Why Walking To Lose Weight Is Such A Good Idea
Posted in Diet Delivery on 25. Jun, 2010
If you are one of the many people who would like to lose a few pounds and get into better shape, then it really is quite simple (and achievable). In order to lose weight you must consume fewer calories by eating and drinking than you burn off as a result of physical activity. If you use up more calories than you consume on a regular basis then your weight will reduce. There is no magic pill or diet supplement that will alter that simple fact.
So if you are after weight loss then you can eat and drink less (diet), use up more calories (exercise) – or both. Doing both simultaneously is, without any shadow of a doubt, the best option. Regular and frequent physical exercise will elevate your metabolic rate – the speed at which you use up calories. If you take exercise on a regular and consistent basis then your increased metabolic rate will mean that you burn off calories more quickly even when you’re not taking exercise – for example, when you’re typing on your computer, sitting watching the TV – even when you’re sleeping.
Of course, the very thought of exercising can be off-putting for many people – but there’s no reason to avoid exercise, it needn’t involve getting all hot, sweaty and out of breath. Walking is one of the very best forms of exercise that you can take part in, and it’s something which the majority of us do on a daily basis anyway. You just need to walk a little further and a little more often in order to reap the rewards – and there are numerous health benefits available to those who walk on a regular and consistent basis.
According to many medical sources we should all be trying to walk for 10,000 steps each day. For most people that approximates to a distance of somewhere between four and a half and five miles. It does sound like a fair old distance – but it’s a lot easier to accomplish than you might think. Remember – the 10,000 steps target is the total distance, which includes the normal walking that you do as you go about your daily business anyway. You already have something to build on.
Leave the car at home and walk to work – or get off the bus a couple of stops early and finish the last part of your journey on foot. If you do take the car then park it in a corner of the parking lot that’s well away from the entrance so that you have further to walk. Take the stairs instead of the lift. Take a fifteen minute walk at lunch time. It soon adds up.
A good pair of comfortable shoes are all you need to get started with a walking exercise program – no other equipment is required. However, a pedometer might be a worthwhile investment for you – especially if a lot of your walking is subdivided into short sessions throughout your day. It will track your results in terms of the number of steps taken, the total distance covered and the number of calories burned – whichever you find most interesting. This should help you to stay motivated.
If you don’t already have one, then an mp3 player might not be a bad idea. The time and the miles will pass much more quickly when you’re walking along listening to your favorite tunes.
Finally, you might want to look at how some of the latest exercise footwear – such as Reebok Easy Tones, Skecher’s Shape Ups or Fitflops – can help to boost the effectiveness of your walking to lose weight exercise program. These all claim to increase the amount of work done during normal walking – thereby increasing the return on your investment of time.
