January 4, 2021

5 Reasons To Start Walking – Fitness Friday

Start Walking for Heart Health and to Lose Weight

5 Reasons To Start Walking – Fitness Friday. How to start a weight loss and exercise program – you begin with walking !!

Walking will get you on your way to losing weight and belly fat. If you’re overweight … or over age 50 … or are a beginner to exercise … or need to lose some poundage for that wedding dress … or just want to get in shape – then walking is your starting point.
So first things first – you have to start moving. Whether you’re 15 lbs overweight, 50 lbs overweight, or 100 lbs overweight, the best way to introduce yourself to exercise is by WALKING. Even if this is the ONLY form of exercise you can start with … JUST WALK.

Why walk? Because walking can help with:

weight loss
preventing or managing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions
strengthening muscles and bones
improving moods
improving balance and coordination

WHERE YOU CAN WALK

I’m fortunate to have a long driveway on my property and if I circle it 4 times, I’ve actually walked 1 mile. I take my dogs with me just so the walk never gets boring. I also do my walking in the evening after dinner. If I could, I’d actually fit in a morning walk. However seeing I leave my house at 5:00am for work … that’s just not happening right now.

But you don’t need a long driveway to clock steps – any place will do.

if you have a street out in front of your home – walk a couple blocks. Better yet – walk up 4 blocks and back. Eight city blocks equate to 1 mile
if you live in a high rise apartment complex – walk the hallways
if you have a park or a beachfront that you feel comfortable enough to stroll, walk the pavement there
if you live near a mall – walk the corridors. They specifically open their doors early (hours before the stores do) to accommodate mall walkers

Shoot for a mile for starters. If you feel this is too easy – go for two. Too much – go for less. Start with any number you feel comfortable with, but definitely try and aim for ONE. And do this EVERY DAY. Make sure you stretch before walking – do a couple leg lifts, add a couple leg stretches. You don’t want to give up after a few days all because of a pulled muscle.

JUST START MOVING … START WALKING !!