| Many of the most recognized health associations | | | | ligaments and tendons that support our body. |
| in our country, such as the American Diabetes | | | | Once a duration of 20 to 30 minutes of brisk |
| Association and the American Heart Association, | | | | walking has been achieved, however, it is time to |
| recommend that individuals primarily increase their | | | | kick it up a notch and increase the intensity. |
| activity levels using walking as exercise. On the | | | | Once that foundation has been laid, intervals with |
| other hand, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) | | | | jogging and walking can be used by most as an |
| makes the following recommendations: | | | | excellent way to capture the CDC's minimum 20 |
| 1) a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate | | | | minutes of vigorous activity. A ratio of 1 minute |
| intensity physical activity per day most days of | | | | fast jogging or running for every 2-3 minutes of |
| the week, or | | | | walking is a great way to start the much more |
| 2) a minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous intensity | | | | effective form of cardiovascular conditioning |
| physical activity three days each week, plus | | | | known as interval training. |
| 3) resistance, strength-building, and weight-bearing | | | | The final question remains: is exercise even |
| activities two days per week. | | | | happening? |
| Who is right, and is it happening? | | | | Around the country, the answer appears to be |
| In terms of effectiveness, experience shows that | | | | no. Obesity and obesity-related diseases and |
| the CDC is closest to the mark. The vast | | | | death rates are at an all-time high, even though |
| majority of exercisers who successfully lose body | | | | the science and knowledge behind successful fat |
| fat and improve their health consistently perform | | | | loss mechanisms are at their height. More |
| the recommendations provided by the CDC, at a | | | | research and real-world experience exist right |
| minimum. In fact, in 2007 the American College of | | | | now than ever before, and all of that information |
| Sports Medicine stated that the general public | | | | is widely available on the internet, often free of |
| would receive even greater health benefits by | | | | charge. |
| exceeding the recommended minimums. | | | | Yet, even the appropriate MINIMUM amount of |
| So, is walking enough? Experience, the CDC, and | | | | exercise is not being accomplished, whether it is |
| the American College of Sports Medicine | | | | something as simple as walking or an activity that |
| emphatically say no! | | | | is much more vigorous and productive. |
| Walking is, by far, the best way to get started | | | | At the end of the day, it comes down to your |
| with an exercise program, but don't be fooled into | | | | choices regarding the use of the same 86,400 |
| thinking that it is the ultimate solution which will | | | | seconds we are all given, whether or not you are |
| allow you to achieve the fat loss goals you are | | | | doing any activity at all, and whether you are |
| seeking. When starting a program, walking is | | | | doing a lot more than just walking. |
| valuable for safely building strength in the | | | | |