By: Michael Russell
No one really likes the thought of exercising to lose weight. Just the thought of seeing someone pumping iron, doing aerobics, while sweating profusely is enough to make anyone turn away. It doesn't have to be that way though. One of the greatest and simplest forms of weight loss is walking. Think about this for a minute.
- Walking is something we do every day of our lives. We don't need to learn how to do it.
- Walking is inexpensive. No having to buy special food, pills, or liquids. You don't have to purchase exercise equipment, or join an expensive health club.
- Walking does so much more than just help you lose weight. It helps with your overall fitness.
- Walking is peaceful and can be a lot of fun.
When you decide to begin walking to lose those added pounds, there are only a few things to keep in mind.
Buy a good pair of walking shoes. Your feet will love you for this! Don't just throw on an old pair of 10 year old sneakers and begin walking 2 miles. You will regret it by the time your finished. Spend $40 or so and get yourself a nice pair of shoes to walk in. It's money well spent.
Be sure to wear a good thick pair of socks. It will help keep your feet even more comfortable. Also wear loose fitting clothing. If you try walking 2 miles in a tight fitting pair of pants, you may look good doing it, but you won't be feeling very good at the end of your walk.
Take a personal radio or CD player with you. Have a good set of headphones that stay on your head. Enjoy yourself while walking and losing weight.
One of the most important keys to walking and losing weight is to take it slowly. Don't try to overdo it and walk 5 miles your first few days, or weeks. Start out with a mile, or even less if necessary. Gradually work your way up to longer distances.
Pace yourself while walking. If you feel you're starting to get out of breath, stop for a while. You don't have to walk fast or jog to lose weight. Simply by walking a nice pace will give you surprising results.
Walk for at least 20-30 minutes at a time. If you only walk for 10 minutes, you're not going to see much in the way of weight loss. You need to walk for 30 minutes to get your heart rate up and body working. Also, try to walk at least 4 times a week. Every other day is good. Walking can be done in your neighborhood or in a nice local park. You can enjoy your surroundings and listen to your favorite music. 30 minutes will fly by before you know it.
Keep track of your weight loss with a good set of scales at home. By walking 2 miles, 3-4 times a week, you should begin seeing results within a week or two. By the end of a month you will be shocked at the pounds your body is losing. Walking is by far the easiest and most beneficial way to weight loss there is. It's natures way of keeping us all healthier.
