Brisk walking doesn’t sound like it’s the intense gym session many of us imagine we require to get fit, but according to solid research, it can provide just as beneficial a workout as running. For many of us, heading out for a run on a regular basis simply isn’t realistic. Moreover, for most people, running every day simply isn’t recommended, though we should still remain active on most days.
A Brisk Walk is a Helpful Alternative to Running
If you’re a runner and you love it, great! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with going for a run and loving the way you feel and what it does for your body. If this is your type of workout, this article is not meant to cut into that.
That said, if you aren’t a runner and are still looking for a workout that offers you similar benefits, brisk walking can be just what you need. It’s true that high-intensity workouts can yield excellent results. This helps to explain why they get all the glory, while walking around the neighborhood isn’t exactly featured at the Olympics. That said, high-intensity workouts aren’t necessarily appropriate for everyone, and they’re certainly not appropriate for most people on a daily basis.
A brisk walk, on the other hand, is great for us pretty much every day of the week. If you can only fit five half-hour walks in per week, that’s fine too. That said, if you can do more days of walking than that, you’ll likely enjoy it and benefit from it as well.
Benefits of a Brisk Walk
The availability and benefits of a brisk walk also help to explain why is often recommended for people who are out of shape, or who are looking for workouts that will help them to overcome being overweight or obese if they haven’t been very active until now. While many people with obesity or who are overweight are physically active and don’t necessarily struggle from fitness issues, the additional weight on the joints can add challenges when it comes to certain other workouts.
Consider the advantages of taking a regular brisk walk on most days of the week.
Steady Calorie Burn
One of the biggest disadvantages of a tough workout routine is inability to maintain a steady calorie-burn pace. If you are running, you cannot maintain the same speed for 30 minutes at a stretch. This is because you will get tired and will have to slow down. With running, the calorie burn will be high towards the beginning of your workout but slow down toward the end.
Uneven calorie burn is not as effective. You will get tired within the first few minutes, and when you slow down, the calorie burn will diminish. Brisk walking, on the other hand, provides a constant calorie burn. From the start till the end, you burn a fixed amount of fat. Since you do not get tired, you are able to maintain a steady pace.
Less Chance of Injuries
If you have not exercised for years and now decide to lose weight, brisk walking should be your first preference. If you begin exercising intensely all of a sudden, you could injure yourself. Joints are the areas that are more prone to injury if you have been out of shape for a while. Walking is easy on your body. It is also an excellent exercise for getting back into shape. You should start walking and work your way up to a more aggressive routine. This way, your body will get used to the exercise routine before you stress it further.
Walking Is Easy
One of the main advantages of brisk walking is that it is extremely easy. All you need to do is spend 30 minutes on the treadmill, and then you are done. If this isn’t convenient, simply quit taking your car or other transportation to work. Walk to work, walk up the stairs, and you will get into shape in no time. Walking is in fact the easiest way to lose weight, provided it is done the right way.
If you want to lose weight without injuring yourself, then your number-one preference should be walking. That said, if this is a major lifestyle change for you, be sure to discuss it with your doctor first, to be sure it is safe and appropriate for you.
