Staying active is good. It improves your health, and we can help boost your potential for that at BioFit Performance in Oviedo, FL. You need more activity in your life to be truly healthy, and while some of it can occur in the gym, increasing your activity level outside the gym is also important. Something as simple as walking can make a difference. There are benefits of walking that people often overlook. Not only do you get outside to soak up some much-needed vitamin D to be your healthiest, you’re giving your body a workout at the same time.
Walking increases circulation and is a perfect way for those out of shape to start getting fit.
If you think you have to run to get fit, think again. According to some studies, walking may actually be better for your overall health than running. A study in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology concluded that people who walked received more health benefits than those who ran. You can modify your walk to become a HIIT—high intensity interval training—-workout by adjusting your speed throughout, walking moderately for a while and then at top speed, then returning to a moderate recovery rate. That makes it even more effective.
If you’re intimidated by the gym, walking is a good place to start a fitness regimen.
Some people are intimidated and afraid to go to the gym, because they are extremely out of shape. Personal trainers and gyms were made for people like that, but even though its not logical, it’s what they feel. Rather than give up on exercise entirely, why not start with something simple, like walking. It helps get your body ready for more rigorous exercise. Start by walking a few blocks and build until you can walk a half mile away from your home and return. If you aren’t sure how far you can walk, walk a short distance from your home, turn around and repeat a few times.
When you walk, you help improve your overall health and lower your risk of serious conditions.
Whether it’s diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol or hypertension, walking can help reduce the risk and isn’t as hard on joints as running. It helps improve your mood and builds bone strength, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. It’s a good way to improve your balance and improve your coordination. Just adding walking to your daily regimen can also help you lose weight by increasing the number of calories you burn.
- Even though walking is an excellent exercise, you still need other types of workouts, such as flexibility and strength training, to be fit. It’s a good start that you can build on later or good on your days out of the gym.
- If you’re cramped for time or so out of shape a half hour of walking is out of the question, you can break up a walking session into three ten minute walks and will get the same benefits.
- When you walk, make sure your posture is good. Put your shoulders back, stand tall and try to imagine you’re pushing the top of your head into the clouds. Just like any type of exercise, proper form is important.
- You don’t need any special clothes for walking, except proper footwear. There are other ways to boost your activity, like taking the stairs. When you walk, make it brisk for the most benefit. Longer strides and more rapid ones are best.
For more information, contact us today at BioFit Performance