Walking Is The Perfect Low Impact Exercise
Have you joined the the Step Challenge this month? What’s holding you back? If you have bad knees, are overweight or out of shape, or suffer from many other aches and pains, Walking is a very low impact way to ease yourself back into the saddle, so to speak. You don’t need any special equipment, you can start where you are, and it’s something you can do every single day.
If you’re like most of us, chances are you haven’t exercised much for awhile, maybe not since school, and you’ll need to take baby steps. If you are overweight or have health issues, it could be just a matter of time before it’s very nearly a life-or-death situation (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, or diabetes, etc). Take action now to be proactive about your health and well-being, so you don’t hear those dreaded words from your doctor. Your life, literally, depends on it!
Find a pair of comfortable shoes, put them on and go for a stroll through your neighborhood. Start by going for a 10 or 15 minute walk around the neighborhood and work your way up from there. Park farther away from the entrance when you go to stores or other appointments. Take 10 minutes out of your lunch during work, and walk around the exterior of the building. You could also find a local park with a nice path you can walk on. If the weather doesn’t permit walking outside, head to your local mall and walk or hop on a treadmill. Mix up your route at times and walk in different areas of town, or visit different parks.
You can even walk in place at home in front of your TV. Here’s a simple little idea to get you moving more. As you’re sitting on the couch at night watching TV, get up during commercial breaks and march in place until your favorite TV show comes back on. If you’re using a service like Netflix, make yourself walk in place for 10 minutes in between episodes. Or turn on the TV and challenge yourself to march in place during the entire show. Time will fly while you’re having fun, watching TV and EXERCISING!
In addition to watching TV and walking, you might find that listening to audiobooks or positive messages via youtube, etc. will help your walks seem to go faster. Check out Ted Talks and other Ted channels, Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, TD Jakes, Jay Shetty, Abraham Hicks, Prince EA, Joyce Meyer, Lisa Nichols, etc. Or connect to Pandora or Spotify and rock out to some tunes while you’re on the move. Invite a friend to come along with you to walk – or call one while you’re on the go. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to and having a walking buddy keeps you accountable.
The main thing is that you get out there, move around, and get some exercise in a way that’s gentle on your joints, your heart, and the rest of your body. This is exactly what walking will do for you. Give it a try and see if you don’t start to feel better, happier, and stronger after a few weeks of regular walks.
*** If you’re already in great shape, walking can still provide an effective workout. Walk fast and incorporate some hills and even stairs. Do you have other tips to share? Please share your ideas!
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