The Art of Wogging - Faster than a Walk - Slower than a Jog

In the past, we’ve had three, one foot in front of the other, physical activity options. We could run, we could slow down and jog, or we could walk. In the beginning I ran. When running got too fast for me I slowed down to a jog. Then jogging got to be too fast for me so I began and continue to wog.

Wogging is somewhere between a walk and a jog. That doesn’t mean walking is not allowed. With wogging, we have the right to walk anytime we think it will prevent us from going into a state of exhaustion. You see, with wogging exhaustion is not allowed. That’s part of the reason for wogging in the first place.

Not only does wogging benefit our strength and endurance, it helps us burn more calories than walking and helps prevent more injuries than running. It also cuts down on any potential associated pain levels.

If you’re just beginning (consult your physician first), learn to be a good walker. As conditioning takes place and if you want a little more of that good feeling that a jogger gets, try intervals of wogging. When the faster pace cumulatively lasts longer the walking pace, you are officially wogging. Wogging is best done in settings or with friends and pets we enjoy. As conditioning continues to take place, it can even feel good (and enjoyable) during the wog. My goal is to wog forever. What is yours?

Modern Technology Encourages Physical Activity - Discourages TV and Video Time

The Physical Activity Reward System - P.A.R.S. - is a new technology that requires children to be physically active prior to and in order to watch TV or play video games with the amount of physical activity time proportionate to the amount of viewing time. First, using its patented software, P.A.R.S. turns off the flow of electricity to the household TV’s and video consoles.

Physical activity time is measured with a Polar Heart Rate Monitor. The heart rate monitor then sonically sends the time spent in physical activity to the P.A.R.S. software. With physical activity time recorded, the P.A.R.S. software communicates to transmitters and receivers through the house electrical wiring, allowing the flow of electricity to the viewing screens during user designated time periods. As the physical activity time gets used up, so does the flow of electricity to the viewing screen. Then, it’s time for more physical activity.

With sedentary viewing time on the rise and daily physical activity on the decline, P.A.R.S. offers a much needed solution to encourage physical activity while discouraging sedentary viewing. And it’s all done without constant parent intervention. See P.A.R.S. at http://www.newwayfitness.com/.

With P.A.R.S., modern technology paves the way to increasing physical activity habits. "Children, get off the couch on your own or P.A.R.S. will do it for you!"

Do I walk my NewWayFitness talk?

One of the reasons I’ve been physically active ever since I can remember is that I was practicing the NewWayFitness approach way before I discovered what it was. NewWayFitness realizes that we can’t store fitness. Therefore, it’s an ongoing process that requires ongoing physical activity, forever. Ongoing physical activity is best realized when the physical activity is fun and the participant feels ongoing success.

I think the reason I’ve enjoyed many years of almost daily physical activity is that I’ve always kept my intensity in the low to moderate range. A case in point is that years ago I used to run distances with several friends. Because I realized early on that I did not like physical activity pain whether it was from something as non threatening as being in an oxygen debt - out of breath – or something more serious like having a physical injury, I never could get myself to go fast so I was always last in the pact. Well, guess what. I’m the only one still running with everyone else quitting, mostly because of burnout or injuries.

Actually, I don’t run, I wog which is somewhere between walking and jogging. Because I believe in the value of physical activity companionship, I usually take my dog with me so I’m still running in last place. I don’t even go very far anymore. But it allows me to enjoy the healthy feeling of being active on an almost daily basis.

Over the years, I have consistently done strength training at a variety of locations including my home and the gym. One thing that has stayed consistent is that my sessions usually last less than 20 minutes and that includes stretching. On yea, another consistent is that I always resist the opportunity for more, more, more. I continue to use very moderate resistance. It makes it easy to begin and pain free at the end.


I also play a fair amount of golf and guess what, I walk. At the end of each round, I usually can say I had a great walk, which is almost always far more than I can say about my golf game.

Being a children’s fitness educator and having taught thousands of kids over the past several years, I have learned that most successful physical activity programs begin with one thing and that is an acceptance of a long term approach with regard to physical activity. The success stories are of those who make having fun a priority and understand that low to moderate intensity levels are easier to maintain than trying to win all the time. With NewWayFitness, the last one’s participating win!

Five Reasons to Keep Physical Activity Intensity Levels Low

If long term or lifetime fitness is your goal, then the following reasons to keep physical activity intensity levels low to moderate may work for you.

1. It relieves most or all of the pain that comes with high intensity physical activity. Only a minority of people like the discipline and pain that high intensity workouts yield. Most of us just want to have fun while getting healthy and pain is not fun.

2. It reduces the chance of injury as compared to high intensity physical activity. The more physical stress placed on the body, the greater chance the body will breakdown. Low stress in the beginning to moderate stress after conditioning takes place is healthy for the body.

3. For most people, it’s easier to maintain a physical activity routine when it’s shared with others. The number of friends and colleagues who will be willing to join you at low to moderate intensity levels is far greater than those who wish to pursue high intensity activities. It’s also easier to enjoy your physical activity companionship at lower intensity levels.

4. During physical activity we burn from two sources of energy; carbohydrates and fat. The higher the intensity level the more carbohydrates we use. The lower the intensity level, the more we burn directly from fat.

5. Mentally and over a period of time, it’s easier to continue physical activity that is low or moderate in intensity. Way too many people get caught in the “more” trap. They begin a physical activity routine, feel the conditioning effect, and then increase their intensity because they want “more”. After continuing this cycle over a period of time, all of a sudden it gets to be too much like work and they quit altogether. The better “more” is “more” years of maintaining an easy, fun physical activity lifestyle.

Give it a try. You’re worth it. Better yet, take your friends with you!