October 2005
The Not-So-Long Walk Home

Last week, when my favorite pair of pants refused to zip all the way up, I realized that I had eaten one too many Krispy Kreme from the store on Dupont Circle and panicked. What’s a girl to do when faced with such a dilemma? Never being a gym freak (or even fan), I was desperate to find some way to get back into my beloved trousers (hopefully without having to give up my doughnut dependence).

I called Stacey, my fittest friend, and asked her what she thought I should try, immediately excluding dieting (a word not in my vocabulary) as an option. After expounding on the virtues of cardio-this and Pilates-that, I suggested she cut to the chase. I needed a quick fix! A few minutes (and several interesting statistics) later, I was finally informed that taking the time to walk to or from work each day would have me hale and hearty in no time! No problem, I thought, I’ve been walking since I was eleven months old. This I could handle! But would I be able to walk off my daily glaze-covered indulgence and still fit into my fancy pants? Or would laziness find me, seated and panting, in the middle of M Street, waiting for the bus?

I did a little more research by checking out www.WalkArlington.com and found out that according to the Discovery Channel, “because a brisk walk increases enzyme and metabolic activity, a person may continue to burn calories at a higher rate for a period of twelve hours after a two-hour walk.” Works for me! I decided to forgo my usual afternoon bus ride home and try walking instead. The weather was great, I had my sneakers with me, and, most importantly, my pants were just too body-hugging (and not in that trendy sexy way, either). The last little bit of research I had to do was to calculate the distance of my walk home—about 3.5 miles, which would be enough to break a sweat (although not the two hours of exercise suggested by the Discovery Channel), but not enough to exhaust me for happy hour later that evening. I tied up my Nikes and headed across the Key Bridge into the city.

The stroll through Georgetown was basically a good one, although the shops and restaurants were a bit tempting and the late afternoon crowds were certainly tough to navigate. Luckily, being as familiar as I am with the city, I was able to veer off on a less-crowded street and take a more scenic (read safer for my pocketbook, waistline, and nerves) route.

I was in the zone, moving fast in my (snug) work pants and sneakers –not exactly the height of fashion, but functional and definitely more comfortable for a brisk walk than the Jimmy Choos I had been sporting at work all day. I got to ogle the gorgeous homes in Georgetown that I’d never be able to afford, and I was getting some fresh air to boot! Ah, boots . . . my mind wandered to a pair I had seen in a shop window before turning off M Street. While I fantasized about the butter-soft leather, I moved pretty rapidly, and before I was really aware of it, I was almost to Dupont Circle. I couldn’t believe I had made it so far so fast!

A glance at my watch informed me that it wasn’t actually that fast; I had been walking for nearly 40 minutes! I guess walking wasn’t just good for my body; it was good for my mind, too. I had been able to unwind and relax without even realizing it, all the while improving my overall fitness.

By the time I got home, it was only a tad later than usual, and I wasn’t winded at all (well, maybe a little). I quickly changed and met the girls for a drink at a Connecticut Avenue eatery to brag about my accomplishment. Apparently my trek had been grist for the gossip mill, as the girls had placed bets on whether or not I’d make it all the way on foot, whether I’d stop and shop, or whether I’d have that essential Krispy Kreme on my way (needless to say, they were all wrong!). While I was definitely indignant, I was also extremely pleased that I had beaten all of their odds, and I was feeling pretty good about myself.

Stacey, who, unbeknownst to me, had been the biggest skeptic of all, suggested that the girls pool their betting money and buy me a celebratory drink instead! I figured that since my body would still be burning calories for at least a few more hours, I was entitled to the extra calories an apple-tini would cost me. Besides, I was going walk to work in the morning (right past Krispy Kreme and right into my favorite pants)!