Fit and Cool

Shed A Few Pounds With A Walking Workout Program

When it comes to exercise, walking is a great low impact workout that the vast majority of people can do. 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.

The majority of health professionals recommend a target of 10,000 steps daily in order to obtain the numerous health benefits achievable. For most people that will be equivalent to a distance of a little under 5 miles. It sounds like a long way – but it’s easier to achieve than you might think. Bearing in mind the potential health benefits on offer, a little extra effort to fit walking into your day is well worth your while.

It’s quite likely that you may be some way under the recommended 10,000 step level. If you’re not sure 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 pick these up pretty cheaply these days – but be certain to choose one which has a double axis sensor fitted as these tend to be 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 any number of ways to do this – just be sensible and start off slowly, there’s no need to do it all 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 possible for you then don’t despair – there are numerous different ways to get your step count up. Leave the car in the garage and walk to the shops, school or work. Use the stairs instead of taking the lift. Get off the bus a couple of stops before your final destination and walk the rest of the way.

Use modern technology to your benefit by walking around when you’re talking on your cordless or mobile phone. A fifteen minute telephone conversation can let you fit in an extra 1,000 or 1,500 steps. There are plenty of other opportunities to fit walking into your day – and it all adds up.

Another way to take advantage of modern technology would be to wear a pair of the new style of exercise shoes which are specially designed to increase the amount of work your lower body muscles do whilst walking. Skechers Shape Ups, Reeboks EasyTones and Fit Flops sandals are all examples of this style of exerciseshoe.

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 not only see the results but you will feel them as well.

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