Before covid I was getting out hiking at least once, and often twice, a week and was in reasonably good shape. Then covid happened and I pretty much stopped exercising for a couple of months. Then I had my creepy blood pressure scare and I started getting out hiking again plus doing a couple of trips up a nearby outdoor staircase (136 steps) most days. With all the packing for the move I slacked off a couple of weeks ago and had started noticing how less well I was feeling just in such a short amount of time. And now with air quality so bad I didn't want to get out and hike or walk the staircase this week. So yesterday SO and I went to his hotel (currently closed) and did an hour on the treadmills. Afterwards I felt so much better that we went back today and did it again. Both days I kept my heart rate at 80% of maximum with three five minute segments where I pushed up to 90% of maximum. Today I noticed that I had to go faster and on a steeper incline to reach my goal heart rate. Yesterday the machine said I burned 563 calories and had an average heart rate of 137. Today it said I burned 613 calories and had an average heart rate of 138. That's a 9% increase in energy expended with my heart doing the same amount of work! After just one day of exercise. I was stunned at seeing such an improvement so quickly. And it was a good reminder that I really need to keep on top of getting exercise.
Hopefully the wildfires will subside in the next couple of weeks. We move next sunday and our new place is surrounded by at least a dozen really nice looking trails within 10-15 minute's drive so I plan to get out and start checking them out as soon as we are moved in.