According to Dictionary.com, the definition of Fitness Walking is the aerobic sport of brisk, rhythmic, vigorous walking, intended to improve cardiovascular efficiency, strengthen the heart, control weight gain, and reduce stress.
You'll notice that one of the "Key-Words" in this definition is the word, Brisk! You need to expend a steady, significant amount of energy in order for a walking program to be beneficial to you. That is to say, that even taking a leisurely slow walk, while not taxing your body, you’re not going to be burning as many calories as if you were walking at a brisk pace. A pace that while being brisk, you should still be able to carry on a conversation with a friend without being winded as you walk!
Brisk Walking means to walk at a pace that is sufficient to raise your heart rate to its "training zone" for cardiovascular endurance. And, that varies depending on your age, weight, and current level of fitness. Typically, a "Brisk Walking Pace" is approx. 3.0 miles per hour, or about taking 20 minutes to walk a mile, which is roughly 5 kilometers per hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to NutriStrategy, if you weigh 155 pounds, a 30-minute brisk walk at 3.5 mph will burn 134 calories.
Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life. For example, regular brisk walking can help you: Maintain a healthy weight. It can help to prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Keeping in mind that you’re going to be walking continuously at this kind of pace, you can lose weight just by walking. Walking at a pace of 3.5 miles per hour for 30 minutes, a 155-pound person can burn about 149 calories or 298 calories in one hour. Over the course of 60 days, this is 17,880 calories or just over 5 pounds. So, you see, walking along with a good nutritious diet can provide the catalyst you need to not only improve your general health which walking will do, but you can also have the benefit of dropping pounds, over a period of time.
Walking a mile burns as many calories as running a mile, with less impact on the joints. This makes walking an excellent physical activity to get in shape. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t walk enough and walk far less than adults around the world. Because of this low-impact fitness program, doctors lean towards recommending walking to their patients who are looking for, or need to lose a significant amount of weight, but are not prone to using the various fitness equipment that is found in local gyms. Walking simply requires a good, sturdy and comfortable pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, naturally, that coincides with the weather, and depending on how far your planning to walk a water bottle to keep you hydrated as you walk off into the setting sun.
Another item that you may want to bring along with you as you pile up the miles walking is a good activity monitor. One that not only tracks and counts the number of steps your taking, like a regular pedometer does, but an activity monitor, watch type that can capture all related energy expended by you as you walk along down your chosen path to fitness. An activity monitor like the Garmin Vivosport GPS Sport & Activity Tracker This smart activity tracker, with wrist-based heart rate monitoring along with a built-in GPS for mapping out your walk, run or bicycle ride if you'd like to add this form of exercise to your "Get Fit Program". It also includes strength training and cardio activities. Safe for swimming and showering, Vívosport is the perfect accessory for every day and for your active life. Monitor your fitness level with VO2 max and manage your stress with all-day stress monitoring. Again, this type of activity monitor will take you from just being an everyday walker to a person who is taking their personal goal of being healthier seriously!
So, there you have it. Yes, walking can definitely provide the means for you to be healthier and help you to lose weight along the way. The bottom line is being fit and healthy is a choice for you, me, and everyone who have to decide to take on for themselves. Having someone nagging at you to lose weight and get in shape simply will not cut it for most people. In fact, studies have shown that people that give in to the pressure of say, a family member or even from peer pressure may at first show some fitness gains, but if they do not fully adopt this fitness way of life, they ultimately will fall back into their old habits.
So, tell me, Are YOU ready to commit to being A healthier you, and be all that YOU can be?