Walking is a great way to take exercise. You already know how to do it, so there's no need for any training - and all you need is a good, comfortable pair of shoes to get started. There are no pricey gym fees involved either!
You can fit it into your day whenever it suits you best - do it in one session or just fit a number of smaller walks in as and when it's most convenient for you.
Health experts recommend 10,000 steps a day in order to get the maximum benefit from a
walking fitness program. That's somewhere between four and a half and five miles for someone of average stride length.
It sounds like a long way, but it's easier to achieve than you might imagine. Don't forget, that's the total number of steps, including the ones that you take during all your normal daily activities anyway. Even if you have a fairly sedentary lifestyle, you probably take a couple of thousand steps already.
A few small changes will help get you toward the 10,000 step mark before you know it. Here are just a few examples of ways to boost your step count:
- Leave the car and walk to work/school/the shops.
- Get off the bus one or two stops early and finish your journey on foot.
- Walk around when you're talking on your cell phone.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator every now and again.
- Get up from your desk, walk over to your colleague and talk instead of sending an e-mail (has other benefits too!).
Those are just a few examples. There are plenty of other easy ways to boost your step count without making massive lifestyle changes.
Using a digital pedometer can help you to keep track of your progress and stay motivated. You might also find instructional books and DVDs motivating. Having a "walking buddy" is another way to make your exercise fun and sociable.
Here's a short list of some of the
best walking workout 2014 DVDs and books on the market right now. See if there's one there that might work for you.
