Walking Is The Perfect Exercise For Almost Every Body
You may have put off beginning an exercise program because you felt you did not have enough time or money to take up fitness. Many people are unaware of the fact that walking is excellent exercise. It is the perfect form of exercise for the vast majority of people because no special equipment is required, and you can do it any time you have a few minutes to kill. Just get yourself a pair of comfortable shoes, and you can begin. In this article, we will explain why you should begin a walking fitness program today and provide tips to help you get started.
Walking is an excellent way to lower blood pressure. Several recent medical studies have found that a regular, daily walk of half an hour will lower systolic blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as forty percent. Regular walking also reduces the risk of stroke by about half. If you are unable to walk for half an hour at a time due to lack of time or low fitness level, break it up into several short walks a day. Ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes at lunchtime and ten minutes after dinner will do you good.
As we age, our bones become more brittle. Walking is great for maintaining bone density, and it is much easier on the joints and bones than other weight-bearing forms of exercise such as aerobics and running. When you walk for a total of half an hour a day consistently, you will lower your chances of developing osteoporosis. Additionally, walking strengthens the bones by as much as two percent so that you will be less likely to break a hip if you fall when you become older.
Walking for half an hour a day every day will help you lose weight. You will not lose lots of weight fast, but health science research tells us that regular walking combined with a sensible, healthful diet can result in a loss of about five pounds a year of excess weight. Additionally, walking builds muscle and helps increase your heart rate and metabolism. This helps your body burn food efficiently to keep weight off.
As you walk every day, your fitness level will increase and you will find yourself walking faster, farther and longer. This is great for your body and great for your mental health. Psychiatric researchers have found that people who walk every day do better on cognitive tasks than those who do not exercise at all. Adding stretching before walking and strengthening exercises, such as a light dumbbell workout while watching television can further increase your overall fitness level and your level of cognition.
A daily walk can clear your mind and help free you of problems with worry and depression. When you walk every day, you will find that you sleep better and handle stress better. Many people who walk say that they find the experience emotionally satisfying. For this reason, they say they are more likely to continue walking for exercise than they would be any other form of exercise. Walking is easy, natural, affordable and fun. Follow the information presented here to begin your own light and healthy walking workout program for fitness.
