Walking Is Great Exercise
You know that walking is great exercise, but maybe you become bored easily. Your treadmill starts to gather dust, and you’re tired of doing laps around your local park.
You might stop making excuses if you thought about what you were missing. Walking for at least 21 minutes a day can cut your risk of heart disease by 30%, according to Harvard Medical School. For every 30 minutes you walk at a moderate pace, you burn about 200 calories while enhancing your circulation and brightening your mood. Plus, it’s free and requires no equipment.
Break up the monotony that stands between you and your walking program. Let these challenges and distractions help you walk your way to the fitness you desire.
Challenges To Make Walking More Fun
1. Set a goal. You’ll look forward to your walk when you focus on your purpose. Maybe you want to lose weight or condition your heart. Maybe you’re inspired by studies that show how walking slows down mental decline associated with aging.
2. Cross train. Walking is even more beneficial when you add other forms of exercise. Walk to the gym so you can finish up your workout with some weight lifting and stretching.
3. Work out in intervals. Vary your pace to make walking more interesting and productive. You could alternate between 3 minutes of brisk activity and 3 minutes at a gentler pace.
4. Tone your arms. Give your upper body some attention while you’re toning your legs. While hand weights can be tough on your joints, there are other ways to sculpt your arms and shoulders. Bring along an exercise band for arm circles and shoulder presses.
5. Head uphill. If you think walking is too easy, take it up a notch. Set your treadmill to a steep incline. Climb stairs or hike up a mountain.
