Can walking help you lose weight and get in shape? The answer to this question is a definitive yes!
Walking vs. Strength Training
However many people who are trying to get rid of unwanted pounds believe the only exercise to do this is strength training. This usually means joining a gym program unless you have a weights machine like Bowflex at home. While it's true that lifting weights has many benefits, including burning fat, you should not ignore what walking can do for your overall health and well-being.
However many people who are trying to get rid of unwanted pounds believe the only exercise to do this is strength training. This usually means joining a gym program unless you have a weights machine like Bowflex at home. While it's true that lifting weights has many benefits, including burning fat, you should not ignore what walking can do for your overall health and well-being.
Walking To Lose Weight
Now most of us understand that exercise alone will not guarantee weight loss - you also need to eat appropriately. In fact weight loss is a very complex subject, and what works for some fails miserably in others. One thing is certain though; walking definitely helps to get you into a trimmer shape. Walking also helps your body's digestive system, and this is one of the key factors when you want to lose weight. Your liver and kidneys have to be healthy if you want to keep off the pounds.
Now most of us understand that exercise alone will not guarantee weight loss - you also need to eat appropriately. In fact weight loss is a very complex subject, and what works for some fails miserably in others. One thing is certain though; walking definitely helps to get you into a trimmer shape. Walking also helps your body's digestive system, and this is one of the key factors when you want to lose weight. Your liver and kidneys have to be healthy if you want to keep off the pounds.
Benefits of Walking
Regular walking has many advantages. Following are some of the main ones:
Regular walking has many advantages. Following are some of the main ones:
- It's a natural exercise - our bodies were built for walking
- You burn calories (of course this is true of any exercise!)
- It's something you can easily do everyday, at no cost
- Much better muscle definition in your legs and thighs
- Your energy level will increase
- You will sleep better
- Stress level is lowered
- Your cardiovascular system will improve
- Your chances of getting a related injury are quite small compared to other sports
- You burn calories (of course this is true of any exercise!)
- It's something you can easily do everyday, at no cost
- Much better muscle definition in your legs and thighs
- Your energy level will increase
- You will sleep better
- Stress level is lowered
- Your cardiovascular system will improve
- Your chances of getting a related injury are quite small compared to other sports
Walk This Way To Lose Weight
Here are some general tips to get you going:
Here are some general tips to get you going:
- Maintain a proper posture to get the most from your walks
- Try to keep your back straight. Looking ahead and not down helps.
- Swing your arms as you go.
- Keep relaxed as much as possible Breathe easily, although going up a hill you may feel out of breath
- Walk with a friend if you can
- Keep track of your miles in a walking log - this is a great motivator
- Try to keep your back straight. Looking ahead and not down helps.
- Swing your arms as you go.
- Keep relaxed as much as possible Breathe easily, although going up a hill you may feel out of breath
- Walk with a friend if you can
- Keep track of your miles in a walking log - this is a great motivator
Fast or Slow?
There's a difference of opinion about how fast you need to walk to reap the benefits. So, should you walk quickly or slowly? Actually both are beneficial. If you are out of shape then you definitely need to start off slowly anyway. Walking quickly will burn off more calories in the same time, but it puts more strain on your legs. The solution I prefer is to alternate slow walks with faster ones on different days. This technique is a standard one in many sports training programs and it works well.
There's a difference of opinion about how fast you need to walk to reap the benefits. So, should you walk quickly or slowly? Actually both are beneficial. If you are out of shape then you definitely need to start off slowly anyway. Walking quickly will burn off more calories in the same time, but it puts more strain on your legs. The solution I prefer is to alternate slow walks with faster ones on different days. This technique is a standard one in many sports training programs and it works well.
In conclusion then, walking to lose weight is an effective, and enjoyable way to work off the calories and get in shape. Click on the links below to watch a video on walking and get more information about this weight loss method.
Mike is a fitness enthusiast, runner and walker. He is a contributing editor to 'Get In Shape' - a health and fitness website for women. You can find lots more information on how to lose weight with walking on the Walking To Lose Weight web page. To find how you can get your own personalized walking log visit Personal Walking Logs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Stapenhurst
0 comments:
Post a Comment