Great Walking Exercises

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One of the easiest ways to keep fit and to get moving is simply walking. Walking may even prevent the common cold. Just about anybody can benefit from walking and if you start slowly you can easily build up your endurance and walk even longer. For those that are not quite ready for hard-core exercise plan, walking is usually the best solution. There are many opportunities for walking throughout the day and if you take advantage of as many as possible you can find the losing weight is a lot easier.

While walking on its own is very beneficial, there are ways that you can ramp up your efforts without making it overly difficult. Let’s go over just a few great walking exercises that are easy to implement and even fun to do.

1. Adding weights. This is perfect for those who’ve been walking and found that they may have hit a plateau when it comes to weight loss. By adding small weights either around your ankles, or even little hand weights that you can easily carry, you can add a little extra resistance and work harder without really feeling the difference. It is best to start out with smaller weights and work your way up especially if you are not used to carrying them.

2. Step it up. Although walking in and of itself is not difficult you can make little challenges for yourself. Whether it is walking an extra block to seeing how far you can go before you get tired, or simply walking longer, sometimes it is very beneficial to challenge yourself. Consider purchasing a pedometer and using the amount of steps you take to create challenges.

For example if you are currently walking an average of 2500 steps during your walking session, try to make it 3000 the next day. Gradually increase the amount of steps you take and you may find that before long it is easier than ever to walk 10,000 steps. By making gradual changes it is much easier to get accustomed to the amount of exercise you are doing.

3. Involve a friend. Working out with someone else can be a lot of fun and it is a great way to stay motivated. It is always nice to have someone to talk to and you may even find that the time flies by. Whether you pick a family member or close friends, having someone with you while you walk is the only fun but it can be a way to challenge yourself. Try to set up little challenges with a reward at the end and see who can accomplish them first.

These are just a few ways you can get even more benefits from walking. Try brainstorming and see how many new ideas you can come up with for your own walking routine. Try changing them up for more variety or these tips to Keep Walking Programs Interesting. The more you walk the easier it will be and you will be that much closer to reaching your fitness goals. Don’t let bad weather slow you down if it’s raining or snowing you can always take your walk inside.

This post deals with:

common cold, hand weights, losing weight, pedometer, walking, Weight Loss

... and focuses on:

Exercise

Posted by Lazy Man on August 28, 2008 in Exercise.

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