Cardiometabolic Exercise: Walking

An easy way to get involved with actively moving each day is to enroll in your community centers' exercise classes, schools', YMCAs',or gyms'.These places are great because they give you a community to help keep you motivated. However, if group programs are not your thing, don't fear. Studies have shown that self-directed lifestyle activities are every bit as well as supervised structured exercise programs.

There are many different options to choose from for exercising. In planning your exercise, keep in mind your body type, personal goals, schedule, facilities available, and supports at your disposal.

Walk to Health
One of the special things about walking is that you don't need special skills or special equipment. In all weather you walk, just cover yourself up if its chilly, grab an umbrella if its rainy, and you're good to go!
However, if the weather is hazardous, do not endanger yourself. You can walk around your house, on a treadmill, or around a mall indoors.

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There are a couple of tips for walking:
Try to keep your posture erect with your chin up, eyes forward, shoulders square.
Keep back straight, belly flat, and buttocks tucked in.
Keep arms close to your torso, bent at your elbows.
Land on your heels, and then roll forward to push off with your toes.
Swing your arms with each stride, keeping up a steady rhythmic cadence.

Walk for transportation is great, also taking the stairs instead of the elevators are an excellent addition to your life. You can make walking as intensive or non as you want. Strolling or power walking or somewhere in between is all perfectly fine. However if you do plan on power walking please invest in a proper pair of shoes.

A good pair is one that fits comfortably and is built for walking. The shoes should feel supportive but not constricting. Look for a padded tongue and heel counter. The uppers should be light, breathable, and flexible. The insole, moisture resistant, and the sole, shock absorbent. And the toe box should be roomy even with thick athletic socks.

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Another key point is if you are walking outside where cars drive past, wear bring clothing! It is highly important that you do not camouflage into the road so that cars can see you and move around you. It is for your own safety, so help the cars notice you. If you're walking on the road, walk facing the cars, so basically opposite the side you drive.