Walking is one of the best forms of exercise that you can take part in, and it’s an activity which the majority of us do on a daily basis anyway. No special equipment is needed – all you require is a pair of comfortable shoes and you’re all set. The potential health benefits of walking read like an advert for some new miracle drug – but they are very real and can be obtainaned with no more than a few small changes to your daily routine.
Most health professionals suggest that a target of 10,000 steps a day is desirable in order to obtain the numerous health benefits available. For the majority of people that equates to a distance of between four and a half and five miles. It sounds like a long way – but it’s easier to achieve than you might think. Considering the potential health benefits, it’s well worth making a little effort to increase the amount of walking that you do.
It’s possible that you will be somewhat lower than the recommended 10,000 daily steps. If you’re not certain how many steps you currently take then it might be a good idea to get hold of an Omron pedometer in order to find out what your daily average is. You can find these at fairly low prices these days – but be sure to pick one which uses a double axis sensor as these are more accurate.
Once you know what your average number of steps is each day, you should look for opportunities to make up any discrepancy between your daily average and the recommended 10,000 step value. There are numerous ways to do this – but be sensible in the beginning and take it easy – there’s absolutely no need to do everything at once.
If your daily schedule allows you to slot in a reasonably long walk – say thirty to forty five minutes worth – then that’s great. If that’s not feasible for you then don’t worry – there are plenty of other ways to increase your step count. Leave the car at home and walk to work, school or the shops. Take the stairs instead of the lift. Get off the bus a couple of stops before your destination and complete your journey on foot.
Take full advantage of modern technology and pace around when you’re on a mobile phone call. A fifteen minute telephone conversation can let you fit in an extra 1,000 or 1,500 steps. There are any number of opportunities to build walking into your daily schedule – and they soon add up.
One more way to make use of modern technology would be to use the new style of exercise footwear which is specially designed to increase the amount of work the muscles in your lower body muscles perform whilst walking normally. Reeboks Easytones, Skechers Shapeups and Fit Flops sandals are all examples of this style of fitnessshoe.
If you have any medical conditions, if you haven’t taken regular exercise for a while, or if you’re over forty years old then it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor prior to embarking on any new fitness program. However, as walking is a low injury risk, low impact workout – as long as you take it easy to begin with – it should have a very significant positive impact on your overall health and fitness level. You will be feeling better, enjoying increased energy levels and losing weight before you know it – and you won’t need a pedometer or a set of scales to tell you how well you’re doing. You will both feel the results and see them as well.
