How Good Is Walking As An Exercise Program?
Posted by Hamish Hayward in Uncategorized, tags: exercise, fitness, health, lose weight, Uncategorized, walking, weight loss, workoutDo you find yourself, like many people, in the position where you would like to take more exercise but, for a variety of reasons, you just never seem to get round to it? Certainly, there’s no shortage of reasons -or excuses - for not taking exercise. Lack of energy, not enough time, lack of specialized equipment - these are just a few examples of why it’s so often easier to miss out on exercise than to just get on and do it. Factor in the high cost of monthly gym membership fees and it’s no wonder that many of us get much less exercise than we would wish.
If there was a form of exercise that was easy to do, required no special equipment or training and which didn’t require you to get hot, sweaty and out of breath, then it might be easier to motivate yourself to exercise more. If it was also possible to fit exercise into your daily routine when it was most convenient for you - and if it was free, with no monthly fees to pay - then that would be even better.
Fortunately, such a form of exercise does exist - although you may not have considered it. Walking is an activity that we all perform every day. It needs no training, expertise or special equipment. As long as you have a good, comfortable pair of shoes you’re all set. It’s also a very cost effective method of exercising - and you can slot it into your daily routine whenever you like.
What’s more, the potential health benefits of walking read like an advert for some new miracle drug. It can lower your blood pressure level. It helps to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It increases lung capacity. It helps you to sleep better at night. It helps to combat depression. It boosts your energy levels. It even helps to stave off certain types of cancer. And, of course, it helps you to build muscle, lose weight and get in shape.
According to health professionals, in order to achieve all of these benefits, we should aim to take 10,000 steps a day. For the average person, that’s equivalent to a distance of between four and a half and five miles - although if you have a very long or very short stride length then this may vary somewhat.
Whilst five miles probably sounds like a long way, you would probably be surprised at how achievable this is in reality. Leaving the car in the garage once or twice a week is a good start. Walk to work or school instead. If you travel by bus or subway, then get off a couple of stops early and walk the last section of your journey. Use the stairs instead of the lift. Take a ten or fifteen minute stroll during your lunch break. Walk around when you’re talking on your mobile phone. These are just a few examples of ways to increase your daily step count. There are plenty more.
You should exercise a little common sense and start out slowly, building up gradually only when you feel comfortable to do so. If you are over forty or have any medical conditions then you should get the advice of your doctor before you commence any new exercise program. However, as walking is a low intensity, low impact and low injury risk method of taking exercise, it should be suitable for the vast majority of people and, as discussed earlier, the potential health benefits are enormous.
Discover how Fitflops exercise shoes can raise the effectiveness of your walking workout. They are specially engineered to increase the amount of work done by the lower body muscles when walking. Both women’s and men’s Fitflops are available in a wide range of colors and styles.
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