Why walking for weight loss is important?
Why should you walk in the first place?
Because it’s the one of the easiest ways help your weight loss and keep you healthy and active.
And, do you know walking is a great way to improve your longevity?
Walking helps your weight loss, improves your fitness and reduces your stress. It also helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. And waking, along with certain exercises, may reduce your risk of getting Dementia. It’s also an activity that you can do anywhere, at any time.
10 Benefits of Walking
Some of the benefits of walking, as shown below:
- Helps your weight loss and lose body fat
- May prevent or manage various conditions, like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes
- Improves cardiovascular fitness
- Strengthens your bones and muscles
- Improves your muscle endurance
- Increases your energy levels
- Improves your cognition, memory and sleep
- Strengthens your immune system
- Reduces your stress and tension
- Improves your metabolism
Let’ see some of them in detail.
Before that, ask yourself why you should develop the habit of waking. It’s important step before you begin walking. It’s great to form good habits.
Let Walking Be Part of Your Good Habits
All good things are about good habits formed and sustained over the years.
When habits become order of your day, you will begin to see the change in you and around you.
“When you develop walking as part of your good habits, you will gradually feel the improvement in your health markers and can sustain them for years to come.”
Develop walking as an ingrained trait of your personality. Let it be your automatic response to non-activity and lethargy.
Walking for Weight Loss
If you’re looking to shed some pounds, walking is a great way to start.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that people who walked at least 30 minutes three times per week lost more weight than those who didn’t walk at all.
Many people tend to lose lean muscle mass when they lose weight. Walking can help you preserve lean muscle mass, which can help you sustain your weight loss results.
Walking improves your overall health by reducing your stress levels as well as boosting oxygen supply into cells throughout your body—allowing them work harder without feeling tired so much, which means less need for medication down the road.
As you start walking, you may notice slightly reduced flab around your midsection, which may seem negligible, but if sustained, can help you lose more weight.
Walking Improves Your Metabolism
Walking improve your metabolism by burning extra calories and by preventing muscle loss.
Walking helps boost your metabolism by burning up to 300 extra calories per day. This means that even if you aren’t trying to lose weight, you’ll still see results.
A improved metabolism boosts your basic body functions, such as:
- Breathing
- Circulating blood
- Digesting food
- Growing and repairing cells
- Managing hormone levels
- Regulating body temperature
Walking Reduces Your Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Level
Walking is a great way to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It can also help you avoid heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
Increase in bad cholesterol are due to two main lifestyle factors (among others): lack of exercise and overweight.
So, walking daily can help you reduce your bad cholesterol levels.
Helps Mitigate Your Pain
Yes, that’s true. Walking helps you to manage your pain.
According to another study published in 2015 in The Journal Of Physiology And Pharmacology, regular exercise can increase blood flow throughout your body which helps reduce feelings of pain.
Walking Improves Your Sleep
If you struggle with insomnia, try walking as part of your bedtime routine. Studies show that walking before bedtime improves sleep quality and reduces the number of times you wake up during the night.
Improves Your Mood
Walking also helps improve mood. In fact, studies show that people who walk regularly report feeling happier than those who do not. This is because walking releases endorphins into the brain, which makes us feel good.
Walking Increases Your Muscle Strength and Tone
Walking is a great way to increase your muscle tone, which is important for maintaining muscle strength and avoiding muscle loss.
Muscle atrophy occurs when you don’t exercise enough or if you don’t do the right kind of exercises.
If you’re not getting enough exercise, it will be difficult for your muscles to stay strong and grow as they should.
The more time spent on activity like walking, the better your chance of avoiding this problem altogether!
Takes Less Time Than The Gym
If you’re looking for a quick way to get in your daily exercise, walking is one of the best options. It’s easy and convenient—you can do it anywhere with just a few minutes’ notice.
Walking is an excellent way to start off your day because it takes less time than going to the gym or doing any other type of exercise program. You may even want to walk around outside before work so that you’re not late!
After work, there are many places where people can walk together: parks, paths through neighbourhoods and city streets are all great options!
Tips To Start Walking For Weight Loss
Walking is a simple yet effective form of exercise that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine for weight loss. By following these tips, you can make the most of your walking routine and support your weight loss journey.
- Set Realistic Goals: Start with a manageable goal, such as walking for 30 minutes a day, and gradually increase the duration and intensity as you build endurance.
- Invest in Proper Footwear: Invest in a good pair of walking shoes that provide adequate cushioning and support to prevent injuries and ensure a comfortable walking experience.
- Track Your Steps: Use a fitness tracker or a pedometer to monitor your daily step count and set a target to gradually increase your steps each week.
- Incorporate Intervals: Alternate between periods of faster and slower walking to increase your overall calorie burn and improve cardiovascular fitness.
- Stay Hydrated: Carry a water bottle with you and drink water before, during, and after your walk to stay hydrated and support your body’s recovery process.
- Find a Walking Buddy: Invite a friend or family member to join you for your walks, as having a walking partner can make the experience more enjoyable and help you stay motivated.
- Be Consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to weight loss. Stick to your walking routine and make it a habit, even on days when you don’t feel like it.
- Track Your Progress: Keep a record of your walking distance, duration, and calorie burn to stay motivated and celebrate your achievements along the way.
Walk with a Group or Friend to Stay Accountable
Walking with a friend or group can be an excellent way to stay motivated and accountable.
“When you’re out walking with someone, it’s much easier to think about how much farther you’ve gone than if you were alone, so being around other people makes your goal seem more achievable.”
It also helps if the person with whom you’re walking has a similar goal in mind—so they’ll push each other along and make sure that neither one of them falls behind!
The fun part of walking with friends is definitely its social aspect: whether it’s sharing stories about our day-to-day lives or just getting together for some light conversation while we walk, there are plenty of opportunities for bonding during our outings as well as new connections made at every stop along the way.
Bottomline
Walking helps in your weight loss and fitness. Walking helps improve your overall health.
It’s also important for people who have diabetes because it keeps insulin levels low which helps manage the disease.
Walking has many benefits including increased longevity, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, faster metabolism rates, stronger muscles and more toned body parts!
FAQs
1. Does walking reduce belly fat?
Yes, walking can help reduce belly fat, especially when combined with a calorie-deficit diet.
2. How much should I walk to lose weight?
Aim for at least 10,000 steps or 60-90 minutes of brisk walking per day for weight loss.
3. Does climbing stairs reduce belly fat?
Yes, climbing stairs can be an effective exercise for reducing belly fat as it engages the core muscles.
4. Walking or exercise: which is better for weight loss?
Both walking and other forms of exercise can contribute to weight loss. However, higher-intensity exercises like running, cycling, or strength training may be more effective for weight loss than walking alone.
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