| It is misleading that walking is being prescribed as | | | | it has merely provided an excuse to do as little as |
| an exercise program when someone wants to | | | | possible. |
| lose body fat or increase their fitness. How could | | | | Somehow focus has been taken off the intensity |
| our mode of transport ever be expected to | | | | of exercise (the degree of difficulty) and on to |
| meet the needs of a proper exercise program? | | | | the duration such as in the 10,000 steps program. |
| Could it be that it is so easy that people will be | | | | People now think what matters most is the |
| encouraged to do it rather than put in a bit of | | | | number of steps accumulated daily and are not |
| effort in something that will really give results? | | | | paying attention to the pace or effort invested in |
| The truth is that if you want to lose weight, get | | | | taking those steps. It would be far better to do |
| fit, increase your strength or change your risk for | | | | 3000 steps with some "huff and puff" and receive |
| heart disease you are going to need to work | | | | far more health benefits. |
| your body much harder than simply going for a | | | | An important part of a balanced exercise |
| walk. Walking is not all it takes to exercise | | | | program is strength training. Strength training |
| properly and should not be considered a proper | | | | assumes even more importance as we age, |
| exercise session and will never be enough to give | | | | because after age 30 everyone undergoes a slow |
| anyone marked exercise benefits. | | | | process of muscular erosion. The effect of this |
| After all, we all have legs and we all walk - it's | | | | can be reduced or even reversed by adding 2-3 |
| what we do to get from here to there. | | | | sessions of strength training per week. Strength |
| And we still have a massive two thirds of us | | | | training also improves heart and blood vessel |
| overweight or obese so it clearly isn't working is | | | | health and general well being. |
| it? All exercise training should challenge you to | | | | In comparison to walking programs, |
| accomplish something not normally experienced | | | | strength-training programs are more effective in |
| during everyday life and to conquer new | | | | increasing muscle tone and bone density. In |
| challenges. It is only then that the body will | | | | addition, strength training provides benefits such |
| increase strength or fitness. | | | | as decreasing depression, improving sleep, helping |
| People who limit themselves to walking tend to | | | | with weight management and decreasing body |
| become stiff and inflexible, with short tight | | | | fat. |
| muscles in their back and in the backs of their | | | | With a recent study revealing that 50% of |
| upper legs and may also lack muscle strength in | | | | women over the age of 50 have low bone |
| the trunk and upper body. These conditions | | | | density, the numbers of potential future |
| create imbalance within muscle groups which can | | | | osteoporosis victims is frightening. Walking can be |
| lead to poor posture and chronic lower back pain | | | | part of a program to prevent osteoporosis, but it |
| that partially cripples many people. This is because | | | | is not the whole story. To cause bone to grow it |
| walking only takes certain muscles through an | | | | must be challenged with a new weight, not the |
| incomplete range of movement. | | | | same load over and over again (as with walking). |
| People who have health and metabolism disorders | | | | Along with your balanced fitness program, eat a |
| which can be treated with physical activity should | | | | healthy diet and your program is complete and will |
| not be entrapped by the "walking is all it takes for | | | | add years to your life, make you feel and look |
| a good health" myth. This myth has given many a | | | | your best during those extra years. Imagine the |
| false sense that a stroll through the neighborhood | | | | good example and you will be setting for your |
| is all you need to stay healthy and fit. Instead of | | | | family and friends. |
| pushing people to become more physically active, | | | | |