Green Steps

Journal Entry: 4/18/10: Coinage = $.89, 30 pennies, 5 nickels, 4 dimes.

Journal Entry: 4/19/10: Coinage = $2.12, 72 pennies, 13 nickels, 5 dimes, 1 quarter.

Journal Entry: 4/21/10: Coinage = $1.11, 26 pennies, 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 2 quarters.

Journal Entry: 4/22/10: Weight = 172.2 lbs.; Coinage = 18 pennies (1 wheat), 4 dimes, 2 quarters; Glass bottles = 9; Ground scores = 8; Best find = 2 curb quarters

Feature Entry: Green Steps

Today is Earth Day. We money walkers can do our part by taking green steps. Green steps (The MoneyWalker must copyright this phrase) is a walking approach that allows us to leave the car in the garage and walk to the grocery store, or bank, or drug store, or anywhere within one mile of our residence. For most of us this is a 15 minute walk. If you must drive, park and walk the last 15 minutes to the establishment. Stay focused along the curbs and byways for those “ventral striatum” ticklers, the coins and trophies to be found along the way.

For example, my barber’s shop is in downtown New Orleans, about five miles from my house. Rather than using parking meters, I drive to within one mile of his shop and park in a free parking area. I then gain green steps as I walk to and from his shop. It is easy enough to drive within a block or two of his shop and use a parking meter which cost 3 quarters. While walking I check the curbs, and the newspaper and parking vending machines . Yesterday’s walk netted a dime and a quarter and a discarded baby stroller with a slightly damaged wheel. It was easily repaired and will be recycled.

By walking to conveniently located shops rather than driving, over a year’s time gallons and gallons of gasoline are saved thus reducing the MoneyWalker’s carbon print. Green step walking is not the same as fitness walking, but it burns calories and supplements the MoneyWalker’s weight maintenance strategy. It has become common for fitness experts to recommend 10,000 steps a day. But exercise physiologists, while endorsing the concept, have shown that weight loss requires even more steps, probably 12,000 for most of us.

As for Earth Day and going green, the MoneyWalker is not totally convinced of global warming as a threat to our environment, but going green is good stewardship either way. Experts are divided. But not Missouri congressman Emanuel Cleaver. He said on Wednesday that “it is ‘sinful’ for Americans to use the amount of fossil fuels they do…the Bible commands people to be good stewards of the Earth.” “The Sun and the Earth is the Lord’s,” he said. Yet Roy Spencer, PhD in his book The Great Global warming Blunder: how Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists (Encounter Books, 2010) is not sure of the scriptural or scientific data.

Either way, the MoneyWalker urges all of us to go green by taking green steps whenever we can. The benefits will speak for themselves.

MoneyWalker

Types of Walkers

Journal Entry 4/16/10: Weight = 171.0 lbs; Coinage = $1.12, 27 pennies, 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 2 quarters; Glass bottles = 5; Ground Scores = 5; Best coinage find = .36 in a parking meter coin return slot.

Journal Entry 4/17/10: Weight = 172.2 lbs; Coinage = $3.91, 121 pennies, 7 nickels, 11 dimes, 3 quarters, 1 half-dollar; Glass bottles = 11; Ground scores = 6; Best Coinage finds = one half-dollar in a car-wash vacuum (what suction) the one-half dollar was only the second of this denomination in more than two years of money walking; a 61 penny-dump at a curb (seeing that many pennies just dumped along the curb shocked the ventral striatum of the MoneyWalker.)

Feature Entry: Types of Walkers

In our last blog we asked the question, “Do you have the DNA to be a MoneyWalker?” This idea came from Tamara Lowe and her trademarked “Motivation DNA.” Lowe’s reference to DNA was metaphorical; she meant Drive, Needs, and Awards. She divided the three factors into bipolar units. The continuum for drive is “Producer” on one end and “Connector” on the other. For needs, the continuum is “Stability” and “Variety.” Awards are differentiated by “Internal” and “External.” The MoneyWalker took her test and was rated a PVE, a producer that is motivated by variety and looks to external rewards for motivation. As for the motivation to be a walker, the expectation of finding lost money while powerful is not for everyone. In fact, very few even consider this “bizarre” source of motivation.

So what kinds or types of people are walkers? Geoff Nicholson in his highly readable book, The Lost Art of Walking (2008, Riverhead Books, NY) provides some clues:

1. The meanderer likes to walk round and about, somewhat aimlessly and avoids direct straight lines.
2. The Roman walker, walkers that walk straight and direct paths to their destination.
3. The set walker, a person that walks the same set pattern every day.
4. The array walker, the walker that has a long list of set walks and varies them according to his/her mood.
5. Pilgrimage walker I, the person that walks the paths of famous persons.
6. Pilgrimage walker II, the person that revisits his old neighborhoods and walks them as if on a pilgrimage.
7. The connoisseur walker, the person that seeks and finds interesting and stimulating walks that most people would not think of.
8. “Shot in the dark” walker, similar to the connoisseur walker, this walker goes to anywhere and everywhere, but not always successful with his/her instincts. Some of the walks are best forgotten.
9. The “marrow bone” walker also known as the masochistic walker takes walks that are so long and onerous as to eat into the marrow of the bone.
10. Nature walker enjoys leisurely strolls through picturesque venues.
11. Dog walker would not walk at all if it weren’t for the dog.
12. Group walker enjoys walking with groups of people.
13. Competitive walker competes in walking races
14. Philanthropic walker gains pledges for charities where donations are referenced to the number of miles walked.
15. Fitness walker is a person that walks for fitness and weight loss or weight maintenance.
16. Gym walker is found on the circular track of the gym but nowhere else.
17. The “peace of mind” walker seeks the exercise to sort out his/her world, for self knowledge.
18. The eccentric walker, often walking in strange clothing, seems to enjoy showing off his/her eccentricity.
19. The photographer walker seeks great photo shots.
20. City walker is a utilitarian; he/she walks to work, to shop, to the post office and other places to satisfy the utilitarian need to be at different places rather than one’s home.

These styles or types are not mutually exclusive. As a money walker, I relate to several of Nicholson’s topology. Also, there are dozens of other types that others might identify. Any takers?

What kind of walker are you?

Happy birthday Ms. MoneyWalker, a great source for exercise and nutrition modelling for the MoneyWalker. Looking good!

MoneyWalker

Do You Have the DNA To Be A Money Walker?

Journal entry 4/14/10: Weight = 172.2 lbs; Coinage = $3.47, 97 pennies, 8 nickels, 11 dimes, 4 quarters; Glass bottles retrieved = 6; Ground Scores = 7.

Journal entry 4/15/10: Weight = 171.2 lbs. (Weight loss tip, two evening meals in a row, eat homemade soup rather than regular dinners, delicious and low calorie); Coinage = $1.37, 37 pennies, 7 nickels, 4 dimes, one quarter; Best coinage find = a quarter left in a coin return machine.


Feature Entry: Do You Have the DNA To Be A Money Walker?

Ms. MoneyWalker and I attended a Peter and Tamara Lowe “Get Motivated” Business Seminar. Colin Powell, Laura Bush, Rudy Giuliani, the ubiquitous Zig Ziglar, the Saints Sean Peyton and Drew Brees, along with several financial gurus provided a full day of entertaining and interesting information about how to achieve important life time goals including financial. Perhaps the best speaker was the Co-sponsor Tamara Lowe and her trademarked Motivation DNA topic.

She provided the inspiration for this blog about how to determine if you have the DNA to be a MoneyWalker. According to Wikipedia, DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. I still remember reading about the exciting 1953 discovery by James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick (with others.) Our DNA is highly related to the type of personality that we possess.

We have established that walking is listed as the number one pastime of adults in the U.S. and in most developed countries. But there are all kinds of walkers, but only a few have the DNA to be a MoneyWalker. Take the MoneyWalker DNA Test to see if you have the genes to be a money walker.

MY FRIENDS WOULD MORE LIKELY TO DEFINE ME AS …

1. Yes or No: … “achievement oriented” rather than as a person that is “supportive oriented.”
2. Yes or No: … “externally oriented” rather than as an “intrinsic oriented” person.
3. Yes or No: … “too sure of myself” rather than a person that is “sure of myself.”
4. Yes or No: … “fast paced and intense” rather than as a person that is “unhurried/stable/peaceful.”
5. Yes or No: … a person that “prefers public recognition” rather than one that prefers “private recognition.”
6. Yes or No: … “improvises as problems come up” rather than a person that “prepares for unforeseen problems.”
7. Yes or No: … a person “that takes the lead” rather than preferring someone else “to take the lead.”
8. Yes or No: … “prefers work that leads to financial success” rather than “prefers work that leads to making a positive difference.”
9. Yes or No: … “hard driving” rather than “laid back.”
10. Yes or No: … “impulsive” rather than “disciplined.”

Interpreting the Results

If you answered yes to eight or more questions, you have the DNA to be a successful money walker.

If you answered yes to six or seven questions, it is possible that you have the DNA to begin a money walking habit, but in time you will find it difficulty to continue the practice in favor of other types of walking.

If you answered yes to four or five questions, you will be intrigued by the possibility, but probably do not have the DNA to pursue the idea.

If you answered yes to three or fewer, it is highly unlikely that you have the DNA to be a money walker.

As indicated, many of these ideas came from Tamara Lowe’s Motivation DNA test which is copyrighted. Also, this is a highly unscientific assessment instrument with only experiential validity inferred.

MoneyWalker

Having a Bullish Day on the Streets

Journal Entry 4/13/10: Weight = 173.4 lbs: Coinage = $7.11 (One of the biggest money days ever for the MoneyWalker and one worthy of full explanation.)

 Mid morning 90 minute fitness walk = $.99, several dimes and one quarter from the curbs.
 Canisters from the Mid-City Car wash checked at end of fitness walk= $3.32
o Two one dollar bills from one canister ( Note: what is wrong with a person that vacuum’s his or her car and just allows two one dollar bills to be sucked into the great unknown, same with quarters, or any coin for that matter?)
o Two quarters and several dimes, nickels, and pennies were found in the seven total canisters including the one with the two one dollar bills.
 Walk to the grocery store = $2.65, all found in a money sorter coin return, 100 pennies (2 wheat), 16 dimes, 1 nickel. Quick, someone call 911, this has to be the same goof from the car wash.
 Walk to the drug store = $.02 penny scatter
 Drive to Sam’s Club = $.10 dime in the parking lot

Journal Entry 4/11/10: Weight = 174.2 lbs; Coinage = $3.26, 136 pennies, 7 nickels, 13 dimes, 1 quarter.

Journal Entry 4/8/10: Weight = 171.0; Coinage = $.85, 45 pennies, 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 1 quarter.

MoneyWalker

Four-W Plan for Weight Control

Journal Entry 4/7/10: Weight = 171.8 lbs.; Coinage = $5.28 (Money Spots were all generous, best single find, a quarter, two dimes, and two pennies in a parking lot); 118 pennies, 7 nickels, 19 dimes, 7 quarters.

Journal Entry 4/6/10: Weight = 174.0 (vacation weight gain, note to self, show more discipline on vacation); Coinage = $.72, 27 pennies, 5 nickels, 2 dimes.

Journal Entry 4/5/10: Weight (did not weight, on the road from vacation, I weight only in the morning because weight fluctuates during different parts of the day); Coinage = $3.25, ninety pennies, 7 nickels, 15 dimes, 2 quarters (.55 of the total was found on vacation walks)

Journal Entry 3/30/10; Weight = 171.8 lbs; Coinage = $1.84, pennies = 44, 3 nickels, 5 dimes, and 3 quarters.

Feature Entry: Four-W Plan for Weight Control

Coming back from a five day beach get-away with three sets of friends combined with the prudence of a 1st quarter audit of New Year’s resolutions has led the money to break out his non-copyrighted “Four-W Plan for Weight Control.” Slippage of weight control goals often happens during both situations—lengthy outings with friends and the passage of three or four months post resolution.

The Four-W is created by the four behaviors-in-common of people that lose weight and keep off. The Four-W is based on the work of Rena Wing, Ph.D. at Brown Medical School in Providence, RI who directs the National Weight Control Registry
The four “Ws” for weight loss and weight loss maintenance are as follows:

Weigh: Contrary to some, the MoneyWalker believes that a good digital scale is an essential tool for weight lost/maintenance. Weight should be taken every morning upon waking in a posture free of clothes. A digital scale provides the precision that is important for motivation reinforcement. An eating binge as well as calorie consciousness will be reflected with the precision of digital scales.

Walk: Walking is one of many recommended methods for the daily requirement of burning more calories than consumed. Other methods include jogging, swimming, and dancing. A one hour walk burns about 500 calories. Our daily caloric need ranges between 2000 and 2500 calories.

Watch: The most important component of weight loss/maintenance is to watch what you eat. Exercise physiologists at the U. of South Carolina compared four groups of dieters- diet only, exercise only, exercise/diet combined, and Control. Although the combined group lost the most weight, the amount was only marginally better than the diet group alone. Thus, portion control and decision prudence is the most important aspect of weight loss/maintenance. Wing found that her successful subjects all ate breakfast; it helped them to avoid food cravings later in the day.

Write: People that lose weight should chronicle their results. A journal should be maintained that visual depicts daily weight loss and gains as well as a journal of the when, what, and where food is consumed. Those serious about weight loss monitors the food and the calories/fats that they contain. Weighing and a journal combined are powerful motivation tools. Self-transparency is guaranteed.

So folks, join the MoneyWalker and conduct a first quarter audit on your weight control goals. As for me, I am just over the weight that I consider best for my health. By following the Four-W method, I anticipate that my next break-through is to consistently weigh in the 160s.

MoneyWalker