Losing weight – despite what some people may try to tell you – is an extremely difficult thing to do. If it wasn’t, then the weight loss industry wouldn’t be the multi-billion dollar behemoth that it is. Dieting is no fun whatsoever – you are required to deny yourself most of the things that you enjoy and it seems to take forever before you see any results.
If you wish to see results more quickly then the option of including some element of regular physical exercise, even if it is of low intensity, is a wise move. The great thing about exercise is that, not only will you burn extra calories simply because you are taking exercise, but the fact that you are exercising regularly will increase your metabolic rate. You will burn off calories more rapidly, even if you aren’t exercising but just going about your normal daily activities. Whether you’re sitting reading the newspaper, typing on your computer, listening to your eye pod – even when you’re sound asleep – you will burn calories faster.
If you have any medical conditions, or if you haven’t taken any regular exercise for a while, then it would be advisable to seek the opinion of your doctor before you embark on any new exercise program. As far as the best form of exercise to perform, you will hear a variety of suggestions from different sources. When all’s said and done, the optimum exercise plan for you is whatever you are able to do and will be able to motivate yourself to do on a consistent basis. It may be true that riding a racing bicycle around a track at an average speed of twelve miles per hour will burn more calories per hour than walking at 3.5 miles per hour or jogging at 5 miles per hour. However, it’s a pointless distinction if you really dislike cycling and won’t be able to motivate yourself to get in the saddle on a consistent and regular basis.
Walking is, without a doubt, one of the very best starter exercises. It’s a form of exercise which requires no special equipment and which everyone already knows how to do. It’s also a low injury risk, low impact way to exercise which can be undertaken by a wide range of age groups and which has a very low dropout rate. You can pretty much fit it into your day whenever it suits you best – you can even increase your step count in two, three or even four mini sessions throughout the day if that’s what works best for you.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that, because walking is a low intensity workout, it can’t provide you with a number of significant health benefits. Health and fitness professionals seem to be in general agreement that if you can walk for 10,000 steps on a daily basis, you will unlock a number of different significant health benefits – including, but certainly not limited to, weight loss. By the way, that is a total of 10,000 steps daily – and it includes all of your normal walking activity. Get hold of an Omron pedometer and monitor exactly how many steps you take each day. It can also display the distance covered and the number of calories burned – if that is a better way to keep yourself motivated.
There’s absolutely no necessity to immediately get up to 10,000 steps. Look for ways to build walking into your day and gradually work up to the target figure. You’ll be surprised how easy it is. Walk around when you’re chatting on your mobile phone – a 15 minute call will give you the opportunity to get an extra 1,000 steps in. Get off the bus one or two stops before your final destination and finish your journey on foot. Take the stairs instead of using the lift. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how fast minor changes like this can increase your daily step count. You will be surprised and delighted at how quickly you will see and feel the benefits.
The only other piece of equipment that you really need for your walking workout routine is a good pair of shoes. Make sure that your shoes don’t give you blisters or cause any discomfort when you walk in them. It will otherwise be hard to motivate yourself to carry on walking. If you wish, you can make use of the latest advances in fitness footwear technology. Shoes such as Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok Easy Tones and Fit flops sandals are all designed to maximize the amount of work carried out by your lower body muscles. They increase the effectiveness of your walking exercise program and help to tone your lower body even faster.
Whatever type exercise you go for, and however you manage to fit it into your day to day routine, the most important thing is consistency. Just a little extra effort, carried out on a regular basis, will help you to burn off calories faster both by exercising itself and by increasing your metabolism. You’ll achieve results very much faster than by dieting alone and – more importantly – you will feel great.
Take a moment to have a look at the huge selection of styles on offer from Fit flops – sandals, boots, clogs and slippers. Try using an Omron pedometer to monitor your performance and help you to stay motivated.