Walking is always a good and a basic form of exercise which can be done by anyone. As compared to other fitness activities like running or jogging, walking is a very low impact exercise so it is always good for people who have problems with joints or back. Walking can also help you in weight loss. Although you cannot be dependent on walking alone for your weight loss, it certainly helps and has a lot of health benefits.
Here are some tips for walking and weight loss
- Many of us want to know how many miles to walk or how much to walk before you start to lose weight. There is no exact answer to this as I have said in my earlier posts as well that there are a lot of factors involved in this because fitness level of one person cannot match the levels of others. Results are bound to be different. Generally, you need to walk for at least 45 mins , 4 times a week to see the effects. As in any other exercise, when you take up regular walking, your body will be conditioned to this new effort. With time you will find it easier and easier and you will have to take it to another level to push your out of your comfort zone which is very important.
- Walking can become monotonous and boring especially if you are walking around the same place every day. To make it interesting you can choose a different route every couple of days but make sure it is safe for walking, your safety should always be first. If you have a habit of putting on your music along with your walk, ensure that there is no traffic around you. I have seen a lot of accidents because of this very reason.
- Try and take quicker steps instead of longer strides. This will help in quicker movements and higher pulse rate. Pace always helps in walking. Now you know the secrets of a shapely butt.
- When you are walking in a park, you can easily add some free hand exercises to your walking session. Squats, pushups, lunges can be performed anywhere without any equipment. These simple exercises will help in adding strength and flexibility to your body.
- Keep yourself hydrated. Water is always good for your body and muscles so having adequate water and fluids is essential here.
Stick to a walking schedule
The best way to get maximum benefits from your walking is to make a daily schedule for it. When you do it daily, your body will get conditioned to it and you will see the benefits. The key here is to be consistent with your efforts. there are many good apps which can help you track your activity over a period of time. Use them to track your progress.
Other than these, try to walk whenever you can, that could be in your office, home, shopping etc. It can be a fun and easy way to lose weight.