of the muscle mass in the body at any given time (mostly lower body). Put some Nordic Walking poles in your hands, and with the proper technique, you can use up to 90% of your body’s muscle. And again, building more muscle means more calories burned.

The poles take stress off my gammy knee, the sport gets me outdoors and away from my desk. And … the rhythm — when you find it – is incredibly meditative, which helps with that (ahem) personality issue.

No wonder the man gave them to me as an early birthday present

1. On June 20th, 2007 at 8:06 am
   Nicole Reising Says:
   

   LOL on getting them early!

   I’m just getting back into walking/running. I used to do these things as a part of my every day breathing… but as life does have a way of doing, disrupted this. Not with the first kid or even the second, but the third? Oh yeah, out the window it went in favor of survival. But I miss it and just started again. It feels good.

   Ok, I’m exaggerating.. it hurts. A LOT! But its a start.

   Have fun!
   Cole

2. On June 20th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
   Irene Says:
   

   I must get a pair of those poles. Perhaps my attitude would improve too !

3. On June 21st, 2007 at 12:12 pm
   Minna Says:
   

   I should get a pair of those poles, too. I absolutely hate skiing, skiing poles… (If school’s sports lessons and skiing competitions where you have to take part don’t make you hate skiing, nothibg will). But I might try walking poles. At least they would help me to keep my balance at winter on slippery road.

4. On June 21st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   LOL, Minna — you mean not all Scandanavians LOVE skiing??? . Sorry to hear school ruined it for you — that’s not what school should be about, eh? I adore cross country, but maybe that’s because I grew up in Africa and never saw even an itty bitty snowflake until I was 12. Go figure

5. On June 21st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   WAY TO GO, Cole!! Keep us updated.

6. On June 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   I will let you test-drive my poles, Irene, but there just may be no hope for you, friend .

Leave a Reply