If you want to improve your overall fitness level without doing anything drastic, then walking is the best exercise for you. Apart from being something that comes naturally and can be done without any kind of training, walking is one of the most effective ways of getting your body into shape and in achieving high levels of fitness. If you want to improve your fitness level after leading a sedentary life, then you should start with walking.
Fitness Level increased by walking
Walking has a number of advantages that put it up there when it comes to exercise forms that are good for your fitness level. Some of the main ways by which walking can make you fit and healthy are:
Walking Aids Weight Loss: Walking is one of the most efficient cardio vascular exercises that you can indulge in. Since walking is low impact and can be done by people even with age or injury related problems, it is the most versatile of all weight loss exercises. The more you walk, the more weight you can lose, and you can suit both your walking style and speed to your own individual health.
Walking Strengthens Your Heart: Walking is the best exercise for the heart. Not only does walking exercise the heart and make it stronger and fitter, it also leads to a lowering of low density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein. This balancing of cholesterol levels ensures that your arteries do not clog up. Walking also goes a long way in controlling high blood pressure. These are some of the few reasons why walking is advised to all those who face a risk of heart disease.
Walking Improves Mental Health: Walking is one of those exercises where the body releases endorphins or feel good hormones. It is because of this reason that walking is a good stress buster. It is effective in combating anxiety and depression and in promoting happiness and a feeling of well being.
Walking Lowers Your Risk Of Diabetes: It has been proven that people who walk regularly are at a lower risk of type 2 diabetes as compared to people who do not indulge in any kind of cardiovascular activity. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, or an unhealthy diet, then walking can greatly reduce your risk of getting diabetes by keeping you fit.
FItness efficiency
In order to get optimum efficiency from your walking regimen, you should warm up for 5 minutes by walking into place or by walking very slowly before you embark on a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes. Stretching after warm up promotes a higher level of muscle and joint fitness and prevents injuries. In order to achieve your desired fitness level in the least possible time through walking, make sure that you do maximum amount of your walking only after achieving your target heart rate.
