A program of physical fitness can be simple. Daily brisk walks can help keep you healthy. You can slim down and maintain a healthy weight through regular brisk walks. This simple activity can also reduce your danger of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.
Many fitness experts think that walking offers more significant benefits than running. Walking impacts your lower back, knees, hips, and joints less. Compared to runners, walkers are less likely to develop workout-related injuries. So, if you are considering starting a fitness program, walking should top your list.
Get the Appropriate Gear
Consider the weather before choosing what to wear for a walk. Thick clothing will keep you warm in cooler weather. Moisture-wicking fabrics work best during the hot summer months. If you exercise during dark hours, wear bright colors for visibility. Wear sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat when exercising on a sunny hot day.
You need a fitness shoe. You should get a reliable pair of cross trainers, running or walking shoes for best results. A quality pair of shoes will help protect your joints, provide support, and shock absorption so you can exercise longer.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Walking
Proper posture and form will help you make the most of your walking routine. Like in all other exercises, the better the posture and form, the greater the benefits of the workout. Here is a checklist to assess yourself.
1. Avoid using your smartphone when walking for fitness. Keep your eyes forward and head upright.
2. Pull your navel inwards in the direction of your spine. You engage your core when you do this.
3. Drop your shoulders so your necks rear touches your shirt’s collar.
4. Avoid slouching forward.
5. Swing your arms lightly. You tend to walk faster with your arms swinging and even burn more calories.
6. Avoid shuffling side to side or back and forth as you walk. Instead, walk straight forward.
5 Simple Steps to Walking for Fitness
Take the following steps once you have the appropriate walking gear:
1. Hit the outdoors
2. Take note of the time
3. Walk for ten minutes at your usual pace
4. Make a U-turn and return to your initial starting point
5. The first phase was to warm up your body. Take brisk paces as you walk back to your starting position. Brisk pace walking means you will be walking quicker than you typically would. You should see a slight increase in your heart rate.
Additional Tips
If you are looking to maintain or enhance your overall health, doing five 30-minute workout sessions each week will help you achieve that. You should also set a goal to increase your step count daily. Aim to walk half a mile in approximately 10 minutes if you are just starting out. Once you attain that goal, extend to one mile and two miles. When you can walk two miles within 30 minutes, you have achieved a solid walking pace that can help you stay fit.