Well, so can going for a walk each day! It’s been proven, and we have all heard the facts, from the health beat reporter on the news, to the talk show host, expounding the benefits of getting active and going for a 30 minute walk each day.
Well, consider this, more and more Americans, and for that matter some of our European cousins have fallen into a sedentary lifestyle. Long gone are the days when our grandparents, their grandparents and even our own mothers and fathers, (if you’re from the baby boomer era) have had to do manual labor each and every day. For that matter, look at today’s farmers, cattle ranchers, and anyone else that makes their living from working off the land each and every day.
They put in a good 10-12 hour day on a regular basis, and guess what, they don’t get off for weekends, or holidays. Certain chores still need to be done each and every day. If of any of us, they, probably get the most physical activity of today’s modern workforce. But they also caught a few breaks in as much as they now have better equipment and tools to get the most out of their related physical tasks. Let’s face it, long gone are the days when you hitched up a horse and walked behind it to till a field. You can thank companies like “John Deer” for that.
What I’m getting at is like eating that preverbal apple each day to help you stay healthy, going for a good walk, of at least 30 minutes each day can help a person to get their bodies moving again, and if you keep this routine up, there is nothing stopping you from increasing the amount of time you spend on your walks, say by an additional 15 minutes, say every two weeks.
One way to keep track of how much your doing, step-wise along with the distance you’re putting behind you and the calories burned, you need a Good Pedometer. One that we like is the Pedusa PE-771 . It’s a multi-function pedometer, one that can do all of the above, along with being one of the most accurate ones and can keep your data between downloads for up to 7 days. Your going to make walking a part of your healthier new you, so why not get a pedometer that will stay with you ever step of the way!
Some of the benefits of lacing up a pair of sneaks and getting out there and pounding the pavement that you can get are:
1. It can help you lose some weight and de-stress, which will help in lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of many chronic diseases. Going for regular walks is one of the best and easiest things you can do for your health. And as I said, society today because of their lack of physical activity, have found themselves with increasing waistlines and the number of people with type 2 diabetes has also increased, more alarming, it has increased with our children as well!
2. You’re going to see your Mood improve: You know how sometimes it takes a glass of wine or a square (or three) of dark chocolate to blunt the edge of a rough day? Well, going for a walk is a zero-calorie strategy with the same benefits. Research has shown that regular walking actually modifies your nervous system so much that you'll experience a decrease in anger as you go about your usual daily activities. What's more, when you make your walks social like going for a walk with, say, your partner, a neighbor, or a good friend—that interaction helps you feel connected, which boosts mood. Finally, walking outdoors exposes you to natural sunlight, which we have all heard in the health area of the news or newspapers that we need exposure to sunlight to help increase our vitamin D levels naturally.
3. Your creative juices will start flowing: Whether you're feeling stuck at work or you've been searching for a solution to a tricky problem, research shows it's a good idea to get moving: According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, Learning, Memory, and Cognition, going for a walk can spark creativity. Researchers administered creative-thinking tests to subjects while seated and while walking and found that the walkers thought more creatively than the sitters.
4. This one may seem obvious, but it's certainly a happy benefit for those who start walking regularly. As you continue to walk, you may notice your pants begin to fit more loosely around your midsection, even if the number on the scale isn't moving much. That's because regular walking can help improve your body's response to insulin, which can help reduce belly fat." Ariel Iasevoli, a personal trainer at Crunch gyms in New York City, adds that walking every day is one of the most effective low-impact ways to mobilize fat and positively alter body composition. "Daily walking increases metabolism by burning extra calories and by preventing muscle loss, which is particularly important as we get older," says Iasevoli. The best part? You don't have to slog it out on a treadmill at the gym to see these benefits.
5. You'll slash your risk of chronic disease: The statistics are impressive: The American Diabetes Association says walking lowers your blood sugar levels and your overall risk for diabetes. Researchers at the University of Boulder Colorado and the University of Tennessee found that regular walking lowered blood pressure by as much as 11 points and may reduce the risk of stroke by 20% to 40%. One of the most cited studies on walking and health, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that those who walked enough to meet physical activity guidelines (30 or more minutes of moderate activity on 5 or more days per week) had a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with those who did not walk regularly. "The physical benefits of walking are well documented. With impressive results like these, there's a good chance you'll get a pat on the back from your doc at your next checkup.
6. Your other goals will start to seem more reachable: When you become a regular walker, you will have established a regular routine—and when you have a routine, you are more likely to continue with the activity and take on new healthy behaviors. Walking regularly can help you to accomplish other goals you set your mind to, since the key to a lot of failed ambitions, is giving up just a little too soon.
So, go ahead, make a schedule, either early in the morning before work, on a lunch hour or after your day's hectic endeavors to get your walking program started.
Whatever time you choose to walk, Make sure you, JUST DO IT!