CHRISTINE WALKER always seemed to catch whatever cold germs were flying around. Now in her early 50s, she realized that if she didn't do something, her immune function would continue worsening with age. Her mother had never prioritized a healthy lifestyle and now has chronic illnesses and mobility problems. But her father, who'd exercised throughout Walker's childhood, is still active in his 80s and is rarely under the weather. “They're like night and day, says Walker. “I definitely want to age like my dad.
But Walker's lifestyle stood in the way. She clocked long days as director of a chef school, with little time left to be active or enjoy the outdoors. In March 2020, when the pandemic meant she could skip her commute and instead work from her home in Whitby, Ontario, she found herself spending even more hours at her desk.
Walker's increasingly sedentary existence had repercussions. In addition to catching bugs easily, she didn't sleep soundly, her joints ached and her weight reached unhealthy levels. “I was worried about how I would react if I caught COVID,” she recalls. Would I end up in the hospital?
One night last April, after Walker went to bed with the usual soreness from sitting all day, she decided enough was enough. She and her husband, Andre, began walking the perimeter of a small local park. As she grew stronger, her walks got longer; she used an app to find hiking trails several kilometres long. The couple also started biking—it was hard on her knees at first, and exhausting, but she gradually built her endurance. She tracked what she ate, making sure most of her calories came from healthy foods like vegetables and whole grains instead of chips and treats. She took online fitness classes and lifted weights.
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Reader's Digest India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Reader's Digest India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ME & MY SHELF
Human-rights lawyer, activist and teacher, Nandita Haksar is the author of 25 books. Her latest, Shooting the Sun: Why Manipur Was Engulfed by Violence and the Government Remained Silent, looks at the complex identity politics surrounding the ethnic clashes that broke out in Manipur in 2023.
Elevator from the Subcontinent, by Gigi Scaria, 2011
Elevator cabin with three backlit projections, automatic door system with microcontroller, 9.3 minute video.
RD RECOMMENDS
DUNE: PART 2 in theatres (1 March)
22 RIVERS across 22 STATES in 22 MONTHS
A lone canoeist crosses America in search of what binds us together
ELOPEMENT SPRINGS ETERNAL
At the ripe age of 65, we decided to run away and get married
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE TUAREGS
A journey to the Tassili n'Ajjer plateau in Algeria reveals rock paintings dating back millennia
Awarding Excellence
A look back at the 2023 Trusted Brand Award presentation ceremony hosted by Reader's Digest India last month.
The Great Unknown
An unlikely friendship helped my son grapple with divorce, death and ...
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
A couple, fleeing the shelling in Ukraine, are captured by Russian troops. It's up to their frantic son-living 2,400 km away-to get them free.
BE FRIENDS WITH YOUR MONEY (AND MANAGE IT TOO!)
This successful Internet entrepreneur, content creator and bestselling author shares his tips for anyone trying to kickstart their investment journey