HEALTH & WELLBEING: Walking for health

As we head into summer going outside for a walk can a simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.

As we head into summer going outside for a walk can  a simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Walking is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active. Regular walking can help to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke and some cancers.

Use this guide to increase the amount of walking you do every week and maximise the health benefits.

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Start slowly and try to build your walking regime gradually. To get the health benefits from walking, it needs to be of moderate-intensity activity. In other words, it needs to be faster than a stroll. If, to begin with, you can only walk fast for a couple of minutes, that's fine. Don't overdo it on your first day. You can break up your activity into 10-minute chunks, as long as you're doing your activity at a moderate intensity. Begin every walk slowly and gradually increase your pace. After a few minutes, if you're ready, try walking a little faster. Try to walk 10,000 steps a day.

Set yourself a goal

You can walk 1,000 steps in around 10 minutes. Pedometers are a fun way to keep track of your walking. Use a pedometer to work out your average daily steps and then start adding extra steps.

 

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