Walking is the best low impact exercise that almost anyone can do. You don’t need a gym membership or fancy tools.
Heard of “Runner’s High”? Walking can give you a “Walking High” too.
As we walk our brain releases “happy” chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals help lift your mood during and after your workout.
Need more convincing of the benefits of walking?
Here are a few more benefits of outdoor walking:
- Improves your mood
- Strengthens your bones and muscles (protects you from osteoporosis)
- Improves your balance and co-ordination
- Helps to maintain healthy weight
- Walking outside exposes you to the sun prompting your body to make vitamin-D
- Helps lower your risk for disease and can help lower your blood pressure
My challenge for you is to join me in walking 3-5km per day each day for 5 days.
Walk briskly but focus on doing 10 minutes of vigorous walking to increase your heart rate.
If 10 minutes is too much try walking vigorously in 2 minute increments with a short break in between. Aerobic walking is where your intensity is such that you feel it is difficult to maintain a conversation.
Join me in my commitment to:
- Walk outside 3-5km per day outside (alternatively break it into two walks each 2.5km)
- Do at least 1 strength / balance exercise during my walk or at the end of my walk.
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day (9 cups of fluid for women / 12 for men).
Check out my Instagram account for daily strength/balance exercises to add to your walk.