Walking for Fitness

There’s so much controversy these days surrounding walking and whether or not it’s beneficial or not in the fitness industry that you’d assume we were debating how to settle world peace! For now, let’s settle the score on walking and we’ll let the brighter minds set flight to the dove and olive leaf.

Here it is: Walking is good. It might not burn a boatload of calories like running all out but, it is good. It might not turn you into a fitness competitor overnight but, it is good. It may not be good exercise for world-class distance runners but, it is good.

Here’s why:

• Walking does burn calories. It gets you off your couch and out there on your treadmill burning calories.


• It also clears your head and calms you down and helps boost positive hormones in your body. We all know you get a great endorphin kick after a brisk walk around the block.You’d never regret going for a walk when you get a reward like that!


• It adds up. Walk enough, and it’ll make a difference. You will burn calories and you will trim and tone your body. I’ve seen it. People DO lose weight walking. I promise.


• It’s user friendly. You’re probably not gonna blow a knee walking around the block or going for a seaside stroll. Let those maniacs on Sportscenter live the high impact sports lifestyle.
  

Visit them when they’re 50—They’ll be lucky to be walking at that point. All kidding aside, I’m not putting down athletes, I’m just saying that you don’t have to train like one to get some great exercise.

• Sore neck? Go for a walk. The blood flow and loosening and relaxing of the joints during your walk will actually help relieve your neck soreness and loosen any tension you’ve built up over the day.


• You can do it anywhere! No equipment required, no cost, no waiting for the next available walking machine like waiting for a piece of equipment in the gym.


• You can make it more challenging if you wish. Remember those circuits they have in parks where you walk along then you stop and do a few lunges or a jumping jack or two? Give it a try. Jumping jacks, push ups off benches, 1-2 leg hops, lunges, squats, calf raises, chin ups and tuck jumps are all easy exercises to jam pack your walk and boost your calorie burn!
  

So next time you’re wondering what to do for little fitness fun in the sun or how to splash through a rainy day, swing open that door and live it up and go for a walk!. -James Crestor