Walking is a form of physical activity suitable for all generations with numerous positive effects. Still, many are wondering if walking is a sufficient form of recreation.
The reason we underestimate walking is thinking that it is not an intense enough form of exercise to be able to bring about significant changes. On the other hand, for some, it is just an excuse to avoid exercise in general.
When we think of exercises we usually think of going to the gym, doing some sport or fitness – but if you are not in shape, the best physical activity you should dedicate yourself to is a half-hour daily walk. Even experts claim that daily brisk walking is the best way of physical activity.
Walking can strengthen the muscles of the legs, but also the rest of the body. If you want, you can always combine walking with any other type of physical activity, including the gym since one does not exclude the other.
When the weather allows, don’t give money for a membership fee in the fitness center to walk the treadmill there. Go outside and treat yourself to additional benefits at no extra cost – because, with nature, greenery, and fresh air, it is easier to cope with the daily stress of modern life.
Maybe you would like to be fit, but you do not have the character of a person who enjoys weightlifting or running? That is not a reason to give up everyday movement and recreation. We often underestimate walking just because it is the basic way people move – a well-known, easy, and simple activity.
However, one should not think like this because most people do not have the discipline of the average walker who walks from day to day, from month to month, from year to year. If you are persistent, even ordinary walking ceases to be a banal and boring thing that cannot come to the fore with modern fitness innovations.
The walking can’t be a waste of time just because your favourite tracksuit isn’t soaked with sweat. If you have tried walking regularly, but it has not led to the desired results you may not have met the requirements for recreational walking because going to the shopping mall is not considered a walk. The following conditions must be met for recreational walking:
- Walking has to be fast enough as if we are in a hurry
- It must last at least 30 minutes a day because it stimulates the muscles due to greater effort
- You have to walk regularly
Daily brisk walking for 30 to 60 minutes burns calories, speeds up metabolism, and stimulates muscle building. Regular walking reduces the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, stroke and has a positive effect on a good mood.
It increases the capacity of the lungs and speeds up the supply of oxygen to the body and stabilizes blood pressure. Walking puts less strain on the body and joints than running, so it is an ideal recreation for people who are in poor condition, overweight or middle-aged, and older.
Every walk up the hill will additionally help you shape and strengthen your legs and muscles, which have certainly weakened due to constant sitting.
And just going down the mountain! In order to get down safely, you need to stabilize your knees and hips, and the gluteus muscles are responsible for that. If you ride a bike, for example, you will have less developed lower leg muscles, and if you run your gluteus.
On that occasion, your abdominal muscles will be quite engaged, because you will have to be careful where you walk, bend, bend – as if you are doing exercises.
The backpack will further speed up the burning of calories, so you will burn between 400 and 800 calories during the walk. While this may not seem like it, walking and hiking are the best endurance workouts. Daily, regular walks will make your intestines work properly and your weight will disappear.
Due to the fast pace of life and impatience, we almost completely suppressed spontaneous walking, so instead of using every opportunity for healthy walking and taking care of our body, we prefer to choose a car and other means of transport, and neglect all the benefits of walking. It’s time to change that. Your movement has value and you deserve to share in it.
