What is the perfect low impact way to exercise? You guessed it…walking.
If you haven’t exercised in a while, or are looking for something easy you can do every single day give walking a try. It’s easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment and you can start at the fitness level you’re at.
Hello and welcome to Fearlessly Holistic.
My name is Irma and I want to share my journey to improved health by eating whole foods, moving my body and eliminating stress as much as possible.
It is my hope to inspire you to make daily changes. Why? Because eating fresh, seasonal food, getting some sunshine, and reducing stress is the best way to increase longevity. But you do not want just a long life.
You want a quality long life, and you want to look and feel your best while you live it.
My blog posts are my opinion and the results of things that I have tried that either worked for me or didn’t. My opinions are for informational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Medical advice should always be obtained from a qualified medical professional for any health conditions or symptoms associated with them. As well, there may be affiliate links in this post. Read more here.
Start Walking with a Simple Routine
If you’re like most of us, chances are you may not have a regular fitness routine and need to start small.
Maybe your doctor suggested that you move around more, or maybe you just want to be proactive about your health and well-being. Or maybe you’re just not in the best of shape.
In any case, walking is the perfect way to start.
You can easily start by going for a 10 or 15 minute walk around the neighborhood and work your way up from there. Or use a step counter app on your phone and set of goal of x-number of steps.
You can then choose to:
- Increase how fast you walk during your 15 minutes
- Walk at the same pace, but for more minutes
- Or if you are counting steps, try to add another 100 steps per walk
It is really up to you, but walking is a simple form of fitness and great for mental health too.
If you’re already in great shape, walking can still provide an effective workout. Walk fast and incorporate some hills and even stairs.
Prep for Low Impact Success
Find a pair of comfortable shoes, put them on and go for a stroll through your neighborhood.
Seek out a local park with a nice path you can walk on.
If the weather doesn’t permit walking outside, head to your local mall and do a few laps; if they have stairs, add that to increase fitness.
You can even walk in place at home in front of your TV.
Get yourself a walking program DVD and workout at home when the weather makes outdoor walking unpleasant.
Another walking activity you can do as you’re sitting on the couch at night watching TV, is get up during commercial breaks and march in place until your favorite TV show comes back on.
If you’re using a streaming service, make yourself walk in place for 10 minutes in between episodes. Or turn on the TV and challenge yourself to march in place during the entire show.
Time will fly while you’re having fun watching TV and moving.
Make walking outside fun too
Mix up your route and walk in different areas of town, or visit different parks.
Invite a friend to come along with you to walk. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to and having a walking buddy keeps you accountable.
Take your phone or MP3 player and listen to music or audio books as you walk to make the time go by faster.
Conclusion
The main thing is that you get out there, move around, and get some exercise in a way that’s gentle on your joints, your heart, and the rest of your body and that’s what walking will do for you.
Just give it a try and see if you don’t start to feel better, happier, and stronger after a few weeks of regular walks.
Holism targets overall wellness, and when we are well, we only get better with age.
Eat the best food that you can afford to give your body the building blocks it needs for optimal health, longevity, and looking good for as long as possible. Get outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Practice self-care to reduce stress and enjoy life more.
Please share this post with anyone who can benefit from it. Sharing is caring! And follow me on Pinterest!
Until next time, here’s to our health!
– Irma xo