Compost Manure

Walking is a great form of exercise which sadly, considering the numerous benefits that it makes available, is all too frequently overlooked by many people. It’s a form of exercise that’s suitable for almost anyone. There’s no need for any special equipment, training or expertise. There’s no need to make time for a trip to the gym either (and no membership fees) – so you can fit it into your daily routine as and when it suits you best.

Walking has a lower drop out rate than almost all other exercise techniques. It can be carried out up to an age when other exercise methods would, for the majority of people, be considered unsuitable. Due to the fact that it is a low impact workout, it has a very low risk of injury.

Perhaps we have a “no pain, no gain” mentality – but it can be difficult for many to credit that an exercise which is so easy, cheap and readily available can deliver significant benefits. However, the list of benefits is lengthy and they are well proven.

Walking can help to lower your blood pressure. It can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can help to fight anxiety and depression, improve your mood and your mental well-being. Regular walking will provide you with higher energy levels – you will feel less tired during the day. It can even reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Recent studies suggest that it may also reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. For many people, the main attraction will be the fact that walking burns calories and leads to weight loss and a reduction of body fat.

It’s a very impressive list of benefits. You might be forgiven for thinking it was an advert for a new miracle dietary supplement or some new wonder drug – but it isn’t. You can achieve all of these very worthwhile benefits with fairly minimal changes to your daily routine. As little as 30 minutes walking daily will soon produce results that you can see and feel. If you can work up to 10,000 steps on a daily basis – a distance of about 5 miles, which is easier than you may think – you will be astonished at the difference in the way you look and the way you feel.

One commonly offered piece of advice is to leave your car in the garage and walk to the shops, work or school. If the distance involved is too great then you can still find plenty of other opportunities to build walking into your daily routine. For example, if you travel anywhere by bus, why not get off a couple of stops before your final destination and complete the remainder of your journey on foot? Take the stairs instead of the elevator from time to time. Go for a short fifteen minute walk at lunch time. These are just a few examples of how very minor changes can help to produce significant health benefits for you.

If you haven’t exercised for a while, or if you have a medical condition, then you should definitely talk to your doctor before you embark upon any new fitness program. However, the key to obtaining benefits to your health is consistency. There’s no need to over stress yourself or get all hot and sweaty. Include walking as a regular feature of your daily routine and you will be surprised at just how quickly you will be looking better, feeling better and enjoying life more.

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