As ambassador of our Walk with The Weekly campaign, the popular radio, TV and podcast host – and busy mum-of-three – offers her best tips for hitting your own stride.
Walking came to me completely by accident. I started walking regularly during the COVID lockdowns because it was the only reason I was allowed to leave the house. I’d never walked for exercise before, but I thought well, if I’m allowed to do that then I’ll start doing it. And I haven’t stopped since.
There was no magic moment when I realised it was a game changer but one day I became aware of just how much I was looking forward to it. That had never happened to me with exercise before. I’d wake up and get excited about walking and moving my body.
I also started to feel more in control of my life. I began feeling good about the future and my place in it. That came from the walking – it helped me not just physically, but mentally. It’s become something that I enjoy just for me, when everything else that I do in my life is for someone else. I think that’s something many women will relate to. Walking feels like a daily WIP [work in progress] with myself: It gives me space to think through any problems. I gently ease out answers and find the things that are within my control. It’s the ultimate in self-care.
Walking has helped me to get to know myself again. And when you know yourself better and know what you want your life to look like you are better company.
Walking is life-changing. And it’s so simple. You don’t need anything fancy – you just need to put on some sneakers and take the first step.
I’m really excited to be partnering with Walk with The Weekly and encouraging more people to get out and enjoy walking. If one person realises that they can be the sort of person who enjoys walking, then that is a win for me.
Chrissie’s top tips
Walking is for everyone! No matter your age or fitness level, here’s how to get started.
1. Start small
The hardest thing is leaving the house. I started with 300 metres around the block. But I did it every day. And then the walks got longer and longer.
2. Sort out any niggles
I dislocated my hip 20 years ago and never got it sorted out. I just lived with the pain. When I started walking, just 300 metres hurt. I spent six weeks with a physio and he fixed me. I have flat feet and so, while I was getting my hip fixed, I got orthotics. After that I could just walk and walk. It was amazing! So if you’ve got any niggles – if your knee is sore or your ankle is weak – take the chassis in for a service. Get it sorted out.
3. Be ready to go
I needed to remove any obstacles that stopped me from walking. Wear runners with absolutely anything because then you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice. And if you can, wear something comfortable every day. I wear exercise gear everywhere.
4. Incorporate your daily errands
I made a New Year’s resolution not to rush. When I’m walking, I often think of things I can put in place to make sure I keep that commitment to myself. I always go out with a backpack because that way if I walk past a butcher I can grab half a kilo of ground chuck for burgers, then I’m not rushing to think about what’s for dinner.
5. Change your mindset
Take your focus away from movement as punishment for being fat or lazy or other messages you’ve been given since you were a child. Nobody likes punishment and that’s how I saw moving my body – punishment for the way I lived or the way my body was. But when I started walking 300 metres a day, for the first time ever it had nothing to do with that. I was doing it for another reason and that was so freeing.
6. Reap the mental health benefits
I’d read that moving your body is great for your mental health, and would make you feel better in your life, but those messages never hit me as loudly as “you will look smaller if you get your heart rate up between 95 and 110”. Get your head around the mental health benefits, because this is for you, and you can do this.
7. Use your walk as a problem solver
When I have bigger things to sort out, my walks are longer. I have notes on my phone I add to when something pops into my head. Say at 6pm – I don’t have time to think about anything then because I’m busy finding uniforms or making dinner. I’ll think about that on my walk tomorrow. Every idea I’ve had has come to me on a walk.
8. Utilise walking as self-care
An eye mask is great, and a jade roller is nice but for me, self-care is about how I feel. How I show up – in my own life, for myself and for people I love. The ultimate self-care is what you can do for your brain, and that’s what I’ve found walking to be.
Walk with The Weekly
Join our 30-day walking challenge!
Let’s walk together towards better health and wellbeing! Walk every day from September 1-30, log your minutes and have the chance to win prizes. Sign up here and buy your Walk with The Weekly cap here.
