Walking as a Form of Exercise Has More Benefits Than You Initially Thought– Here’s How You Can Reap These Perks

LifeStyleMarch 27, 2020

When people think of exercising for weight loss, they don’t typically turn to walking. This may be because it’s a relatively low impact form of physical activity. However, those looking to shift the extra pounds may benefit from changing their views on walking, especially after they hear the fact that it has been found to be more effective for slimming down than running.

According to a 2015 British study, people who often took brisk walks tend to be lighter than those who did other forms of exercise like cycling, swimming and running. But the benefits don’t end there.

Body-Transforming Benefits

Walking may also help alleviate some symptoms of mental illness. For example, the simple act of taking a 20-minute stroll is said to reduce depression symptoms in people

There is also research that says walking can prolong a person’s life by two years. What more, it also reportedly decreases people’s risk of suffering from a stroke by a whopping 30% when one devotes at least two hours a week on the activity. Another good news is that women who take a 40-minute brisk walk up to three times a week will have a lower chance of heart failure after they hit the menopause stage.

There’s also the fact that doing everyday exercises like walking helps in strengthening a person’s bones and subsequently lower the rate of fractures. In the long run, staying active today can leave people more mobile as they grow older.

Getting Started

Don’t forget to also dress and layer according to the day’s weather

Before getting started on a beneficial activity, people are recommended to consult with their doctor first. And those who experience concerning symptoms like chest pains and severe headaches while walking should immediately check in with their physician as well.

After getting the go signal, one can head on out and enjoy the outdoors. People may wear their regular workout clothes and shoes to make the activity more comfortable to do. Wearing moisture-wicking and stretchy items is recommended. It’s also advisable to invest in a good pair of walking shoes that’ll fit with one’s specific foot type to avoid swelling during walks.

Adding in Weights

Carrying dumbbells during walks can be the next step one needs to make workouts harder

Once the body has gotten used to being active, one can then level up their workouts by adding new challenging elements to walks. Enhance the calorie-burning power of the activity by inserting some strength training exercises to it.

Incorporate this around two to four times a week but schedule them on nonconsecutive days. Don’t forget to keep proper posture despite the added weights. Also, be mindful of not swinging the dumbbells too much as they can cause a strain on the joints. It’s better to hold them close to one’s hips while engaging one’s core muscles.