A lot of people avoid exercise because they think that it will be too strenuous for them. It’s almost as if they are too unfit to get fit. It’s perfectly understandable that most of us associate getting in shape with a high intensity workout – getting all hot and sweaty in other words.
Conversely, many people find it difficult to believe that a low impact, low intensity workout – based around activity which most people do every day without thinking about it – could deliver very significant health benefits and help you to make significant improvements to your overall level of health and fitness. However, that is precisely what walking, a low impact form of exercise which requires no special equipment, expertise or training, can do for you.
When you look at the health benefits that walking can deliver, your feelings of disbelief are only likely to increase. Walking can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke whilst simultaneously improving the efficiency of the lungs. It can help to lower your blood pressure. It can help to fight depression, boost your energy levels and help you to sleep better at night. It can help to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. Recent studies in the UK even seem to suggest that it may be effective in fighting Alzheimer’s disease. It can certainly help you to get in shape and lose weight.
Reading that list you might think that it was an ad for some new wonder drug, or maybe an expensive health supplement. Small wonder that it’s hard to credit it. Don’t forget, you can get started on your walking exercise plan without any special exercise equipment. All you need is a good, comfortable pair of shoes and you’re all set. Neither are there any expensive monthly membership fees to pay – walking is free. What’s more, you can slot walking into your day whenever it suits you best.
Most health professionals recommend that you take 10,000 steps daily in order to achieve the health benefits on offer. For the large majority of people, that is equivalent to a distance of somewhere between four and a half and five miles – depending upon your stride length. It does sound like a long way, but it’s easier to achieve than you might imagine. Leave the car in the garage and walk to school or work.Get off the bus a couple of stops early and complete your journey on foot. Take the stairs instead of the lift. There are plenty of opportunities to increase your daily step count, and they all add up.
If you have any medical conditions, if you’re over forty years old, or if you just haven’t exercised for a while, then do seek the advice of your doctor prior to embarking on any new fitness routine. However, as long as you exercise a little common sense and start off slowly, walking will deliver you many health benefits.
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Tags: exercise, fitness, general, health, lose weight, Uncategorized, walking, weight loss, workout