Two very different words indeed, but instant respect when you drop them in a sentence. Extra points if both words in the same sentence! Walking and moving anytime seems best, so I think before and after would be ideal.
Here’s an interesting history of “jawn” from WHYY:
“ Jawn is like the Philadelphia version of the French je ne sais quoi — “jawn sais quoi,” if you will. It has an intangible quality that is hard to express in any other word aside from jawn.
It’s both a noun and an abstract idea, it draws most of that context from the culture around it.”
I’ve seen these studies too. I even went for one post dinner walk. 😅 You have inspired me to give establishing the post meal walk habit another try. Pleasant Hill is not as full of history and cultural points of interest as Philly but has it’s charms.
I have a question. In the third paragraph, first sentence “Walking, particularly 30 minutes after a meal, is particularly good for us.” Does this mean the walk should commence within 30 minutes post dinning or we should wait 30 minutes before walking?
I think you’ve taken this walk in Philadelphia too! I’m glad this has inspired you to try an after dinner walk, I hope the same can be said of my family and myself. It’s just so hard to break that post meal slump.
I read different timings for walking after eating, it seems like the peak spike in blood sugar happens about 45 minutes after a big meal, so I think I averaged the different sources and it seems like 30 minutes after eating was a common recommendation… but honestly, whatever feels right and doesn’t interfere too much with a full stomach would be my intuitive guess :)
I just did a quick read through of some of the articles and noticed one tip that could be useful if it is too hot to walk mid day, do some housework that keeps you up and moving, or walk the halls at work.
I think this is really important. Just moving around in the house and getting stuff done adds a lot of steps and is way more practical and keeps your domestic partners happier!
I try to walk everyday and the past few nights have only been able to walk around my apartment building but with a wonderful surprise. There is a wooded area near my building and both nights I came across a couple of cute cottontail rabbits. As long as I kept my distance, they didn't scoot for the wooded area but as I got closer in my walk, off the they went showing me their cute little cottontail butts. There is a park in my town that runs along the harbor that I frequent. Great walking path and if I'm lucky I may spot an Egret or 2 in the marsh area. As you can see here, I enjoy walking in areas where I can experience nature.
I've been to Philadelphia a couple of times and would love to return. I loved all your pictures along with comments. It is a beautiful city with much to offer and like any city has city problems but not as bad as the news media makes them out to be to sell fear. I stopped watching all TV news a few years ago and prefer to read rather than watch.
As an added story, I live in a 55 and above apartment building with mostly 70 and 80 year olds. One of my neighbors is in her early 90's although you wouldn't know it from her activity. During the pandemic when we were shut down, she would walk around in our garage doing 6 laps each day. She has returned to the YMCA but see her walking our hallway too. If there is a testament to why walking is good for the soul, perhaps this is why.
Yes, our neighborhood is great for wildlife viewing, it is such a delight. I just read in the BBC about a study from Johns Hopkins & Medical University of Lodz, Poland that 4000 steps helps reduce the risk of dying prematurely. Every extra 1000 steps beyond 4000 reduced the risk of dying early by 15% up to 20,000 steps.
I believe any movement especially as we age is good for our health. Not a big fan of counting steps. A little unknown fact is the 10000 steps a day came from Japan when they were trying to promote the pedometer and get people moving. There was no science behind it, just a marketing tool. A researcher as Harvard was curious as to why 10000 steps were considered a good thing.
I recall several studies backing this up, thanks for lowering the bar for most people:
“But it joins a growing body of research that suggests workouts don’t need to be all that grueling or lengthy to improve your health. Everything from walking to housework to dancing can contribute to well-being, studies have shown.”
Hi Janet, thanks for stopping by! These are great stories. I love the sort of “nature” walks you are describing, that sense of communion with little cottontails, egrets, and other wildlife is such a joy when walking. And God bless that 90 year old, hope she keeps going :)
Glad you have good memories of Philadelphia, come back to visit anytime! Last night, I walked to a different part of the city, and it was a bit more rough with a different crowd, and homeless problems like any other city, wish the social safety nets were better, and economic inequality less punishing.
For those that are ambulatory challenged, it still a good idea to keep moving. I try to keep moving everyday , no matter how little, while being careful not to over extend myself. Never worried about how many steps and I used to love to take those walks.
PS Ever since we became bipedal, we were born to walk.
This suggests those phone and watch apps that remind you to get up and move every hour are on to something...especially after eating. I had to research the meaning of "jawn" = east PA term for "other stuff". Marty
Yes, and despite the cardiovascular toll the primary care hamster wheel surely takes, at least I am forced to physically move from room to room every 20-30 minutes, and I try to use a standing desk for half of those appts. Would get an app otherwise, agreed! Your hospital rounds and ICU work would be physical too I’m sure.
This link is quite informative re: jawn, and you can spread this colloquialism to the west coast ☺️
Thank you for yet another beautiful and thought provoking post! It is always a pleasure to read your inspired writing! Your efforts are much appreciated.
Hi Linda! Thank you for this feedback 😊. I was planning to write a post about the RSV vaccines, but then took a walk and thought I should really be walking after dinner more often, and maybe other people would feel the same way.
Hopefully the RSV post coming soon will be informative if not that fun to read!
Great Post! I am late to the party here, but I love the city and have tried convincing my better half to relocate from the NJ suburbs (and woods) to a residential city neighborhood. I spend several days a week in the city during the school year as a mountain bike coach for St. Joe's Prep. as a mountain biker, I am fortunate to enjoy the Fairmount Park system, boat house row, Belmont, and Wissahickon. Unfortunately, the news cycle is filled with violence and dramatic stories to capture your attention. This has the detrimental effect of preventing viewers from seeing the beautiful aspects of the city and the varied neighborhoods of a diverse and active community.
Hi Jim! Funny, I thought of you as I wrote this post and hoped you could use it to motivate your wife to give Philly another look! Ironically, the next night we took a different walk, and I acknowledge there are some rough parts to living in the city but overall it is fantastic and I’m glad you still are involved in the wissahickon/ Fairmount parks, and have good roots here! Pick a good neighborhood, and go for it someday 😉
I'm reading some of your old stuff while isolating with Covid, and this is a lovely post! I used to go for after dinner walks as a kid as it was just something my parents did. Should really make it a habit again for my family! And thanks for the beautiful picture of Philly - makes me want to visit, to catch you in person if nothing else!
Thanks for the lovely walk and for teaching me two new words: peristalsis and jawn!
Yesterday I walked BEFORE dinner, a very light dinner. I wonder if there are any benefits to be had with a pre-dinner stroll.
Now I will go and it like a King, or maybe a Queen. 😆
Haha.. I mean EAT like a...
Two very different words indeed, but instant respect when you drop them in a sentence. Extra points if both words in the same sentence! Walking and moving anytime seems best, so I think before and after would be ideal.
Here’s an interesting history of “jawn” from WHYY:
https://whyy.org/articles/jawn-more-than-a-noun-philadelphia-eyes-on-the-street/
“ Jawn is like the Philadelphia version of the French je ne sais quoi — “jawn sais quoi,” if you will. It has an intangible quality that is hard to express in any other word aside from jawn.
It’s both a noun and an abstract idea, it draws most of that context from the culture around it.”
I’ve seen these studies too. I even went for one post dinner walk. 😅 You have inspired me to give establishing the post meal walk habit another try. Pleasant Hill is not as full of history and cultural points of interest as Philly but has it’s charms.
I have a question. In the third paragraph, first sentence “Walking, particularly 30 minutes after a meal, is particularly good for us.” Does this mean the walk should commence within 30 minutes post dinning or we should wait 30 minutes before walking?
Thanks for the lovely tour of Philly😀
I think you’ve taken this walk in Philadelphia too! I’m glad this has inspired you to try an after dinner walk, I hope the same can be said of my family and myself. It’s just so hard to break that post meal slump.
I read different timings for walking after eating, it seems like the peak spike in blood sugar happens about 45 minutes after a big meal, so I think I averaged the different sources and it seems like 30 minutes after eating was a common recommendation… but honestly, whatever feels right and doesn’t interfere too much with a full stomach would be my intuitive guess :)
I just did a quick read through of some of the articles and noticed one tip that could be useful if it is too hot to walk mid day, do some housework that keeps you up and moving, or walk the halls at work.
I think this is really important. Just moving around in the house and getting stuff done adds a lot of steps and is way more practical and keeps your domestic partners happier!
I try to walk everyday and the past few nights have only been able to walk around my apartment building but with a wonderful surprise. There is a wooded area near my building and both nights I came across a couple of cute cottontail rabbits. As long as I kept my distance, they didn't scoot for the wooded area but as I got closer in my walk, off the they went showing me their cute little cottontail butts. There is a park in my town that runs along the harbor that I frequent. Great walking path and if I'm lucky I may spot an Egret or 2 in the marsh area. As you can see here, I enjoy walking in areas where I can experience nature.
I've been to Philadelphia a couple of times and would love to return. I loved all your pictures along with comments. It is a beautiful city with much to offer and like any city has city problems but not as bad as the news media makes them out to be to sell fear. I stopped watching all TV news a few years ago and prefer to read rather than watch.
As an added story, I live in a 55 and above apartment building with mostly 70 and 80 year olds. One of my neighbors is in her early 90's although you wouldn't know it from her activity. During the pandemic when we were shut down, she would walk around in our garage doing 6 laps each day. She has returned to the YMCA but see her walking our hallway too. If there is a testament to why walking is good for the soul, perhaps this is why.
Yes, our neighborhood is great for wildlife viewing, it is such a delight. I just read in the BBC about a study from Johns Hopkins & Medical University of Lodz, Poland that 4000 steps helps reduce the risk of dying prematurely. Every extra 1000 steps beyond 4000 reduced the risk of dying early by 15% up to 20,000 steps.
I believe any movement especially as we age is good for our health. Not a big fan of counting steps. A little unknown fact is the 10000 steps a day came from Japan when they were trying to promote the pedometer and get people moving. There was no science behind it, just a marketing tool. A researcher as Harvard was curious as to why 10000 steps were considered a good thing.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/10000-steps-a-day-or-fewer-2019071117305
Indeed, great marketing though😄
You might have seen this piece in Time. https://time.com/6302650/walking-4000-steps-improves-health/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc&utm_campaign=newsletter+brief+default+ac&utm_content=+++20230809+++body&et_rid=207538533&lctg=207538533
I recall several studies backing this up, thanks for lowering the bar for most people:
“But it joins a growing body of research that suggests workouts don’t need to be all that grueling or lengthy to improve your health. Everything from walking to housework to dancing can contribute to well-being, studies have shown.”
Always good to question those conveniently rounded up looking numbers!
Hi Janet, thanks for stopping by! These are great stories. I love the sort of “nature” walks you are describing, that sense of communion with little cottontails, egrets, and other wildlife is such a joy when walking. And God bless that 90 year old, hope she keeps going :)
Glad you have good memories of Philadelphia, come back to visit anytime! Last night, I walked to a different part of the city, and it was a bit more rough with a different crowd, and homeless problems like any other city, wish the social safety nets were better, and economic inequality less punishing.
For those that are ambulatory challenged, it still a good idea to keep moving. I try to keep moving everyday , no matter how little, while being careful not to over extend myself. Never worried about how many steps and I used to love to take those walks.
PS Ever since we became bipedal, we were born to walk.
What an uplifting substack. Thanks for sharing the awe in the ordinary!
Hi Lisa, thanks for reading and sharing a walk ;) I actually cut down the number of photos but there is much awe in the ordinary I agree!
Was thinking about starting one of those threads on here for people to share some pics of an after-dinner walk…
This suggests those phone and watch apps that remind you to get up and move every hour are on to something...especially after eating. I had to research the meaning of "jawn" = east PA term for "other stuff". Marty
Yes, and despite the cardiovascular toll the primary care hamster wheel surely takes, at least I am forced to physically move from room to room every 20-30 minutes, and I try to use a standing desk for half of those appts. Would get an app otherwise, agreed! Your hospital rounds and ICU work would be physical too I’m sure.
This link is quite informative re: jawn, and you can spread this colloquialism to the west coast ☺️
https://whyy.org/articles/jawn-more-than-a-noun-philadelphia-eyes-on-the-street/
Thank you for yet another beautiful and thought provoking post! It is always a pleasure to read your inspired writing! Your efforts are much appreciated.
Hi Linda! Thank you for this feedback 😊. I was planning to write a post about the RSV vaccines, but then took a walk and thought I should really be walking after dinner more often, and maybe other people would feel the same way.
Hopefully the RSV post coming soon will be informative if not that fun to read!
Great Post! I am late to the party here, but I love the city and have tried convincing my better half to relocate from the NJ suburbs (and woods) to a residential city neighborhood. I spend several days a week in the city during the school year as a mountain bike coach for St. Joe's Prep. as a mountain biker, I am fortunate to enjoy the Fairmount Park system, boat house row, Belmont, and Wissahickon. Unfortunately, the news cycle is filled with violence and dramatic stories to capture your attention. This has the detrimental effect of preventing viewers from seeing the beautiful aspects of the city and the varied neighborhoods of a diverse and active community.
Hi Jim! Funny, I thought of you as I wrote this post and hoped you could use it to motivate your wife to give Philly another look! Ironically, the next night we took a different walk, and I acknowledge there are some rough parts to living in the city but overall it is fantastic and I’m glad you still are involved in the wissahickon/ Fairmount parks, and have good roots here! Pick a good neighborhood, and go for it someday 😉
I'm reading some of your old stuff while isolating with Covid, and this is a lovely post! I used to go for after dinner walks as a kid as it was just something my parents did. Should really make it a habit again for my family! And thanks for the beautiful picture of Philly - makes me want to visit, to catch you in person if nothing else!
Let me know if ever in town!