The Best Exercise

There must be loads of “best exercises” but most people wouldn’t think of walking as a best exercise. Walking has never been considered “sexy.” Walking is something that we all do, and some of the people that do it are the size of a house end. So how can walking be so good for us, and how can some experts consider walking as THE BEST EXERCISE?
All walking is good for us. Even a twenty minute stroll up the road with the dog will benefit the lungs and heart. Unfortunately this stroll will not work wonders in helping to control the weight. The only way that walking will help shed the lard is to walk further, and preferably longer, at least three quarters of an hour. You can get better results by walking the same amount of time, but faster. Some people use walking as an overall workout. Runners often use walking as their off day exercise to help their joints and muscles to recover.
The good thing about walking is that you don’t need expert advice, and you don’t have to be super fit to start a programme. In fact if you are well over weight walking is probably the best exercise that you can do. On the other hand if you are super fit why not take up race walking? If you enjoy being outside and you want an exercise that will push you to the limit this is the way to go.
Race walking at a moderate pace uses about 600 calories per hour. Jogging at a moderate pace uses only 400 calories per hour. Why does race walking use more calories than running? When you run your upper body stays fairly still. When you race walk you use most of the upper as well as your legs. It is important that if you take up race walking you must concentrate on good style. If you are serious about race walking you will be able to find information on Google or in numerous books.
Many very heavy people find that starting a gym programme can be very embarrassing and consequently feel too humiliated to stay on the programme for long. Others, that try working out at home, have great difficulty with the programme as their body bulk gets in the way. If they take up a walking programme they can do it without anyone knowing about it. You could walk with the dog (the dog will love you for it). Only walk a little faster and a little further. Nobody will even know that they are on an exercise programme. Using this programme and a good diet programme they will be fit in no time.

Get The Right Gear.

Although you do not need much specialised equipment to walk, having the correct shoes will make life easier for your feet. You don’t need the latest space age fancy shoes, but shoes with good cushioning and a firm heel will help. The heavier you are the more you should concentrate on good footwear. Have a talk with a specialist at your sports shop.

Warm Up

Even with a low impact exercise as walking it is still best to start your walk off slowly and then build up the pace. You could use the first three minutes warming up; the middle period of your walk at exercise pace; cool down for final five minutes.

Alternate

To add a little variation to your walking try variations. Walk fast , then walk slower; walk, then jog; walk for one minute, jog for one minute, walk for two minutes, jog for two minutes, building up to say five minutes and then work down again. Use your imagination to make your own mini programmes. This will create interest and stop boredom.

Take The High Road

I live in a hilly area of England and enjoy walking the trails on these hills. This is obviously much harder on the body than walking on the flat so work yourself into it gradually. I am an artist and so combine my work with my exercise. I take my art gear and cameras, food and water, and wet weather gear in a day sack and spend the day wandering the fells of Northern England. Carrying the gear adds to the exercise benefits. IMPORTANT ADVICE – If you are a newcomer to walking the fells make sure that you have a map, and leave information with someone as to where you are going to spend the day. The weather in the high country can be unreliable. The fells for all their beauty are dangerous places.

Singing In The Rain

If you have an MP3 or CD player take it along. Fast music will help you to walk faster. Listening to your favourite music will also help the time pass more quickly.

Well there it is: If walking is not the best exercise it surely must rank highly as one of the best exercises, and definitely one of the most enjoyable.