Walking To Fitness Achieve Your Goals
We embrace the get it yesterday approach to all walks of life.
When it comes to our health we will go to great lengths to achieve our goals quickly and as effortlessly as we can get there.
What if there was a better way? When it comes to aerobic exercises walking is by far the safest approach, period.
Walking will help you strengthen your bones, condition your heart and lungs and help control your weight.
Being consistent in your walking exercise routine is one of the most important factors in developing a healthy physical activity program.
Research has shown that people who walk approximately 20-25 miles per week outlive those who don't walk by many years.
Twenty miles a week sound tough?How would you like to break it down?Let's see, an average person can walk about 3 miles in an hour.
In 30 minutes that would mean about 1.
5 miles give or take.
So if we are looking at a 7 day week and a 30 minute investment per day then we are looking at a total 10.
5 miles per week.
By just going the full hour once a day, take the dog with you, then you will get to 21 miles per week.
Folks, it can't get any easier than that and the reduced stress factor from this is invaluable to your overall health and well being.
The following are some quick facts about walking: On average, every single minutewalking can extend your life by 1.
5 to 2 minutes.
How's that for pay back? Walking an extra 20 minutes each day will burn off 7 pounds of body fat per year.
Still want that piece of candy you have been eyeing all day?You would need to walk the full length of a soccer pitch to shed that desire.
The longer, moderately-paced daily walks (30 minutes at about 70% maximum heart rate) are best for losing weight.
Just looking to condition your lungs or improve on your overall heart muscle? Shorter, faster walks (20-25 minutes at up to 85% maximum heart rate) are best.
Walking will also provide the following benefits: Improves efficiency of your heart and lungs Burns body fat Raises your metabolism so you are burning calories faster, even while you rest Increases your energy Reduces levels of cholesterol in your blood Lowers high blood pressure Helps control and prevent diabetes Reduces risk of some forms of cancer including colorectal, prostrate, and breast Promotes intestinal regularity Helps promote restful sleep Strengthens muscles of your legs, hips, and torso Strengthens your bones and reduces bone density loss in older women Reduces stiffness in your joints due to inactivity or arthritis Walking is much more preferable than running or jogging because it creates less stress on your joints, including hips, knees, and ankles.
Remember to properly warm up before and cool down after every walking session...
your muscles will love you for it! So what are we waiting for?Get to twenty miles a week and then see where it takes you.
Think of the joy of going to Nordstrom's and having to buy all those new clothes and for the right reasons for a change.
Take a step in the right direction and do it by walking.