Fitness Trends
Lissa Coffey
We’ve heard it before – walking is good for us! Ayurveda recommends a thirty-minute morning walk for everyone, to help boost metabolism and energize the body for the day ahead. Research shows that people who walk daily reduce the risk of heart attacks by one-third, and have 91% fewer cases of type 2 diabetes. But with our busy schedules, sometimes a regularly scheduled walk is easier said than done. There are ways we can those steps in, and help ourselves to be more fit. Here are some tips:
-Use a pedometer. Research shows that people who use a pedometer take about 2500 more steps a day. This is the equivalent of one mile, and burns about 100 calories. Over the course of a year, this can burn off about 10 pounds!
-If you can’t commit to thirty-minutes in one go, then increase your daily activity levels by a few minutes at a time.
-Be aware of extra steps. Walk around the grocery store before you start picking up items on your list. Park at the far end of a parking lot. Park at the opposite end of the store you want to visit at the mall.
-Whenever possible, take the stairs rather than the elevator or escalator.
-For short errands, less than 1 mile away from your home, walk rather than drive. Or park once, and walk to each stop from there.
-Try some of the new shoes that are designed to give your legs more exercise when you walk. I have 4 pairs of Skecher’s Shape Ups – they’re so comfortable I find myself wearing them all the time, not just to go walking. They’re great! They come in styles for men and women. When you click the link below you’ll see my favorite pair.
Skechers Shape Ups