Up until now, I’ve mostly talked about very simple, healthy, and budget-friendly food – but as almost everybody knows, exercise is another equally important aspect of good health. There are many different ways to get exercise, and there’s a whole industry built up around exercise – exercise routines, exercise equipment, gym memberships, etc. People spend hundreds and thousands of dollars. The question under consideration is, is walking good enough exercise?
The simple fact is, we were created with two feet and two legs. They’re there for some purpose other than to dangle in front of us while sitting on a chair! We can get from place to place, and we can get health-enhancing exercise at the same time! Cost: $0 – unless you count the cost of the food you eat, but you would eat that, even if you’re sitting in a chair.
Personally, I love to walk. As a truck driver, I need exercise. I try to make it a point to stop – several times a day, ideally – when doing over-the-road driving, and take a short walk – not so long as to hinder progress, but long enough to get the “juices” flowing.
Did you know that walking 32 times around a semi-truck equals one mile? Now you do!
Is Walking Good Enough Exercise?
It may depend on how much and how often, how long, and how intensely you walk! In that regard, it’s much like other forms of exercise.
There are some myths out there about walking. It might be good to debunk them, and look at the facts!
- Walking doesn’t do anything to build muscles or increase muscle strength. Wrong! Even though walking primarily uses
your leg muscles, it also helps to tone your calves and thighs. Give your legs an extra challenge by walking uphill or on uneven terrain! - Walking isn’t real exercise, it’s too easy. No, walking isn’t a high-intensity exercise, but you can make it more or less as “high-intensity” as you want. It is, for a fact, real exercise! The more briskly you walk, the greater the health benefits for your body. Brisk walking gets the heart pumping, boosts your metabolism, increases blood circulation and burns calories. It’s not like running a marathon, but it’s better than sitting in the recliner!
- Walking takes too much time and doesn’t really help all that much with weight loss. The fact is that walking does not necessarily burn calories quickly. But if it is combined with a proper diet, walking can maintain a sustainable weight loss over a period of time. And remember, walking isn’t only exercise, it gets you somewhere! Or…you can use it to spend time with family and friends, listen to podcasts or music, or just enjoy nature!
- Walking doesn’t really do anything for your heart. The very opposite is true! Walking is great for your heart – an excellent cardiovascular exercise. It can help keep cholesterol down, reduce the risk of heart disease, and lower blood pressure. Plus – it’s easy on your joints! And almost anyone can do it!
- Walking doesn’t do anything to enhance your mood. I don’t know who thinks that, but no, walking is great for mental well-being! It’s boosts your mood naturally by releasing endorphins. Walking can help to reduce anxiety and leave you feeling less stressed. Try it sometime. If you’re feeling “down,” go for a good walk. It can truly do wonders
- Walking doesn’t particularly yield any long term health benefits. Wrong! Walking can be a game-changer for your overall health. Several diseases that walking can help come to mind: Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and osteoporosis. Walking reduces the risk of all of these. Walking can improve your overall longevity! So it’s safe to say that walking is an investment in your future well-being.
How to Get the Most From Your Walking Routine
- Make some personal goals.Start off easy, and increase your walking distance over time, as you see how your body
reacts. There’s no big hurry! Challenge yourself. If you can do one mile now, could you make it two? Or maybe three? Maybe aim for a certain number of steps per day! - Use intervals. Change things up when out on your walk; walk faster, then slower – then up an incline (if you can; we can’t so easily on our flat spot on the Canadian prairies!).
- Walk with purpose. Use it as a quiet time to meditate on good things as you walk, explore the areas you walk in, or listen to educational content. Maybe you could learn Spanish while walking! No guarantees, but hey – maybe worth a try.
- Walk with a friend or family member. I personally love taking walks with my wife! It can certainly be more enjoyable when you can do it with someone else.
- Wear good walking footwear. This almost can’t be overemphasized. You shouldn’t go out with Oxfords, high heels, steel-toed safety boots – just to name a few! If you do, you are more than likely to come back from your walk with sore feet, and be saying to yourself: “Never again.”
A Great Walking Shoe
There are a number of great brands of walking shoe out there, and I’ve tried on a number, but the one I come back to, which I’ve been buying over and over, is a Skechers walking shoe. This link is the men’s version; they also have a comparable women’s version. These shoes fit my feet almost perfectly; when I wear them, I almost don’t know I have something on my feet! They are soft due to a layer of air-cooled foam – and very flexible. I can walk for miles with them without getting sore feet! Plus – look at the price! Very, very budget-friendly!
While I personally recommend these, I realize that not all feet are the same. The important thing is that you find a shoe that works well for you.
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In Conclusion
Walking is a highly beneficial, simple and extremely inexpensive form of exercise!
If you are interested in various other methods of exercise and fitness (and they also have great benefits!), I recommend https://wegetfitathome.com. The creator of that website discusses many different aspects of getting fit at home – well worth following if you’re interested! Getting fit “at home” is often less expensive and simple, for sure – no matter what method you choose to use.
If you have experience with walking as a form of exercise, or have a great walking shoe to recommend – please feel free to share in the comments section below!
Hi there,
Thank you for this post about bread makers, very informative and lots of detail etc.
My bread maker is a few years old now, so its good to know what the current models offer and the different options that are available. I make my own bread for many of the reasons you mentioned in your review – knowing what’s in my bread, no unnecessary additives etc, and of course nothing beats that smell of freshly baked bread!
Thanks again
Chezstar
Hey there, thanks for writing this article about walking. I’ve been looking for exercises that are easy on my knees but give me a good workout. I agree that walking is definitely an underrated activity. After reading this article I will set my steps goal because I work at a computer and know that I need more activity.
Perfect! Good success in meeting your goals! 👌