Walk Toward a Healthier You
An object in motion, stays in motion. But what about your body? To keep yourself limber through the year, you must keep your body moving. This doesn’t have to mean intense cardio or strength training. It could be as simple as a 30-minute walk every day. Need some help getting started?
The Benefits of Walking
Improve your mood – Exercise can help relieve tension and stress in the body and mind. Walking outside in the fresh air will do more to enhance your mood as you soak in a bit of vitamin D.
Shrink your waistline – It may seem too easy to say that walking for a little bit every day can help with weight loss, but little changes like walking can lead to big changes in the long run. Still don’t believe us? Here’s the science behind it: Walking can help the way your body handles insulin, which helps reduce belly fat.
Improve your digestive system – Walking strengthens your gastrointestinal (GI) muscles. Each time you walk, you use core and abdominal muscles, which encourage movement of the GI system and improve the digestive process.
How to Fit Walking into Your Day
Start off slow – Everyone is at a different fitness level and has different capabilities. If you don’t exercise regularly, start by walking slow. Try this for 10 minutes every day and slowly work yourself up to more time. It’s always best to consult your doctor before you start any exercise program.
Walk before work – If you’ve got a busy schedule, you don’t have to put your health to the side. Try waking up just a half an hour earlier each day to give you time for a quick walk. The fresh air will be great to help you wake up and start your day feeling refreshed.
Walk during your lunch break – If waking up early is out of the question, you can always try walking during your lunch break at work. If you’re in an office job, this will be a great way to stretch your legs and come back from your break feeling recharged.
Make Walking Fun
Listen to music – Put on your headphones and walk to the beat! Music is a great way to distract you while you walk and gives you a boost of motivation. You’ll be done before you know it!
Walk with a friend – If you’re not a fan of walking alone or you just can’t get yourself out the door without an extra push, try finding a friend to walk with you. A friend will keep you accountable, so you’ll be less likely to skip out on your walk, and you’ll also have someone to talk to, which will help the time go by faster!
Vary your routes – No one likes doing the same workout every day. When you’re starting to feel a little bored from your walks, try a different route. Mixing up the views will keep you motivated and stop you from getting bored with your walking routine.
