Walked to my mailbox tonight. Sixty-six steps there. Sixty-one steps back. I took a few longer strides on my way back... five I guess ..smiles.
First time I've felt like, and been able to, walk to and from my mail box in over a year.

I didn't check my heart rate before going out. When I got back it was in the 120's or 130's(I lost count ).
Thirty minutes later it is 88 which is about normal for me.

My back didn't begin to hurt at all until the the last few steps.

I'm thanking God for leading me to this decision, this way of life .. thanking Him for showing me I can begin to have quality in my life again.
God is good .. all the time.

We had an unexpected(to me) thunderstorm last night so I didn't walk. All was well though because I love thunderstorms.

Tonight I walked 168 steps. That's 80 steps to the end of the gravel part facing the highway and then 88 steps back. The extra steps were for the detour to the mail box. My back didn't hurt any extra(just cramping really bad constantly today).

My starting heart rate was 93. After walking it was about 126(actually got about 23 beats in the first ten seconds of timing which would have been a heart rate of 138 but by the time I got to the 30 second mark it had already begun to slow a bit).

I think I could have walked a bit more but for the ground. It is gravel and quite uneven and my calves felt tired. I increased by 41 steps so it's an improvement and walking on the uneven gravel/dirt is better than flat ground anyway. I'll try to add a few more paces tomorrow.

Tonight I walked 251 steps, to the end of the gravel lot that the apartment building is on. The gravel then turns into pavement there but I turned around and came back(126 steps to the end of the gravel and 125 back). I was pretty winded by the time I got to the pavement and very winded by the time I got back to my apartment. The outside of my shins and my ankles were hurting quite a bit. I'm sure I'll have cramps in them before morning.

My starting heartrate was 96. Upon my return it was 156.

It wouldn't be quite so hard on my legs if I had decent shoes. The only pair I own are these dollar store sandals that are a man's size. I had to get them big because of my edema. I wear socks with them but my feet still slide to the side when I walk in them. Uneven is harder but hopefully I will build up more endurance.

I don't plan on going any further tomorrow night than I did tonight. I'd like to be more under control with my breath and heart rate before proceeding further.

It has been storming since just after I got home from Wal-Mart. I was afraid if it was too wet tonight I wouldn't walk so when I went to the hospital to have my blood level checked I went the long way round to get to the clinic. Counting that and walking to and from the parking lot at Wal-Mart I walked much more today than yesterday. Unfortunately it wasn't all at one time but in spurts.
It was all level ground and I didn't have any extra problems with my back(well at wal-mart I did but not from walking to and from the store), and my shins and ankles didn't hurt like they do when i walk on the gravel here.