| Walking is the ideal exercise. It is natural, easy, | | | | and no snacks! |
| inexpensive, safe, and fun. Almost everyone can | | | | If you have cardiovascular problems, monitor |
| walk. So why is everyone imitating the hare and | | | | your heart rate. Consult your doctor to find out |
| not the tortoise? | | | | what your optimum heart rate should be during |
| Many of us used to run when we kids. We | | | | any physical activity. |
| weighed far less than we do now though. Why do | | | | Effective walking comes in many flavors |
| we expect that the aged and aging legs (and | | | | You can do it anyway you want. This is the |
| knees) we now have can take the pounding we | | | | beauty of this form of exercise. However, do it |
| inflict carrying up to 3 or 4 times when we try to | | | | briskly so you get the aerobic effect. |
| run on a hard turf? | | | | - Walk the dog everyday. It will like it too. |
| Like this lady I saw on my way to work... | | | | - Walk and listen to music. You may even choose |
| One morning in the Fall of 2005 I saw a lady | | | | your rhythm to help you keep pace. |
| running with pain on her face. She was grimacing. I | | | | - Go play golf, and walk all over the greens. |
| imagine she may have been groaning with each | | | | - Walk with your neighbor. It's even OK to gossip |
| stride, but I couldn't hear through the din of early | | | | about your other lousy neighbors until they join |
| morning Atlanta traffic. | | | | you. |
| In my mind, that lady was doing the right thing in | | | | - Walk and learn a new language. It could take |
| the wrong way. It was obvious that she was | | | | you to another country. |
| trying to lose weight. She carried a fairly large | | | | - Walk and listen to an audio book - get smarter |
| weight for her height. | | | | and fitter at the same time. |
| Why do people run when they don't have to? | | | | - Walk while strolling the baby. This will definitely |
| And why do they chose to run on the hard turf | | | | help you look like you've past 9 months. |
| rather than on an unpaved area such as a grassy | | | | - Walk up and down the stairs for 15 minutes. It's |
| play field? Don't they know what this might be | | | | equivalent to walking for 30 minutes around your |
| doing to their joints? | | | | neighborhood. |
| How much walking is enough? | | | | - Enjoy nature while you walk. You get the mental |
| Experts recommend that we walk briskly for at | | | | relaxation and fitness in one package. |
| least approximately 30 minutes three times | | | | There are many people out there sitting sick. |
| weekly in order to get the aerobic benefit. | | | | They just need to get up and walk. Let their |
| If you need to lose weight you can increase that | | | | muscles know that they are alive (or want to be |
| to one hour three times per week, or do 30 | | | | alive again.) |
| minutes at least five times per week. | | | | It takes effort and determination to make regular |
| However, if you are diabetic, it really helps to | | | | exercise part of our lives. |
| walk for one hour every morning every day. BE | | | | You don't have to run. And chances are, if you do |
| CAREFUL of hypos! Walk with a snack. But you | | | | you'll soon "run out of steam." Many people have |
| can actually walk that off. What do I mean? | | | | started on an exercise program and soon find |
| I mean, regular walking exercise coupled with | | | | that the only thing they ever got was |
| proper diet and rest can make hypoglycemic | | | | discouragement. |
| attacks a rare experience. I haven't had one in a | | | | Don't run, just walk. Remember the hare and the |
| very long time, and I eat only three meals a day | | | | tortoise? Walk until you get there, first. |