When it comes to fitness, there is one workout that everyone can do! Walking is the perfect exercise for all fitness goals: whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain strength, or just get started!
I make the effort to walk every day — every evening we take a family walk around the neighborhood, weather permitting. We also squeeze in a walk anywhere we can: parking near the back of the lot when we go shopping or choosing the stairs instead of the elevator.
Why is walking so important to us? If there ever were a perfect exercise, walking would be it! Read on for 10 amazing benefits that will make you a walking addict too!
10 Reasons Walking is the PERFECT Exercise for Everyone:
1. Walking is Free
Who says you need an expensive gym membership to lose weight? Walking is free to do in public places and does not require special equipment. Can’t beat that!
2. You Can Walk Anywhere
In your neighborhood. At the park. At a local walking track. At the mall when the weather is bad. There are always places to walk, and you won’t have to look very far to find them.
3. Kids Can Walk with You
One of the most common excuses I hear from other parents as to why they don’t exercise: “the kids keep me too busy.” So take the kids with you! Kids can walk, and it’s good for them too!
When kids are exposed to healthy habits at a young age, they are more likely to make positive lifestyle choices as adults. Make exercise a priority for your family and you’ll be setting your kids up for better health for the rest of their lives.
For more fun family exercises, try this 10-minute yoga routine for kids or this playground workout.
4. Walking is a Safe Exercise During Pregnancy
During my pregnancy, I primarily did two things to stay in shape: yoga and walking. By my tenth month, walking was the only physical activity I could manage. My nightly walks around the neighborhood kept me sane, helped with my restless legs, and probably helped prevent me from gaining more weight than I did!
Unless your doctor advises otherwise, walking is the perfect exercise when you are pregnant! If you’re counting down the day until your due date (or past your due date), walking is often recommended to encourage labor.
5. Walking Promotes Healing
The day after my c-section, my doctor ordered me to get up and start walking. After having my stomach cut open, even a short hobble down the hospital corridor was quite intimidating. However, early walking after surgery is crucial to speed up the recovery process.*
During surgery, the body’s systems are slowed by drugs and anesthesia. Walking as a part of the recovery process “promotes the flow of oxygen throughout the body and maintains normal breathing function. It also strengthens muscle tone. Gastrointestinal and urinary tract functions are improved by walking.” (Source: UWHealth.org)
For these reasons, your doctor will likely recommend that you start walking as soon as possible. This is one bit of advice that you’ll definitely want to heed!
6. Walking is the Perfect Exercise for ALL Fitness Levels
There are endless modifications to make walking as challenging as you can handle. However, walking is safe and low-impact, making it the perfect exercise for beginners and those with previous injuries.
Try adjusting these variables to create a customized walking routine that meets your needs:
- Increase distance walked
- Increase speed
- Add incline by walking in an area with hills or stairs
- Carry light (1-2lb) weights in each hand for an added upper body workout
- Add short intervals of power-walking or a light jog to boost fat-burning
7. Walking is a Great Way to Make New Friends
Whether you’re new to town, or simply looking to expand your circle of friends, walking is an excellent way to do so! You can find meet-up groups through online forums, churches, schools, or even your employer. If there’s not a group yet in your town, create one!
Making friends and getting fit at the same time is a definite win-win!
8. Walking is a Mood-Booster
On days where I start to feel “blah” (also known as the “mom funk”), walking is one of my go-to strategies to instantly improve my mood. Sometimes a change of scenery and physical activity is just what you need to turn the day around!
9. Walking is NOT Boring
When I walk through my neighborhood, there is always something new to see! People, animals, construction, and even gorgeous sunsets — walking is always entertaining. MUCH more interesting than plugging away on a stair-stepper at the gym, staring at a wall.
10. Walking WORKS
Walking was an integral part of my postpartum fitness regimen that helped me lose 42 pounds. My mom walked off her baby weight after each of her three pregnancies. In her 50s, she is in the best shape of her life because she walks — every single day.
For tips to stay motivated, check out these 10 Tips to Walk Off the Pounds from My Think Big Life.
For more inspiration to live your best life, follow my Positive Lifestyle board on Pinterest:
Follow Stacey @ The Soccer Mom Blog’s board Positive Lifestyle on Pinterest.
*Disclaimer: This post is based on my own personal experiences; I am not a medical professional. Please consult your physician before beginning a new fitness regimen.
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[…] you’re unsure, walking is usually a safe bet, and walking is also one of the most effective exercises for general health and wellness. It’s also an activity that you can do fairly easily while […]