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Stride
for Better Health
By Patricia Wagner
Did you know that
walking is one of the best activities you can do
to dramatically increase your level of health?
Many people today are afflicted with
"couch-potato-itis!" They come home
from work, switch on their TVs and forget that
their bodies need maintenance. But one day
reality comes crashing through when their
doctors say, "You have a problem!"
This article will show you a simple strategy for
improving your health through a fun and
inexpensive walking program that promises many
benefits.
First, it will increase your energy level.
Since walking is an aerobic exercise, it helps
the heart and lungs become more efficient.
Both PCOPF (the President's Council on Physical
Fitness) and the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) state
that a regular walking program can lower resting
heart rates and blood pressure. It can help burn
excess calories and increase muscle tone too.
Second, walking can enhance your mental
health.
Taking regular walks can help reduce stress and
enable you to sleep better. It can also help
relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and
stress. When you walk, your body produces
endorphins which produce a feeling of wellbeing.
Third, it's fun!
The President’s Council on Physical Fitness (PCOPF)
calls walking the most popular form of exercise.
It can be very enjoyable taking walks with a
friend or loved one or even in groups. My
husband and I often take walks at night and
discuss our day. It's a special time for me.
Here's what you'll need as you begin your new
walk-for-health lifestyle. Purchase a pair of
comfortable shoes, sun screen or a hat and
sunglasses. Choose loose-fitting garments. Bring
along a bottle of water on warm days.
But before you briskly stride out the door to
begin your new adventure, you'd better check
with your doctor first if you experience any of
these symptoms:
When
you're ready to begin walking regularly, there
are some precautions to take. Walk during
daylight hours or at night only in well-lit
areas. Be sure to obey all traffic rules for
pedestrians. If you decide to wear headphones,
make sure you can still hear what's going on
around you - like cars honking. Stop and rest if
you start feeling sick to your stomach, dizzy or
experience unusual pain.
Try to walk whenever possible as part of your
daily activities.
-
For
example, park a distance from stores so you
can get some extra exercise going to and
from your destination.
-
Why
not visit local parks to enjoy the beauty of
nature while you're exercising?
-
Check
out the neighborhood where you live to find
good routes.
-
On
rainy days you can walk in malls instead of
doing without your exercise time.
-
It's
a good idea to make a habit of selecting
stairs instead of elevators when you need to
spend time in office buildings.
-
It's
more fun if you have a companion.This is
good exercise for dogs too - they love to go
for walks!
Experts
recommend thirty minutes of brisk striding per
day. It's best to walk every day, but you only
really need to walk five days a week. This can
be broken down into smaller segments of time -
three ten-minute walks instead of one long
30-minute one.
Try to stride as fast as you can without
overexerting yourself. You can tell when you are
going at a brisk pace because your heart will
beat faster and you'll breathe deeper. However,
your heart should not be racing and you should
still be able to carry on a conversation.
So get off the couch, put those chips down, put
on your comfortable shoes and start striding
your way to better health!
About The Author
Patricia Wagner offers informative tips on
living a more energetic lifestyle at http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com.
She is also an artist and you can view her
original paintings at http://www.artbywagner.com.
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