Walking for Weight Loss - Pedestrian Power

Posted 16 February 2009

Walking for weight loss is one of the most achievable fitness and weight loss strategies - it's time to pound the pavements.

When it comes to walking for weight loss, there is no exercise that is as effective, as accessible, or as safe and as easy.Yet, many of us drive short distances, take the bus or find excuses to save our legs the bother. But walking for weight loss takes far less motivation than sticking to a difficult, fad diet or considering unreachable fitness goals. And walking for fitness is accessible to all able bodies.

Walking for Weight Loss - The Commuter's Story

In The Times newspaper, a feature followed the story of Bruce Millar who decided to give up car ownership. Living in London, the desire to walk wasn't simply about walking for weight loss, it was walking to boost his fitness levels, and walking to save cash. In fact, walking saved him £5,000 a year - the cost of running his car. By walking instead of driving to work, he would be walking an hour a day (four and a half miles). In addition Millar would walk to social occasions and events, sometimes pushing his mileage up to 30 miles a week. For Millar, it wasn't simply about walking for weight loss, but walking for fitness - by walking everywhere, he had a fitness regime built into his lifestyle.

Improve the Quality of your Life by Walking for Weight Loss

Choosing to walk to work not only helps those who are walking for weight loss, fitness and looking to save money - walking helps manage anxiety and stress, and allows the brain to wonder to help address and think through problems and thoughts. On the other hand, driving in city centres brings nothing but stress: gridlocked streets, traffic jams, road rage, the difficulty of finding a parking space, traffic wardens...the list goes on. Walking for weight loss, convenience and fitness however adds to quality of life. And for those serious about walking for weight loss, there are dedicated websites that offer walking programmes, advice and motivation, helping you track your progress and set new challenging goals. In Millar's case, he adopted a scientific approach to his walking by investing in a personal walking trainer.

Walking - A Multitude of Benefits

Walking is a hugely important activity for our all-round physical health and mental well being, and as well as walking for weight loss, the spiritual benefits of pedestrian power are huge. Using a walking coach is one way of ensuring your posture is correct, safeguarding you from back pain. If you are walking for weight loss, your head should be high, shoulders back stomach flat and back straight. Walking is a natural sport for us, compared to high impact sports such as running. And by power walking you can up your walking speed from 3mph to 5mph - benefits from power walking are extensive. As well as walking for weight loss, power walking helps you tone muscle, sleep better, boost your mental and physical energy levels and reduce the risks of osteoporosis by increasing bone strength. And walking for weight loss, unlike many sports and exercises, is relatively injury free and accessible to all ages.

Interested in Walking for Weight Loss? Fitbug can Help

By using the Fitbug pedometer you can get the right structure and motivation to keep you on the straight and narrow. You can choose a walking programme to suit your level and fit your schedule. If you are the sort of person who likes concrete evidence of how they are getting on, print out your programme, stick it on your fridge and cross off each power walk as you complete it. To find out more, call: 0870 228 4949.