If, like many people, you would like to lose weight and get into better shape, then it really is quite simple (and achievable). In order to lose weight you must consume fewer calories by eating and drinking than you burn off as a result of physical activity. If you consistently burn off more calories than you consume over a period of time then you will lose weight. There is no magic formula, health supplement or pill that will change that.
Simply put, if you wish to shed pounds then you need to reduce the amount that you eat and drink (dieting), increase the number of calories that you burn (exercising) – or both. There’s little doubt that doing both simultaneously is the optimum solution. When you take exercise on a regular basis your metabolic rate – the speed at which you use up calories – is increased. Exercising consistently will mean that you burn calories faster even when you are not exercising – when you’re typing on your computer, when you’re reading a book – even when you’re sleeping.
Unfortunately for many people the mere thought of exercising can be off-putting – but there’s no sound reason to avoid physical exercise – it doesn’t need to involve getting all hot and sweaty. One of the best exercises that you can do is walking – which most of us do on a daily basis. Just walk a little more often and a little further and you’ll soon achieve benefits that you can both see and feel.
The recommendation of many health and fitness professionals is that we should try to walk 10,000 steps a day. That equates to a distance of between four and a half and five miles for the average person. It sounds like a long way – but you may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to achieve. Remember, that 10,000 steps is the total distance, it includes the normal walking that you do every day anyway. You’re not starting from scratch.
Leave the car at home and walk to work – or get off the bus a couple of stops early and finish the last part of your journey on foot. If you do take the car then park it in a corner of the parking lot that’s well away from the entrance so that you have further to walk. Take the stairs instead of the lift. Take a fifteen minute walk at lunch time. It all adds up.
Other than a good pair of comfortable shoes, you require no specialized equipment to start a walking workout. However, you may find a pedometer to be a useful investment – especially if a lot of your walking is done in short bursts throughout the day. It will help you to record and monitor your progress. You will find it easier to keep motivated – and also to find new ways of increasing your step count.
An mp3 player might be a good idea if you are able to fit longer walks into your day. The time and the miles will pass much more quickly when you’re listening to your favourite music.
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