Oviedo, FL, and the surrounding area provides a lot to see and do. It makes walking easier, since you could change your location every day and still enjoy new scenery and interesting places. While walking is a good starting point, particularly if you’re out of shape and need the extra cardio, but it’s not a complete workout. You need all types of fitness exercises and a full body workout. Strength-building, flexibility training and balance are also necessary. Walking also doesn’t provide a full body workout, but it’s a start. It’s a weight bearing exercise that also provides endurance training.
Modify your walking to work your arms and make it a strength-building workout.
Since it’s a weight bearing exercise, it helps prevent osteoporosis and can actually reverse the process. It builds strength in the legs. As you walk, your muscles tug on the bones and that tugging triggers a message to the brain to send more bone building material to make the bones stronger. That means they recalcify. That’s good for the legs, but what about your arms? Arm weights can help you do that, but you have to swing your arms vigorously.
It may not be a complete workout, but it’s a good supplement.
Getting back into shape means starting slower and less aggressive, especially if you’re older or have health issues. You can alternate between the gym and walking, working out one day at the gym and walking the next. On the days at the gym, you’ll get all types of fitness workouts for all parts of the body with a workout designed especially for you and your fitness level.
Walking can provide a lot of benefits, but you still need a full workout.
Walking increases circulation and a great way to start to get fit again. You can make it more effective by modifying how you walk and make it a HIIT—high intensity interval training—workout. All you have to do is modify the intensity, walk at top speed for a minute or two and then at moderate, recovery speed for the same amount of time, then back to top speed. However, to be truly fit, you need strength and flexibility training, as well. Both types of training are important for preventing injury and living your best life.
- Walking outdoors can provide even more benefits. It can boost your vitamin D level. Studies show that many people are deficient in vitamin D, which also boosts bone building and boosts your immune system.
- Even if you consider it just walking, you still need to warm up and cool down, especially if you’re walking at a brisk pace or modifying the intensity to make it a HIIT workout.
- You might think that walking doesn’t require skill, but form, good posture, is extremely important. Stand tall with your chin level to the ground, eyes focused straight ahead, shoulders back and back straight.
- You don’t have to walk for a half hour to an hour straight. You can break it up to ten minute sessions throughout the day. Walking faster is important, since studies show people with a fast walking pace live longer.
For more information, contact us today at Biofit Performance