Walking for health: the easy, low-impact, and free way to get in shape.
Did you know that walking for health is one of the best things you can do? Here are some of the reasons you should walk more:
- It’s a slow, steady burn — If you spend a lot of time sitting down, your body tends to slow down. Instead of leaping into high activity exercise right away, walking around will help you make the transition between NO activity and high intensity activity. Plus, walking delivers a slow, steady burn of calories, so you can walk for hours without tiring!
- It’s easy on your joints –– Not everyone is able to lift weight or participate in high intensity activities. Some people have joint problems which prevent them from training hard, or they are recovering from surgery. Walking helps to work your muscles and gets your heart working, all without pushing your joints too hard.
- It’s great for circulation –– Want to reduce your risk of heart disease and improve circulation drastically? Try walking! You can lower your blood pressure, increase your heart rate, and strengthen the muscles of your heart by walking more every day.
- It lengthens your lifespan –– Yes, it’s true, walking will help you to live longer! People who exercise after the age of 50 are 35% less likely to die than those who don’t. It’s even more important to exercise if you have health conditions!
- It makes you happier –– Walking is more than just a form of exercise; it’s also a mood-booster! When you walk, run, or do any form of exercise, your brain produces endorphins, which are both pain-killing and mood-boosting chemicals. You’ll feel happier, all thanks to your exercise.
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- It’s good for your muscles and bones –– Walking (and all exercise) reduces bone density loss, a problem common among those in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Regular walking will also strengthen your lower body muscles, increasing your stamina and helping you to have more endurance for low intensity activity.
- It’s excellent for your brain –– Walking will help to slow your mental decline! Age-related mental decline is lower in those who walk, and you’ll find that regular exercise will help to keep your brain firing on all cylinders.
- It makes you capable of doing more –– The more exercise you do, the more you can do. Your cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems need regular work in order to function properly. The more you walk, run, jog, or train, the easier it will be to do exercise and active activities.
- It burns fat –– Walking isn’t the most efficient fat burning exercise around, but it gets the job done! You can burn 200 to 300 calories in half an hour of speed walking, and most of the calories burned will come from fat. It’s a good idea to add more walking to your life!
- It’s good for thinking –– If you spend more time walking every day, you’ll have more time to think. Avoid listening to music or audiobooks while you walk, and just let your mind wander. You’ll come up with some pretty amazing things, all because you gave your mind free rein to wander as your body worked hard.
