Walking It Off!

I don't have time to work out yet I am really aware that I need to move around. I don't want to have a sedentary lifestyle so I've taken it to heart to take a walk everyday. If I cant go out then I walk around the living room, the dining room...

I found some tips and guides on walking as your form of workout.

Walking is a smart way to exercise because it's easy to do and kind to your joints and doesn't require a lot of fancy equipment. It's also an incredibly versatile workout. In fact, there are four levels of walking to choose from when building your workout plan:
  1. Lifestyle Walking: Casual walking when you stroll through the park or mall
  2. Fitness Walking: Treadmill or a brisk walk through the neighborhood
  3. High-Energy Walk: Race walking at a lightning-quick pace
  4. Walk/Run: Alternating running and walking intervals to spike intensity
The level of walking right for you depends on your fitness level and your preferences. To help layout your walking plan, focus on F.I.T.:
  • Frequency: Number of times per week you decide to walk. Ideally, 3-5 times a week will lead you down the path to your goal.
  • Intensity: The number of times you walk per week may be dictated by your exercise intensity, or how hard you walk. In general, Lifestyle walkers should walk more frequently because they aren't pushing very hard. Fitness, High-Energy and Walk/Run walkers can get by with fewer workouts because they operate at a higher intensity.
  • If you plan on mixing and matching intensities, here's a suggestion: Lifestyle Walk 1 time a week; Fitness Walk 1-2 time a week; High-Energy Walk 1 time a week; and Walk/Run 1 time a week. As you become accustomed to Level 3 and 4 walks, you may include more of those walks and fewer of the Level 1 and 2 walks.
  • Time: For many of us, this is the most challenging component of any workout program. Where do you find 30-60 minutes, 3-5 days a week? Try mixing up your time intervals. On your high-intensity days do 20-35 minutes; on low-intensity days do 45-60 minutes. Or "accumulate" walks throughout the day. Doing three 10-minute walks gives you nearly the same health benefits and calorie burn as doing one 30-minute walk.
For more tips, visit ivillage.com

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