Sometimes good things come from unexpected places. Being CrossFitters we’re typically intertested in finding out more about what will help us become more strong, fast and powerful. This post is coming from more of a general health and wellbeing angle. About 3 months ago my partner and I started going for a short walk after dinner. Sometimes a 10 minute walk around the block and sometimes a 30 minute stroll down to the water or longer. We don’t plan it we just walk out the front door and walk as far as we feel like. We don’t walk fast we just stroll along and have a chat. We’ve gotten into the habit of doing it every night. I got the idea from reading some of Mark Sisson‘s work a few months ago. I’ve researched and experienced first hand a variety of benefits that have surprised me. Here’s just a few:
Gets us off the couch and aids training recovery: Invariably after sitting down for dinner we’ll do one of a few things, sit in front of the telly or sit in front of the computer, or perhaps sit down and read a book, the common thread is there is usually always more sitting. For me all this follows sitting in the car for 20 minutes on my way home. Getting vertical and having a walk gets some blood flowing to the legs and loosens up the hamstrings and hip flexor muscles prior to bed. The opposite effect of the couch or the computer chair. While I haven’t experienced a miraculous vanishing of post training soreness since my post dinner walks began I can certainly feel the differencefor the better with my recovery, particularly in my lower body. I also find it a more effective way to relax and unwind than the more passive options I listed.
Better Digestion and Metabolism: Going for a little walk 10 minutes after dinner has physiological benefits as well. Increased blood glucose from your evening meal is absorbed directly into the muscles cells for utilisation which reduces the insulin response to our evening meal. This is a plus for those of us trying to lose fat or maintain a healthy weight.
Reduced Stress and Better Sleep: The benefits of exercise on reducing anxiety, stress and depression are well documented. Purely from my own experience, I’ve found the evening walk excellent for putting me in a relaxed frame of mind and clearing my head after a long day. I’ve subsequently found getting to sleep far easier. On a side note, in the past I’ve experienced restless legs while trying to get to sleep which have also dissappeared since having post dinner evening strolls.
Great for Relationships: Often meal time is a silent affair at our place. We shovel our food down and try with varying degrees of success to converse and catch up but often the food takes priorty, particularly with me 
Whether with your partner, room mate, friend or even on the mobile hands free to a distant friend, the post dinner walk is a great chance to give a loved one your full attention and catch up properly. Even when walking alone, it’s a good time to let thoughts and events digest and have some quality you time alone with your thoughts.
Give it a go: It’s not hard. I’ll talk you through it. I find it best to go for your walk after you’ve done the dinner dishes and or packed the dishwasher. That way you can truly relax as you stroll along. Try and bring your partner or a friend along with you. Don’t worry if you’re street isn’t very scenic, just bite the bullet and set out to walk around the block. The objective here is not to get your heart rate up and work up a sweat, it should be relaxing and a way to help you unwind. Once you’re a few minutes in and maybe half way around the block, if you’re enjoying yourself and your company and feel like going further, go for it, if not just keep going around the block until you get back to where you started. It’s a nice feeling walking back through the door once you’re done! Give it a go tonight!
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