I start walking and then I stop. Then I start walking again, and then I stop. I know I sound like the “I lift things up and put them down” guy on the Planet Fitness commercial, but seriously, I do this over and over again.
I know walking is good for me and every so often, I decided to start a regime. Then, for whatever reason – I get sick, I get busy, I forget – I stop again.
(The image was found at Morgue File.)
Last time I went to the doctor, my cholesterol was bad, so I know I need to start moving again. Plus at my age, I know my metabolism is coming to a screeching halt and this extra 30 pounds will just be harder and harder to remove as I get older. I have no excuse – my recliner is literally three feet away from my treadmill in my living room.
April 4th is National Walking Day. Sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), the day reminds us that just 30 minutes of walking a day, five times a week can help us live longer by reducing our changes of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Not only that, but exercise helps you sleep better and as an added bonus, you might lose or at least maintain your weight.
If you are like me, you always find an excuse not to walk, but if you visit StartWalkingNow.org, you can find a lot of helpful tips. You can even get your office walking by having someone in your Human Resources department download the National Walking Day Toolkit, which features posters, flyers, a PowerPoint presentation, and signs about walking. Simple suggestions such as have a walking meeting instead of a sitting meeting are offered.
And if you want to use the “But, I don’t have 30 minutes a day to devote to walking,” the AHA has that covered too. Studies show that just 10 minutes of walking three times a day will do the trick as well.
If you sign up on the web site, you have access to a tracker to keep up with your exercise and diet, a daily walking guide, a link to find walking paths in your neighborhood, walking plans, free exercise videos, and an online community for support.