Hoof it for health
Can’t make it to the gym? Don’t worry. By walking more each day, you can get surprisingly fit.
“The best exercise you can do, no matter your age, is walking,” said Dai Daiku, fitness center coordinator at Mills-Peninsula. “Walking 30 minutes a day five days a week helps people lose weight and feel better.”
For those who are overweight and at risk for diabetes and hypertension, losing 5 to 10 percent of body weight can cut their risk for those diseases in half. Walking is the easiest way to lose that weight.
“Regular walking,” Daiku says, “also helps people with the most challenging part of any weight loss program — maintaining weight. All you need is a little time and pair of comfortable shoes.”
He suggests five healthy steps anyone can take regardless of their lifestyle:
muscles and burns more calories than sitting.
The key to getting results from such a simple routine is regularity.
“Think of it as an investment in your health. Over time, your investment will add up,” Daiku said.
For those just getting started, it helps to have a walking partner, he adds.
Other ingredients for success include starting slow and recording your progress by using a pedometer and journal. Daiku recommends people eventually take 10,000 steps per day.
“And don’t forget to celebrate successes. Reward yourself, but instead of going out to eat, buy yourself a new pair of jeans in a smaller size.”
