When you consider the benefits of walking as a form of exercise, they’re almost too good to be true. Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure, increased lung capacity, reduced risk of depression and even a reduced probability of certain types of cancer. Add in weight loss, increased energy, and generally feeling better and the list of benefits is truly amazing.
You also need to bear in mind the fact that walking can be fitted into your daily schedule at a convenient time for you. Neither are there any costly monthly membership fees for the gym. In fact, you would be forgiven for wondering why more people don’t integrate walking into their exercise routine. Another point to remember is the fact that you don’t need any special equipment, any expertise or any training. A good, comfortable pair of shoes are pretty much all that you require to get started.
Possibly people may not be including walking in their exercise program because they simply aren’t aware of the many potential benefits to be gained by doing this. We still have something of a “no pain no gain” mentality and this might make it seem implausible that a low impact workout such as walking could have such a positive impact.
However, the evidence is irrefutable. There are some truly excellent benefits available by incorporating walking into your exercise program. The key thing is consistency – exercise needs to be taken on a regular basis. It should, ideally, form a part of your daily routine.
Opportunities to do this are plentiful. Walk to the office and leave the car at home. Forget the elevator and use the stairs every second time. Take a short 10 or 15 minute walk around the block during your lunch hour instead of slouching in front of the computer. When carried out as a matter of routine, small changes can have a large positive effect.
Of course, the fact that the effort required is so small may be part of the problem. Many people may find it hard to believe that they will achieve such a high value of benefits based upon such a small investment of time and effort. One possible way to overcome this, should you find yourself in this category, would be to use a pedometer. Use this every day to record the number of steps you take, the distance you cover and the number of calories you burn.
It should quickly become evident that relatively minor changes to your daily routine – going on foot instead of driving for some journeys for example – can have a major impact on your health and fitness. Measuring and verifying the benefits of your walking activities could be all the encouragement that you need to motivate you to exercise on a regular basis and reap the rewards in terms of health, fitness and overall well being.
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