Improve Your Body and Mind With the Benefits of Fitness Walking * lower blood pressure * increased energy * ability to fall asleep quicker * overall improved stamina. The benefits of fitness walking have been studied and there are some pretty exciting results to share with you. But first, let’s discuss what fitness walking is.
What is Fitness Walking? Fitness walking is not a leisurely stroll. It is brisk walking designed to strengthen your cardiovascular system (heart and lungs) and/or to lose weight. For this reason, it is also called aerobic walking because aerobic exercises accelerate your heart rate and target a major muscle group. Examples of aerobic exercises are walking, running and biking. Exercises that require short bursts of energy are called anaerobic, such as lifting weights or running sprints. Benefits of Fitness Walking As promised, here are the health benefits that have been directly linked to fitness walking. Increase your resting metabolic rate. This helps to burn off extra calories and keep them off permanently. Fitness walking revs up your metabolism and you will burn more calories all the time, whether you are sleeping or watching TV! Because it is considered a low to moderate impact activity, fitness walking is easy on your joints and bones and doesn’t cause injuries as often as high impact sports like running. Prevent or control coronary heart disease, some cancers, and diabetes. There have been many studies that have shown that walking can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and diabetes. Improve your moods and reduce anxiety. A psychology professor at California State University, Long Beach studied individuals over a 20-day period and found that the more they walked, the higher they rated their overall mood, happiness and self-esteem. Other studies have found that exercise can help by reducing the symptoms of major depression. Reduce the risk of memory loss and brain deterioration. In 2001, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, found that women in their seventies who walked at least one mile a day were less likely to lose their cognitive abilities than women who walked only a half a mile a week. In 2007, researchers from the University of Illinois found that exercise, such as brisk walking, reversed brain shrinkage and increased brain volume in older adults, ages 60-79. Slows the physical signs of aging. Exercise is vital to keeping your body feeling younger. It can strengthen your bones and improve your circulation. Keeping your body in good physical condition makes you look and feel younger. If you would like more anti-aging tips, please visit Effective Antiaging Tips for more in-depth information. Economic Benefits of Walking Yep, you guessed it. The more you walk, the less you'll drive. And with gas prices only getting higher, walking is good for your wallet too! Environmental Benefits of Walking Choosing to walk to your favorite places instead of driving has a positive impact on our environment. Just one gallon of gasoline emits about 19 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the air. Walking instead of driving reduces greenhouse gases, slows global warming and improves air quality.
Wow! It is easy to see why fitness walking is the perfect exercise! You may begin to experience some of the emotional and health benefits of fitness walking during your very first walk. So, let’s get started!
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