Walking- The Many Health Benefits
Here are just a few reasons why walking is a great way to improve one’s overall health and reach fitness goals.
Walking
– costs nothing
– has a low dropout rate
– increases life expectancy
– benefits your heart
– is an effective form of exercise
– is a great way to bond with your dog
– provides time with your kid(s)
– gives you a chance to explore new surroundings
– gives you a chance to window shop
– keeps you motivated
– gives you a chance to be social
– gets you up and moving
– stops you from being a couch potato
– relieves stress
– helps you to gain more energy
– allows you to set goals
– helps you to burn calories
– provides time for you to spend with your family
Goal Setting
Walking provides you with meeting recommended goal for physical activity as accorded by the AHA. Moderate activity is currently set at 150 minutes a week and vigorous activity is set at 75 minutes a week.
Walking can help you to prepare for something a little more strenuous and enduring. It also helps you to strive towards reaching and making new goals. Brisk walking is a great way to prepare you for an upcoming 5K race or another similar activity.
Achieving a weight loss goal can be made possible by modifying your caloric intake, and walking as a form of physical activity. Your doctor can advise you on how much weight you can afford to lose each week without putting your health at risk.
Setting Up a Fitness Routine
Before setting up a fitness routine, it is important that you take some things into consideration. Here are some questions and answers that may help you to decide what degree of physical activity your body can handle without causing too much stress or injury.
Do you have a daily workout regime?
Daily exercise is important to your overall health. The level in which you start your fitness program is dependent on your fitness level at the present time. Before starting a fitness program, it is important that you record your muscular fitness and aerobic fitness levels to determine which fitness level you should start from.
Find out your fitness level by-
Accessing your flexibility, body composition, and aerobic muscular fitness, you need to record-
– the time it takes you to walk one mile;
– the amount of push-ups that you can complete in one set;
– the width of your waist at the start of your hip bones;
– the length of your reach while sitting on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you and you reaching towards your feet;
– your BMI or body mass index;
Things that you should do-
– consult a doctor about any underlying medical condition as this may harbor your ability to participate in astrenuous exercise regime;
– if you suffer from heart disease or diabetes speak to your medical practitioner before beginning a new activity;
– increase the amount of physical activity that you do if you already partake in an exercise regimen;
Personalize Your Fitness Plan-
– think about the things that you like to do before choosing which type of fitness plan to participate in
– a gym membership works well for those that like to socialize while exercising;
– an aerobics class is great for those that are interested in dancing
– if you prefer to exercise alone, purchase simple equipment and some workout dvds
Geared to Your Budget
– chose activities according to your budget
– home exercise equipment can be costly, learn to improvise with inexpensive substitutions
– take part in a community recreation center that may offer free or discount on their fitness classes