A healthy lifestyle plan includes balanced meals and snacks and exercise. The best type of exercise is one that you enjoy and that you will do consistently. Exercise does not need to be complicated. Our family enjoys a variety of activities including yoga, swimming, hiking, and t-ball and soccer for my son. One of my favorite activities, however, is walking. Often we do not think of walking as exercise because we do it all the time, but it is a great way to get your body moving and burn some calories.
Are there any special requirements for walking to be a healthy activity? Not really. A walking workout can yield both physical and psychological benefits. The intensity of your workout can be varied depending on age and overall health. One can walk inside or outside, on a treadmill or on a track, on a sidewalk, in the woods, or in a mall. It can be a group activity or and individual one. Best of all, the only equipment required is a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
In case you are thinking, walking is not really exercise, let me share my experience with you. As the shortest person in my family I spent my entire childhood trying to figure out how to walk fast enough to keep up. Our family went hiking every fall weekend for most of my growing up years. Often, when I am having a rough day, a brisk walk outside clears my head and helps me relax. My work day starts with a 4 mile power walk with my dog. Following our walk I am energized and pumped up for the day (and the dog is a lot happier too). My favorite place to walk is outside where I can listen to the sounds around me and breathe fresh air. Regular walking is an important part of my healthy lifestyle. I get a great cardiovascular workout and burn calories to maintain my weight. I can adjust my speed to increase or decrease the intensity as needed.
Walking is a great way to start a healthy exercise plan if you are a bit out of practice. It is also a great way to supplement other types of exercise when you are traveling or cannot get to the gym. As with any type of exercise it is important to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.
Where is your favorite place to walk? Would love to hear from you in the comments below or join our conversation on facebook.
