Changing a few of your daily habits will help you burn off some extra calories everyday, but that's not enough by itself. What you really want to do is make regular vigorous exercise part of your lifestyle. Exercise will help speed your weight loss, increase the mobilization of fat, make you feel better and help normalize your body chemistry. One of the ways to get into the exercise habit is to take at least one long daily walk.
If you are struggling with jogging, then perhaps you should switch to walking? For many people, jogging just produces injuries and back ache. Switch to walking, and all traces of back pain may vanish. What's more, you may actually increase your weight loss : Running is very stressful so you may only be able to do it a few times per week - but most people can go walking every day, burning more calories.
Most of us walk a lot when we are younger - because we don't have a choice. However, we get older and get a car, it's easy to get out of the habit. One way to get back into the habit, is join your local hiking club. Many newspapers carry schedules of weekend events, and chances are that a local hike is listed. Most of the time, these hikes are relatively easy, just enough to get you mildly sweaty. Take part in them, enjoy them, but remember that these weekend hikes are there stimulate you and give you recreation - walking once a week isn't nearly enough.
The most important step in taking up walking is actually getting out there the very first time. Taking the plunge is the hardest part; the rest is easy. You might not think that there is anything very daring about simply going for a walk, but struggle is actually changing your daily routine to accommodate walking.
How many calories that you burn up walking depends on how much you weigh, your speed and where you're walking :
· Toddling along at 2 miles per hour, which is about the speed at which you would be going if passing an interesting showcase window, burns about 145 calories per hour if you weigh about 120 pounds, 185 calories if you weigh 150, and 215 calories if you weigh 200 pounds.
· Moderate walking, at 3 miles an hour, burns between 235 and 350 calories per hour, depending on your weight.
· Brisk walking at 4 miles an hour, burns between between 270 and 400 calories per hour.
· Walking up a slope that is just steep enough to make you bend forward a little in order to balance yourself better, burns twice the number of calories that as walking on the level. Don't, however, go out hunting hills the very first day!
· If the weather seems uncomfortably cold for walking, be grateful, because walking in the cold air burns up 7 to 10 percent more calories than walking in the hot June weather.
Seeing as you burn about twice as many calories when walking fast as hen walking slowly, you try to walk as fast as you comfortably can. When you first start walking, you may not be able to sustain fast walking, but you could definitely mix in some fast-paced intervals. You should also keep track of your heart rate to ensure that you're working hard enough to get all the aerobic benefits walking has to offer.
As noted above, walking over hilly terrain helps your burn extra calories. It also helps shape your butt and thighs. If you hike cross country, an additional benefit is that you get to see nature, and it's a lot more relaxing that walking on the track or trough the city.
Finally, sneak in a walk whenever you can. Leave your car at home and walk to the train station. Take a walk during your lunch break. Walk around the airport rather than using the automatic walking belt. You may even save time by walking more: One New York City newspaper compared walking, a bus and a subway on common rush-hour routes, and found that the walker reached his destination faster than mass transit in nearly every case.
Please note: This article was are NOT written by a doctor or other medical professional, and represents the personal opinons of the author only. Always consult your doctor before changing your diet, or beginning any exercise or fitness plan, etc.!
By Sunil Tanna