Walking Towards Fitness

Here's an interesting post. Getting fit and staying fit is a lot easier than people think. Although there really are no "secrets" to getting fit, if there ever was one, I think the "secret" is that it's really not that hard. And it also doesn't have to be complicated either. Anytime something is difficult and complicated, the chances of anyone doing it on a consistent basis is zilch. It's really all about incorporating it into your life in a slow, steady way.

A great example of this is walking. Die-hard fitness fanatics scoff at the benefits of walking, but only to their own detriment, really. Walking has tons of well-documented benefits. Is walking the end-all of fitness? Of course not, but nothing else is either. You want to get your exercise from a variety of sources. This keeps it interesting and fresh. Okay, back to walking.

Here's a quick video that lays it out pretty clearly:

Click here to watch the video: "Walking To Get Fit" (opens in new window)

"Fitness walking is a low-impact aerobic exercise that's good for your health and easy on your joints. Some turn to it because of an old injury, or to prevent new ones."

Here's a summary of the tips:

• don't just lallygag... walk with some briskness
• walking helps prevent injuries
• walking provides exercise for those with previous injuries
• helps keep your body nice and toned, especially the legs
• you can socialize while getting your exercise
• 50 minutes of fast walking burns about the same calories as 20 minutes of running
• walking is good for your heart
• walking may improve your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers
• walking may even help with your mental health as well (i.e. improve mood, relieve stress, etc.)
• check your heart rate to make sure you're walking briskly enough (use a heart rate monitor watch)
• keep your stride short to decrease the risk of injury
• start off slow, maybe 3 times a week, 20 minutes each time, and build from there

This is all great advice. If you're stuck inside due to cold weather or you just prefer the convenience of exercising at home, this can prove to be even more beneficial. You can exercise while catching up on your TV shows, watching the news, or just listening to music without worry for the risks you sometimes have to deal with when walking along the side of the road.

If you're looking to get back in shape and you're looking for the best in-home exercise equipment for your situation, that's where we come in. We can help you find what's right for you. It's easy. Just check out our fitness equipment reviews on treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, home gyms, strength training equipment and other popular cardio exercise equipment.