Before you crank up the speed on your treadmill, listen up! There are many health benefits of walking. Yes, you heard us right. You shouldn’t feel pressured to include six minute-mile sprints in your workout routine. Steady, low-impact walking can help trim you waistline and improve your health.
There are plenty of other benefits too, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, weight management, improved mood, and increased overall fitness.
The best part about walking is that you don’t need much to get started, just a comfortable pair of sneakers. And you can walk just about anywhere – to the grocery store, mall, pharmacy, post office, bus stop and more. Think about how many miles you walk when holiday shopping!
There are plenty of free online tools to help track your progress and keep you motivated. We really like American Heart Association’s MyStart Tracker where you can log your time and distance, as well as save your favorite walking trails.
Don’t forget to warm up, stretch your muscles and hydrate with plenty of water. And feel free to bring a furry friend or two along. Who loves a nice long walk more than Fido?
