Walk toward Fun and Weight Loss

Walk toward Fun and Weight Loss
by John GilbertGrant

Walking is one of the easiest exercises there is and it's one of the most effective. In fact, walking is the best way for a sedentary individual to begin an exercise program says Shirley Archer, a fitness expert and health educator from California.

It helps you lose pounds and inches, of course, but it does a lot for your psychological health, too. For example, there's Jim Wilson. He is a financial adviser from Arkansas, and he lost 50 pounds in just six months by walking. He states that as his weight fell off and as he continued walking, his self-esteem improved markedly. He also feels healthier and sleeps better.

Even if you simply want to walk to lose weight, you'll also gain medical benefits that can't be disputed if you walk. In fact, it's cardiovascular exercise that can help you reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other injury. It lowers your cholesterol and blood pressure, improves your heart's function, and can tone your muscles all over your body.

If you need to lose weight, walking can do it for you, but don't make it something you "have" to do; turning it into a chore will just make it unpleasant. Instead, make it pleasant, and don't be drastic about it, either. Do just a little bit every day to make all the difference. Start small. If you can, walk to work, and if you can't because your office is too far away, park further away from your building (about 15 minutes' worth), and walk the rest of the way. Just going to and from your car every day will give you 30 minutes of walking every day, which is a major milestone when it comes to losing weight and exercising.

At work, take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you can't manage three or four flights of stairs, take the elevator to one floor below where you have to be, and walk one flight of stairs. As you become better conditioned, take the stairs two at a time. This will help you burn calories off (yes, those for lunch, too), and you'll burn more at the same time and keep your weight loss going. And don't send an e-mail to a colleague in the same office building. At least a couple of times a day, pop over and tell him or her in person. Don't pick up the phone unless you absolutely must; instead, walk over and say what you need to same person. This gives you a chance to get up and away from your desk for a little bit and gives you a little bit of exercise, and it also gives you a good mental health break that will give you an emotional boost.

If you find yourself getting bored, switch things out and try something new. The first order of exercise is that it should be fun. So if you're finding that your walk is getting boring, take a buddy with you and walk home with each other. This gives you a chance to talk, and if you can talk while you're walking, you're also making sure that you're not going too fast or too hard for your own conditioning. This makes the exercising more effective.

Or, if you walk alone, listen to music while you do so. Pick something with a good walking beat and pop your headphones in, then get up and get moving so that you get energized. Even if weight loss is your actual goal, walking is also a good way to spend time with yourself alone, and it's enjoyable to boot.

Again, make walking fun. Try planning a route that will end at something fun. Maybe you want to go shopping in your favorite grocery store, to visit a friend, or to visit a favorite park. You don't have to do the same thing every day, and instead switch it out and end up at a different fun destination every day. Do whatever you want; if you don't want to go to the park, get a few groceries from the store (healthy ones, that is), or pop in to see a favorite movie at a local movie theater. Schedule this walk with your weight loss goals in mind so that when you've reached your goal, you can give yourself a (nonfood) treat to reward yourself.

About the author: JohnGG can help you Lose 10 Pounds Fast. Claim your free Weight Loss FAQ videos and get his free report 'The 4 Essential Factors for Weight Loss' plus Weight Loss Tips.