Learn why walking is good for your heart, how to get the most out of it, trim your waistline, and improve your overall health.
It’s widely accepted that regular physical activity is good for your health – but you don’t need to overexert yourself to see benefits. In fact, by doing something as simple as taking daily walks, you can improve your overall health.
For example, by taking daily brisk walks, you can maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your muscles, and improve your mood. Furthermore, you can prevent various conditions that lead to heart disease and experience more benefits the more you walk.
Walking Techniques
To get the most out of your walks, you need good posture and to move with purpose. For instance, you’ll want your head up and to be looking forward (not at the ground).
Make sure you relax your neck, shoulders, and back and that you swing your arms freely while you slightly bend your elbows. Also tighten your stomach muscles slightly, keep your back straight, and walk smoothly by stepping heel to toe.
Routine Planning
Besides knowing your walking form, you should be prepared with the right gear, walking route, and before and after exercises. Use shoes with proper support, comfortable for various weather types, and bright or reflective gear if walking at night.
When planning your route, choose paths that don’t have cracks, potholes, or uneven areas. In addition, you should warm up by walking slowly for 5-10 minutes and cool down at the end of your walk in the same way.
You can also stretch before or after walking, but warm up first if you decide to stretch at the beginning of your routine.
Goal Setting
Most healthy adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Moreover, you should stretch this out over a week (ex: 30 minutes daily, 5 days per week) instead of doing it all on the weekend.
However, if you can’t do that much either due to time constraints or other reasons, it’s okay. The most important thing is to make physical activity a habit by setting realistic goals for your individual needs.
Keep Track
One thing that can keep you motivated is keeping track of your progress. By knowing where you started and how far you’ve come, you can motivate yourself to keep going further.
There are a variety of ways you can keep track like a journal, spreadsheet, and even apps. For example, many people use a fitness tracker to keep count of their daily steps.
Motivate Yourself
Starting and maintaining a health regimen is tough, but there are things you can do to keep yourself motivated. Specifically, you can start with simple goals and gradually increase them as you go.
You can also make it an enjoyable experience by walking with a friend or finding scenic places in your routes. Most importantly, don’t let slip ups ruin your whole routine; if you miss a day, simply get back on track.
As you walk to improve your health, remember there are other things you can try such as a healthy diet. You can also try heart and circulation supplements like HeartBeet Complete, which complement your exercise routine.
Try HeartBeet Complete alongside your daily walks to get an extra boost in energy and circulation.
