Benefits of Walking
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.
Walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.
You do not have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
• A brisk walk is about 3 miles an hour, which is faster than a stroll
• You can tell you’re walking briskly if you can still talk but cannot sing the words to a song.
Staying motivated
• The easiest way to walk more is to make walking a habit. Make it a part of your daily routine – walk to the shops.
• Listen to music.
• Mix it up – Add variety to your walks; parks, heritage trails, canal towpaths, riverside paths, commons, woodlands, heaths and nature reserves.
• Join a walking group – it is a great way to start walking, make new friends and stay motivated.
The benefits of walking include:
• Burn calories
• Strengthen the heart
• Can reduce your risk for coronary heart disease.
• Can help lower your blood sugar
• Eases joint pain
• Boosts immune response
• Boost your energy
• Improve your mood
• Reduce anxiety, depression, and a negative mood. It can also boost self-esteem and reduce symptoms of social withdrawal.
• Extend your life
• Tone your legs
• Creative thinking
To experience these benefits, aim for 30 minutes of brisk walking or other moderate intensity exercise three days a week. You can also break it up into three 10-minute walks.