Walk Your Way To Health and Weight Loss

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do. It is a low risk and high reward activity. Start walking today. You can walk almost anywhere at anytime. While walking doesn't require expensive equipment, it is in your best interest to buy good sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.

If you have been inactive for a while, start slowly. Work up to thirty minutes per day 4 or more days a week. Build up to the thirty minutes in increments. It's OK to walk three times a day for 10 minutes at a time. Walk before breakfast, at lunch and in the evening. Gradually increase the frequency and duration of your walks.

Start at a comfortable pace. Build up steadily over time until you are walking rather briskly. You don't have to start out walking one mile every 15 minutes. Give it time. Studies have shown that when you follow a moderate walking program you lose more weight and keep it off longer. Try for about a mile and a half in thirty minutes. Work up to four miles in an hour.

Walking is the best thing you can do for yourself. You don't want to get tired of it and stop. So make it fun. Make it something you can't wait to do rather than a chore. Vary your walks. If you get bored easily, find different areas to walk in. Walk in places you enjoy: a park, around a lake, in a beautiful setting.

Make each day different. Walk your dog. If you don't have a dog, borrow one. Walk with a friend. Occasionally walk with a group of people. Walk with a youngster. Join the mall walkers in your area.

Change the pace of your walk. Start walking slowly and then increase your pace as you go along. Try taking smaller steps at a faster pace for part of your workout. Then take longer strides for another part of your workout. You should walk up a hill on one of your walking days. Vary it. Make it fun. Make it different. There are no rules. Move your arms as you walk. Count your steps. Change your pace every 5 minutes.

Listen to music or inspirational tapes. Do not use headphones if you have to walk on the street. You must be alert for traffic. When walking on the street wear a reflective vest. Buy a pedometer and count your steps. Sing to yourself. Enjoy yourself.

Everything counts toward your 30 minutes of walking a day. So take breaks at work and walk the hallways for 5 minutes. Always take the stairs. Pace while you are on the phone. Dance with the vacuum cleaner as you clean. Mow the lawn. At work, park your car farther away. Use the upstairs bathroom. Go downstairs to the basement a few times a day.

Exercise is a critical part of any weight loss program. Walking is the easiest and least expensive form of exercise you can do. Walking is low impact; it is less stressful on your joints than jogging. Start walking now.

Once you start walking you will feel better and enjoy the experience. You can get benefits from exercising as little as 15 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week. Keep walking, don't stop and you will not only lose weight you will help your heart and health.