subject: Is A Walking Fitness Program A Good Way To Get In Shape? [print this page] There are a great many people who would be very happy to lose a little weight and get into better shape. Modern life can make it hard to find the time to fit in the exercise that you need. We all use motorized transport more than ever before and, for the large majority of people, work consists of spending 8 hours or so slumped 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. Finding the time and summoning up the energy for exercise after a long day at work can be difficult.
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.
Many types of exercise can be simply too intense for someone who is starting out on a weight loss, or general fitness program. Running and jogging are good ways to burn some calories - but they can be too demanding for someone who is out of shape and not used to taking regular exercise. Such exercises can not only cause muscle strains but can put a lot of stress on joints as well.
Nevertheless, it's not an all or nothing situation. For anyone who is just getting started with their exercise program, walking is an excellent method of taking exercise. In fact, it's a great way to exercise for just about anybody. In addition to weight loss, there are numerous other potential health benefits which can be gained as a result of regular walking exercise. It can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, build muscles, increase bone density, help you to sleep better, boost your energy levels, reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, lower blood pressure levels and even help to fight anxiety and depression.
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 it's not necessary for your walking workout program to be a mundane task. A walk in the park can be a very pleasant way to pass the time and improve your health. You could schedule walks with your family, friends and colleagues. Listening to your favourite tunes on an mp3 player as you walk along will help the miles to fly by. You can even get "toning shoes" nowadays - specially designed exercise shoes (think Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok Easy Tones and Fitflops sandals) that increase the amount of work your lower body muscles perform and help you to get in shape even faster.
Hopefully you can see the potential that walking has as an exercise format. If you decide to make it part of your daily routine then discussing it with your doctor might be a good idea - especially if you haven't taken regular exercise for a while. However, as stated previously, walking is a low impact, low injury risk exercise technique which offers you a large number of potential benefits. Take it easy to begin with and build up gradually. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your walking to lose weight exercise program will deliver results which you can both see and feel.
