One of the best all-around workouts is right at your feet. Literally.
If your feet can carry you from the couch to the fridge, then they can carry you through a heart-pumping, mood-boosting, leg-strengthening walking workout too.
The benefits of walking can’t be denied: Workouts are convenient, require little to no equipment (aside from a good pair of shoes) and can boost your health, slashing your risk of heart disease while strengthening bones and muscles. In fact, according to Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publications, some of walking’s health benefits can be seen even at short distances of just 5.5 miles per week. That’s less than a mile a day, folks.
When walking for fitness, aim to meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s guidelines for cardiovascular exercise, accumulating at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five days a week in increments of 10-minute blocks. In other words, try walking for 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes midday and 10 minutes in the evening. Or if you prefer, split it up into two 15-minute blocks or a single 30-minute session. Walk at a pace that’s comfortable, and try alternating between faster and slower periods of walking to benefit from the added calorie burn of interval training.
More: 500-Calorie walking workout
To get the most out of your workout, make sure you’re using proper walking form, focusing on posture, especially as you start to get tired.
More:5 Things people get wrong with cardio
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