healthier you today

Many people avoid taking exercise, sometimes subconsciously, because they think it will be too strenuous. Some people may even consider themselves too unfit to take exercise whilst others may have medical problems which prevent them from over exerting themselves. For some people, the very thought of a trip to the gym and getting hot and sweaty is probably enough to put them off. Whatever the reasons, and you can probably think up a few more of these, it can be extremely hard to summon up either the energy or the motivation to take exercise on a regular basis.

However, there is a form of exercise which the vast majority of people take every day without even thinking about it. It needs no special equipment and won’t leave you all hot and bothered. Walking is a great way to get a low impact workout with very little injury risk and which can be undertaken by most people. You can slot it into your daily routine whenever it suits you and there are no gym membership fees to pay either.

There are many health benefits associated with walking as an exercise method. It lowers the risk of stroke and heart disease. It also reduces blood pressure, strengthens the heart and boosts lung capacity. It builds up muscle and, due to the fact that it is a weight bearing exercise, it helps to increase bone density. When carried out on a regular basis, it will burn off calories and lead to weight loss. It can even lower the probability of contracting certain types of cancer.

It’s a long list of health benefits – all of which can be had with relatively little effort and without the need to become a fitness fanatic overnight. Walking as little as 30 minutes a day on a regular basis can soon produce results. If you can work up gradually to around 10,000 steps daily – that’s roughly equivalent to 5 miles for most people – then you will soon start to shed pounds and inches, have more energy and feel better in general.

The important thing is to be consistent. Start out slowly and try to increase your distance covered over time – and only when you are comfortable to do so. Leave the car at home and walk to work, school, the shops. Use the stairs instead of the elevator every now and again. Small changes soon make a big difference. The only thing that you really need to start walking is a good pair of comfortable shoes. However, you might consider the purchase of a cheap pedometer – they start at less than $10 – to be a wise investment. You may find that recording your progress – in terms of the number of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of calories burned – will help to keep you motivated.

If you haven’t taken any exercise for a while, if you’re over 40, or if you have any existing medical problems, then you should definitely talk to your doctor prior to starting any new exercise plan. However, if you’re sensible and start off slowly, regular walking exercise has the potential to provide you with many health benefits – including weight loss, increased energy and, best of all, generally feeling better.

Discover how Fitflops fitness shoes can help boost the efficiency of your walking workout. Both women’s and men’s Fitflops are available in a wide range of styles and colors.