5 Reasons Why You Need to Walk

There is so much evidence that walking is good for your health but I also believe it offers other benefits. Here are my 5 Reasons Why You Need to Walk.

Walking is an amazing physical activity that remains my favorite exercise year after year. Not only is walking a very effective exercise; it’s good for your mood and fun as well!

The benefits of walking are numerous but I’m going to focus on my five favorite reasons. Walkers know how great walking is and we are passionate about this moderate-intensity, low impact exercise.

Walking is also a great exercise for losing and maintaining weight. 

In fact, I have found walking to be my BEST tool for staying slim and feeling good. (Seriously, it is the only thing that really gets rid of my love handles.)

I’ve been an avid walker for 40 years and I want to share with you my reasons why I recommend walking so highly. I’m really passionate about walking and love sharing why it’s so amazing.

While most people acknowledge walking is good for you, it’s not nearly as glamorous as running seems to be and I suspect some people blow it off as an inferior type of exercise.

However, as a devoted outdoors walker, I am here to tell you, that walking is the Ultimate Exercise.

Walking is an Excellent Workout

For me, walking gets the job done. And by job, I mean maintaining a healthy weight and metabolism. Research on the health benefits of walking also shows that consistent walking provides measurable positive outcomes.

I first discovered the benefits of walking while pregnant with my first child. Not only did I have an easy delivery but I was able to walk off the baby weight quickly.

For me, the magic number is three miles in one hour. That’s fairly brisk, but not uncomfortable at all.

And you get so many benefits for that one-hour investment a few times a week. I depend on it so much that I have written more in depth about it in five other posts. That is walking love!

My daily routine usually includes a walk. I usually aim for 45-minutes but whatever you can manage is good for you.

Even though walking is low-impact, it still provides an excellent workout that builds endurance and cardiovascular health. 

Walking is Low Impact and Moderate-Intensity

Walking is one of the safest exercises. It’s difficult to hurt yourself simply through walking. 

You can’t say the same for running or other high-impact cardio exercises. In fact, walking can actually be therapeutic for your body.

On many occasion, after my adjustment, my chiropractor prescribed walking to help me heal various work-induced back problems. 

And each and every time, my body was able to heal without pain medication, muscle relaxers, or surgery.

I’ve pulled muscles, hurt my back, and have even had a separated shoulder from other types of exercise. With walking you have a lower risk of injuries. 

I can say that in over 40 years of walking, I’ve never hurt myself! Walking is easier on your joints and knees than running as well.

Walking is Good for Your Health

There is quite a bit of research promoting the benefits of walking. Look around at how many people are wearing some sort of device to track their steps.

You do not have to reach a certain number of steps to get the health benefits from walking. Try to walk as much as possible during your daily activities and add a 30-minute walk in there and you will be good to go. 

Walking is so good for so many things; people are looking for ways to get more steps into their lives. It’s probably the #1 recommended exercise out there. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Reduces risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
• Burns calories, revs up metabolism, and can help with weight loss
• Builds up your bones
• Improves circulation
• Boosts your brain power
• Relieves stress and improves mood

Other health benefits mentioned are reducing the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s. There is a wealth of information promoting the benefits of walking.

Even moderate (but consistent) amounts can have a positive effect on your health. Create a walking routine and do it consistently and reap these benefits for yourself.

Walking is Accessible and Free

Put on your walking shoes, go outside and walk. It just doesn’t get any easier than that.

You can even wear regular clothes if you want. I do recommend getting a pair of decent pair of walking or running shoes. 

The other great thing is that you don’t have to practice or learn to walk. You just go do it. Our bodies are designed to walk and to walk for long distances.

You might want to gradually increase your distance or speed but otherwise, it’s something you know how to do and you can do it almost anywhere.

I do recommend finding a place with dedicated trails or sidewalks for safety. But most cities have various places you can walk. 

For other safety tips, check out Get Ready to Walk Off the Pounds

Walking Helps With Your Mood

I look forward to my walk no matter what the weather. I enjoy the different seasons, the different ways the sky looks, the plants that are blooming, the animal life.

No walk is alike. Even though I take virtually the same path every day, I am amazed at all the variety I see each day. 

Walking also helps my mind relax. While it’s not quite meditation; it definitely calms my thoughts and emotions. I feel much better mentally after a walk.

This is one of my favorite things about walking is that it helps me relax, decreases my anxiety, and just helps me feel better all over. 

There is something about being outside and the steady movement of a walk that makes me feel better every time.

Walking Outdoors is such an amazing and healthy activity. At the very least start adding more walking to your daily routine.

Park your car far away from the grocery store door. Take a longer on bathroom breaks.

Spend part of your lunch hour outside walking. Walking is so vital to good health it makes sense to add more to your day.

Even a 15-minute walk can help you relax and recharge!

Why Walking is My Ultimate Exercise

My life simply feels better when I am able to walk almost every day. I’d walk every day just for the overall sense of well-being I get from my walks. Walking improves my quality of life.

But I also notice that walking seems to be the exercise, if done consistently, that helps me really get at that stubborn fat around my middle.

Believe it or not, by walking consistently, I am also able to participate in other activities such as cycling and hiking which require more endurance. 

I’ve also found ways to increase the intensity of a walk so that it burns more calories and works more muscles. Read about that in How to Make Walking More Effective.