How was your Fall weekend? It is seriously cooling down there too?
I heard it snowed in Toronto last weekend and it’s really starting to get chilly here as well (*though, last year it didn’t snow at all in Belgium – a big stretch from my -30 blizzard-filled winters during my undergrad in Ottawa!).
And look at me drabbing on about the weather like a true Canadian 😉 Let’s talk about this past weekend and getting our hiking on. To be honest, it’s totally crack-down time for me with school and my weekends lately have been filled with books and writing papers about those books (fun, right?!). Not really lol. And we’re not talking the fun, romantic-comedy, I’m-on-a-beach kind of relaxing read but the more anthropological sort. One leaves you feeling upbeat and heartfelt and the other is kinda interesting but wellll exhausting. I know it might be strange to call reading a text exhausting but it involves so much of my sheer concentration that I tend to feel pooped after long study days.
And the one thing I really miss around this crackin-down time of year is fresh air. So that’s where my weekend hikes have been coming in.
I’ve really been enjoying going on long walks Sunday afternoons to relax, reflect and cool down – ready to take on the next week feeling refreshed and my absolute best. This past weekend we went on a 6K Walk for Diabetes with J and his family. It took place in the wonderful trails around Bruges – one of the most majestic and beautiful places ever 🙂 And it was the perrrfect end to a study weekend in.
Am I right that walking is the most underrated form of exercise?
I mean, who knew that walking and running actually have the same health benefits!?!
I love walking. And one of the first things I did when moving towards a healthy lifestyle was I started to walk. It seems so simple, right? I always liked walking but never took advantage of how good it makes me feel. I literally ditched my bus pass and began walking everywhere. My love for walking has continued and I’m still car-less, bus pass-less and get everywhere I want to go on these two feet.
Walking may not be the fastest form of transportation but it’s the most enjoyable and gets me where I need to be and my activity on all at once 😉
Just shows that exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. It doesn’t have to be super strenuous. It’s all about finding enjoyable and sustainable ways to move more in our day to day life. 🙂
Happy Monday!
What’s your go-to relaxing activity to unwind?
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I am really lousy when it comes to exercise. But i love walking and it help me not to gain weight.. 🙂 The pictures are amazing Ceara!! Sounds like you had a great time.. 🙂
Thanks Arpita! Walking is such a great form of acidity, isn’t it 🙂
Power walking is THE BEST. and you too? Seriously wayyyyyyy too cute!
Thanks, Lucie!!!! 🙂 <3
I love power-walking it! So much more relaxing then running or jogging and you get to enjoy more of the scenery! Loved all these photos, Ceara! Looks like a perfect weekend walk. 😉
Power-walking is the best 🙂 <3 Hope you are having a great week!
Oh my god. hi5 me on the exhausting texts!! I do geography (humanist kind) and there is a LOT of anthropology involved…the current texts I’m trying to chug through leave me feeling so helpless after reading them because I feel like I’ve spent a hugeee chunk of time on one thing but not really gained much out of it. Then there’s the write ups….Ahhh 🙁
Thanks goodness we have the blogging world (and walks!) to keep us sane! <3
How cool that you do geography! I know exactly how you feel re. texts! Sometimes I don’t get them until they are explained in class and then I have an “aha” moment! Good luck with your finals!!! ,3
Walking definitely is the best! Slow intensity but in the long run is better for your heart and body than running for a short while and falling over 😛
I usually walk for an hour on incline on the treadmill, but you are so lucky to have such a beautiful place to walk in, I’m sure it makes being active that much more fun! Over here in Melbourne City we are surrounded by concrete and freezing wind and rain.. Sigh!
I love the idea of having a treadmill for the cold winter and it’s cool that you can put in on an incline as well! I hear Melbourne is gorgeous – I’ve always wanted to visit!! 🙂
Oh what a beautiful fall walk 🙂 You two are SUCH a good lookin’ couple btw 😉
I don’t usually bake, so that’s usually my go-to relaxing activity when I turn my brain off from any type of work, and just focus on measurements :p
Thanks, Nicole! 😀 <3 I love baking when I need to turn my brain off too - it's honestly when I'm fully relaxed and in my own little world!
Allo Ceara,
What a wonderful little blog you have there. It was so nice to see you on Linkedin. It lead me to your website, what a little gem. I too was a runner, but after suffering an injury to my patela I can no longer run. I now walk alot. Walking is a great form of exercise. As you know, there are so many beautiful walking paths here in Ottawa, but I am jealous of your new walking paths….wow what beautiful scenery. Enjoy your stay in Belgium and perhaps our paths will cross again someday. Take care! Manon 🙂
Manon! It is so wonderful to hear from you! I was very happy to find you on Linkedin! I hope all is well with you and you are doing great! Keep in touch and take care 🙂
i LOVE long walks too. especially all bundled up this time of year
I hear ya – they are the best 🙂
OMG ITS FROSTY HEREEEEE…can we trade places, Ceara?! I saw a friend’s pic of snow in Montreal, it looks so magical! Bruges – such a little quaint city, ahhh you are making miss Belgium even more, it’s such a beeaaaautiful country and their krieks are the best! Well done with your 6k walk and you’re right, ‘it’s all about finding enjoyable and sustainable ways to move more in our day to day life!’ I <3 walking wherever, it’s the best form of transportation and very enjoyable, perhaps one day you will see a random bakery with crazy delicious vegan desserts!? Have an absolutely fabulous Tuesday morning!!! 🙂
YES!!! And come visit and we’ll start a vegan bakery here 😉 I was thinking how fun it would be to open a quaint little Vegan Belgium Chocolate Shop! Fun right?! Have a great week Rika!!
It’s a balmy 19° in Chicago today, with snow flurries!! Not fun! Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos Ceara. They’re so lovely.
It’s so crazy that it’s already snowing! Stay warm! 🙂
I love Fall in Europe where the yellow and brown leaves cover every bit of the ground. Sounds like you had a great time hiking Ceara!!
Thanks for the kind words, Hadia! Hope you are having a great week 🙂
OK, so I’m going to need you to break up with your adorable boyfriend, because I CANNOT HANDLE YOUR LIFE. Seriously. Please tell me he’s not Belgian, but he and his family just like picked up and moved from, you know, Kansas City, and his mom has a perm and puffy bangs and she wears turtlenecks under sweatshirts. Because then I could maybe handle it.
Also, did you steal that massive um.. house / castle / cathedral thing from the Belgian version of Downton Abbey? Put it back, Ceara! Stealing is illegal! Or are you allowed to steal castles in Belgium, too?!
I’m going to go cry now and mumble to myself while I flip through my photos from Paris. OH, also, what languages do you speak?!
Last thing.. so, we live in Memphis, which is pretty much known for being the microwaved armpit of the world. It had literally snowed when I stepped out for my run this morning! Dude, I can’t handle it. And that’s the second time this year! Crazy, right?
Haha, sending you so much love Cheryl! Your comments always bring the biggest smile to my face!! And I could tell you he’s not Belgian but he kinda is! We met in France when we were both on exchange there! He’s also a big part of the reason I’m in Belgium now (and to study lol). No perms and puffy bangs here! Tehe! Even though, I kind of want to die my hair blonde and get a perm one day just for fun!
And I speak English and French and know “baby dutch”. I wish my Dutch was better and I plan on working on it! J’s family is Dutch speaking and it would be great to be able to converse with them in their native tongue!
And I love that you live in Memphis! Can I come visit and we’ll visit Graceland together? Perrtyy please? 😀
Love the story!! You two look like you’re having too much fun.
Enjoy the fall weather.
XO
Thanks boo!! We had a blast as always 😉 Miss you! xo!
I really enjoy the great conversations I tend to have when I take a walk with a family member or friend. Somehow the gentle movement gets the thoughts to flow. Nothing like it to resolve an issue or two or get to know someone better!
You are so right, Lori! So many wonderful conversation happen when out walking and the words start flowing 🙂
Love the nature what a lovely hike looks like you guys had a blast
Thanks Shundara <3
The weekend was great, but it actually feels like winter here in Chicago! Great place to go hiking Ceara! I love waking and I believe it helps me not gain weight after all the sweets I like to have 🙂
How fun that you are in Chicago!! I love Chicago – honestly one of my fave places ever! I need to go back one day 🙂 And I feel the same way – walking off my love for sweets!
What a beautiful place to go hiking. I am loving going walking at this time of year – the air is crisp and the leaves are crunchy. Best way to stay active I think 🙂
Thanks Dannii! It’s so nice to have you back 🙂 Walking is great, isn’t it? 😀
It’s snowing here I live too, they are saying 3 inches! Already. Oh well. Hiking is the best form of exercise, and I just find as I get older (bleh) that my joints can’t seem to handle super strenuous exercise like I could do when I was 25. Like you said, walking is totally underrated. Plus, when you are hiking and get to enjoy beautiful scenery, it’s even nicer. And we find we can take our kids on a good hike to wear them out so they go to bed early. So the whole family gets exercise. If I were to take them to the gym, they’d be stuck in a daycare setting with lots of likely sick children and are stuck indoors. Outdoors, we can all take advantage of a good workout =) Happy Monday!!
Wow – 3 inches already!?! And I love your approach to healthy living Laura! Doing things together as a family is such a wonderful way to stay active and make meaningful memories 🙂 I’ll take hiking over the gym any day!!
It snowed by me this weekend, so I’m not liking that too much just yet! I would like my cool fall weather back! 🙂 Sounds like you had a great time hiking, Ceara! Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous.Sounds like you had a great time on your 6k walk, too! I do love to walk, especially at night during the week. My husband and I will take walks after dinner and it’s just a nice way to relax and get a little exercise in. Have a great Monday, Ceara!
It snowed by you as well!? Craziness! I heard that it snowed in Toronto as well this morning! I’m already looking forward to it for when I’m back in a few weeks 🙂 Thanks for the kind words, Gayle! 🙂 And I totally agree with you – evening walks after dinner are the best!