Walk Yourself Healthy - Walking for Health - Health Benefits of Walking

Walking for Health - Walk Yourself to a State of Well-Being

While walking may be one of the oldest forms of exercise it continues to be one of the best ways to improve your health and well being.

Because of it many benefits walking may become one of the most popular prescriptions available in a physician's armament to lose weight, manage diseases and improve health. Soren Kierkegaard wrote about walking:

Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness.

I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.

Grab some good shoes, go outside and have fun while are walking yourself healthy.

Photo Source: Melodi T. Walk the Path. Royalty Free Use.

The Heart Benefits of Walking

Walking is Good for Your Heart

A recent Harvard study shows that walking at a moderate pace (3 mph) for up to 3 hours a week-or 30 minutes a day--can cut the risk of heart disease in women by as much as 40%.

This is the same benefit you would get from aerobics, jogging, or other vigorous exercise.

Source: Community Development Department, Cambridge Massachusetts. Health Benefits of Walking.

Health Benefits of Walking

Walking is Good for Your Mind and Your Body

There are many benefits to your health and overall well being from something as simple as walking. Walking can help in relieving stress and boosting your spirits to helping manage some diseases.

Here are just some of the known benefits of walking:

Source: Mayo Clinic Staff. December 2006. Walking for fitness: How to trim your waistline, improve your health. Fitness.

Manage stress and boost your spirits. Going for a brisk walk is a great way to reduce stress.
Reduce depression and anxiety. Regular walking can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety (and is being used to treat these conditions).
Stay strong and active as you age. As you get older, walking for physical fitness can prevent falls, help you stay mobile and maintain your independence.
Reduce your risk of a heart attack. Walking keeps your heart healthy by lowering the "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, LDL) cholesterol and raising the "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, HDL) which reduces the risk of a heart attack.
Reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. A regular walking program also reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure, a factor that also contributes to heart disease.
Manage your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, walking may reduce it.
Reduce your weight. Walking is an excellent way of burning calories which will help in losing weight.
Manage your weight. Walking burns calories, which can help in managing weight. Middle-aged women who walk more than 10,000 steps a day have lower levels of body fat than do women who are less active.
Reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you're a woman, overweight and at a high risk of diabetes, walking can improve your body's ability to process sugar (glucose tolerance).
Manage your diabetes. If you already have type 2 diabetes, taking part in a regular walking program can improve your body's ability to process sugar, lower your blood sugar, reduce your risk of heart disease and help you live longer.

A Squidoo Lens on Therapeutic Walking or Hiking

Nature Therapy - Therapeutic Walking or Hiking - Green Therapy

John Muir once wrote, In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. Walking in nature can have many therapeutic benefits for the person walking. Taking a walk or a hike to enjoy the scenery, the fresh air and the activity can help in...

Determining How Walkable You Community Is

An Interactive Online Tool From the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

This online tool can help you determine the walkability of your neighborhood. With this tool, you can pinpoint problem areas in your own neighborhood.

It's based on a checklist created by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and converted into a handy interactive format by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Map My Walk

Determine the Distance of Your Walk

An easy to use online program that allows you to map your walk(s) and determine the distances.

Online Tools for Figuring out Your Walks

Tools and resource to help you decide how walkable your neighboor hood is and to help keep track of how far you are walking.

Walkability Quiz: This tool is designed to help you size up the walkability of your neighborhood.
MapMyWalk.com: MapMyWalk.com lets you map your walks for fitness. It is a community web site for runners, joggers and walkers who want to stay healthy, lose weight or train more effectively.

The National Coalition of Walking Advocates

An Organization Dedicated to Promting Walking

A national coalition of local advocacy groups dedicated to promoting walkable communities.

America Walks: All about the The National Coalition of Walking Advocates

Take a Brief Walking Break with a Leslie Sansone Video

I've included two walking breaks from Leslie Sansone.

The first is a two minute walk, the second a three minute walk that you can do even as you are working at your desk.

Bookmark these videos so you can find one and take a mini walk at your desk.

2 Minute Mini Walk

Take a Break and Enjoy the Mini Walk

2 Minute Mini-Walk

Push back your computer chair, and join Leslie Sansone in some desk side fitness. Leslie takes you through a quick 2 minute mini-walk as a booster for your day.

Runtime: 2:25
10224 views
5 Comments:

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3 Minute Mini Walk - Mid Day Exercise Break

Take a Break and Enjoy the Mini Walk

3 Min-Mini

Leslie Sansone has the perfect mid day exercise break for you. It's called desk side fitness, and it only requires three minutes o Leslie Sansone has the perfect mid day exercise break for you. It's called desk side fitness, and it only requires three minutes of your time. Lose weight fast and easily. This walk is a great way to sweat and exercise during your busy day. With desk side fitness, there's always time to work out.

4.67

Runtime: 3:13
13150 views
10 Comments:

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The Many Benefits of Walking

Research on the Healthful Effects of Walking

Links to article on just some of the benefits of walking on health and wellbeing.

The Numerous Benefits of Walking: An article from the AARP's website discussing the many health benefits of walking.
Health Benefits of Walking - Cambridge Massachusetts: This article from the Cambridge Community Development Department looks at the many benefits of walking.
Walking for fitness: How to trim your waistline, improve your health: This very useful article from the Mayo Clinic describes how walking can be a perfect low-impact, aerobic exercise that also has numerous health benefits.

Other Squidoo Lenses on Walking

Walking and Hiking in Connecticut

This lens features information and resources about walking and hiking trails in Connecticut with particular focus on easy hikes and family friendly trails. This lens is (as all lenses are) a work in progress and will grow as I find more relevan...

Charity Walks 2008 | Honor those you love with a custom photo button!

Did you know that in the US this year 2008 over ten million people will participate in a walkathon, charity walk fundraiser? In fact over 2.5 million people walk and fundraise in one of 4500 Relay for Life walks, one million do a Heart Walk, & a coup...

Ready to Grab Some Walking Shoes? For Men

I wore Rockports during my residency days to be able to stay on my feet for hours at a time.

I lived in my Venice Keens all summer as great walking shoes or walking sandals.

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Walk Yourself Healthy - Walking for Health - Health Benefits of Walking

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Walking for Health - Walk Yourself to a State of Well-Being

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The Heart Benefits of Walking

Walking is Good for Your Heart

Health Benefits of Walking

Walking is Good for Your Mind and Your Body

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An Organization Dedicated to Promting Walking

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Your Favorite Walking Video

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