There are plenty of people who would like to lose a few pounds and get into better shape. Our modern way of life can mean that it’s difficult to find time to take exercise. Motorized transport is used more than ever before and, for many people, work consists of spending 8 hours or more sitting in front of a computer screen. In spite of all the advances of modern technology, a lot of people still find themselves short of time. At the end of a long day – possibly with a commute at either end – it can be hard to both find the time and summon up the energy for exercise.
It can quickly become a downward spiral for many people. Low energy levels and insufficient time to exercise can result in reduced health and fitness levels – and possibly weight problems. This means that energy levels can drop even lower and it becomes ever more difficult to motivate yourself to exercise. Many people who have a sedentary lifestyle or are a little overweight may genuinely find it difficult to take exercise.
Some forms of exercise can be too intense for anyone getting started on a weight loss, or general fitness program. Running and jogging are good ways to burn some calories – but they can be just too demanding for someone who is out of shape and unused to taking regular exercise. These exercises can strain muscles and put a lot of strain on joints as well.
However, it shouldn’t be considered to be an all or nothing situation. Walking is a great exercise for anyone starting out on an exercise program. Actually, it’s an excellent exercise for just about anybody. Over and above weight loss, there are many other potential health benefits which can be gained as a result of regular walking exercise. It can lower the probability of heart disease and stroke, increase bone density, build muscles, improve the quality of your sleep, boost your energy levels, reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer, reduce blood pressure levels and even help to fight depression and anxiety.
It’s a long and impressive list of benefits for something that you do, to a greater or lesser extent, day in, day out. No special training is required for walking and, other than a good, comfortable pair of shoes, there’s no need for any special equipment. You can fit it into your day whenever it’s most convenient for you – and there are no costly monthly gym membership fees to pay. According to most health and fitness advisers,10,000 steps daily – that’s somewhere between four and a half and five miles for someone with an average stride length – is a good target in order to realise all the potential health benefits of walking. It does sound like quite a long way – but it’s easier to achieve than you might imagine.
Relatively minor changes to your daily routine can soon increase the number of number of steps that you take each day – and remember, there’s no need to reach that target figure all at once. Starting slowly and building up only when you feel comfortable is a sensible approach. Leaving your car in the garage and walking to work a couple of times a week is a good start. If you use the bus or the subway, you could get off a couple of stops early and complete the last leg of your journey on foot. Using the stairs instead of taking the elevator is another minor change that can make a difference. There are any number of ways to get to the 10,000 step figure.
And there’s no need for your walking workout program to be a boring activity. Walking in the park can be a very pleasant way to pass the time and improve your health. You could arrange walks with your friends and colleagues. If you get yourself an mp3 player and listen to your favourite music as you walk along the time and the miles will simply fly by. You can even get “toning shoes” nowadays – scientifically designed fitness shoes (think Reebok Easy Tones, Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops sandals) that increase the amount of work your lower body muscles carry out and help you to get in shape faster.
Hopefully you can recognise the potential benefits which walking as a mode of exercise offers. If you elect to include it as part of your daily routine then it might not be a bad idea to seek the advice of your doctor – especially if you haven’t exercised on a regular basis for a while. However, as previously stated, walking is a low impact, low injury risk workout technique which offers you many potential benefits. Start off slowly and build up gradually. You’ll be delighted at how quickly your walking to lose weight exercise program will deliver results which you can both see and feel.
Find out more about toning shoes like Fit flops and Skechers Shape Ups and see if they might be right for you.