| Walking at a brisk pace is simply the single best | | | | household chores or walking to the car. Perhaps |
| exercise you can perform. If you are fifty years | | | | you play golf or go bowling. All of these activities |
| of age or older, it should be your activity of | | | | are signs of life because while performing them, |
| choice. To reach your goal of optimal health, | | | | you are moving, but walking is different. Other |
| resolve today to begin a regular program of | | | | exercises are good. Walking is great. |
| walking, at a pace which will provide an excellent | | | | Here are just a few of the reasons for you to |
| cardiovascular workout. | | | | consider walking for health and well being. The |
| Before beginning any exercise routine, especially | | | | degree of difficulty is low. You warm up and cool |
| after age fifty, you would be wise to consult your | | | | down by performing the exact same motion used |
| physician. If there is anything on your chart that | | | | during the walk, only you walk a little slower. It is |
| would call for caution, your doctor will so advise | | | | a low intensity exercise with more time spent at |
| you. I am sixty five years of age and I enjoy | | | | a less strenuous level. You can do it alone or with |
| brisk walking for one hour each day. I am careful | | | | friends. You can take your dog with you. During |
| not to exceed my maximum heart rate which is | | | | times of severe or inclement weather, you can |
| 155 beats per minute. | | | | move to an indoor track or mall. |
| The target heart rate for me, for the greatest | | | | Walking is basically an injury free activity, |
| benefit, is seventy to eighty five percent of the | | | | especially when compared to jogging. It is an |
| maximum heart rate. That would be anywhere | | | | excellent stress manager. No special skills are |
| between 109 and 132 beats per minute. I maintain | | | | needed. No special equipment is required other |
| a rate of 120 beats per minute throughout my | | | | than comfortable clothing and good walking shoes. |
| walk. You might not be able to exercise every | | | | Walking briskly provides an excellent |
| day and you do not need to. If you are walking | | | | cardiovascular workout. It develops muscle tone, |
| for 30 minutes three times a week or every | | | | endurance, strength and agility. |
| other day that will be sufficient as long as you are | | | | Walking out of doors amid pleasant surroundings |
| training at a pace which will raise your pulse to the | | | | gives you time and space to reflect. A good walk |
| target rate for aerobic conditioning. If your heart | | | | can lift you out of depressions, clear the mind, lift |
| rate is higher than the target for your age, slow | | | | the spirit and even set the stage for problem |
| down. | | | | solving later that day. You will lose fat, improve |
| Taking your pulse as you walk is easy. Wear a | | | | circulation, and expel waste matter through the |
| watch and midway through your walk, stop for a | | | | lungs and skin. Increased intestinal motility results |
| few seconds to check your heart rate. This can | | | | from the gentle swaying of the internal organs. |
| be done by gently touching your neck or left | | | | Finally, walking fine tunes the metabolism, |
| wrist. When you feel the pulse, count the number | | | | regulates the appetite, and increases your energy. |
| of beats for a period of 10 seconds. Now multiply | | | | If you are between 50 and 100, a regular |
| that by six. If for example you are 55 years of | | | | program of exercise can change your life and go |
| age and counted 22 heart beats in the 10 second | | | | a long way towards the prevention of diseases |
| time frame, your training heart rate is 132 beats | | | | associated with aging. Why not get started this |
| per minute. That fits perfectly within the desirable | | | | week? Speak to your doctor. Line up some |
| range of seventy percent to eighty five percent | | | | comfortable clothing and break out those walking |
| of the maximum heart rate of 165 beats per | | | | shoes. Aerobic walking is the best exercise, the |
| minute. | | | | best means, to eliminate or prevent sickness and |
| Now you might be inclined to say you don't need | | | | suffering from your life, while extending your life |
| to walk, you get enough exercise doing the | | | | expectancy. |