Walking is Free

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/29/ideal.walking.workout/index.html

I was reading online at cnn.com and found a very interesting article that I believe can be very beneficial to most people. This article was about how to start a walking routine or regiment. The thing we must all know is that walking is one of the best ways for many of us to jump start into working out and even running. If you are a beginner to walking and not in the best shape this is a great start for anyone looking to loose wait and get healthier. There are many ways to start your walking, but starting slow is the way that they tell you to start in this particular article. If you are planning on walking occasionally you should start out by walking around 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You should try and walk a bit faster pace than you do when you are getting to and from places normally, such as work or home. Try to remember this is not just for fun this walking has a purpose. You should also try to set a goal for yourself in the process, maybe try and workout for three days the first week and work up to five days over a course of a few weeks. Remember that working out with a partner will not only increase the fun aspect of walking, but will help you both to set and obtain larger goals that will be beneficial in your walking and your health. Whenever you have mastered the 15 to 20 minute walk, instead of upping your time maybe you should try and change your terrain to something that is more difficult. Most people walk on pavement, so maybe you should try walking on a track that is made of base rock. Try and walk up more hills too, this will greatly increase your stamina and is a great change of pace too. Walking for longer periods of time is great if you have more time. If you can’t swing an hour walk, try and walk a bit faster. Whenever you decide to up your pace there are a few things to remember. While you walk try and keep your arms a 90 degree angles, this allows you to walk faster. Walk in an upright position and keep your abs pulled in a little and you will increase the strength in them and lower the risk of a back injury. Remember to nurse any injury you may get, and even take a few days off if needed.

My first reaction to this article was that I never really thought of walking for a workout. I recently had a knee injury and it was a nice paced way for me to burn a few extra calories. I also like the fact that walking is free, so if you’re on a budget and you don’t want one of those pricey gym memberships you can always walk.

I reacted this way because so many of us are struggling with money these days. Walking is an easy way to benefit you and is a great stress reliever, and not to mention, it’s free. I hope that anyone who reads this will at least think about the benefits of walking and if they decide that walking is not or you, I hope you chose another route for some self health.

Walking is the easiest on your body for any workout and the cheapest. Remember that buddy workouts are the ones that last, so find a buddy and walk your hearts out.