March 29, 2024

When in doubt, walk it out!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

When in doubt, walk it out!

No time? No equipment for a workout? Walk! Walking for fitness doesn’t require expensive equipment, proper clothing, a specific location or a baseline of fitness. Simply grab your keys, phone and go. Instead of focusing on a target pace, set a goal to walk at a sustained pace, of your choosing, for a specific time.  Begin with 5 minutes and build from there. Unsure of walking outdoors? Walking may be done indoors for safety and comfort via the grocery store, mall, hallway or even around your living room. Indoor walking provides restrooms and chairs as soon as they’re needed. And the benefits are the same! You’re strengthening your heart, lungs, muscles, balance and agility. Go fast, go slow, go long, go slow, go outdoors, go indoors… JUST GO!

Stressed out? GO FOR A WALK!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

GO WALK!

Walking provides stress-relief because:

Fresh air is energizing.

Natural light boosts mood.

Provides a distraction.

Forces deep breathing.

Circulates blood and decreases muscle tension.

Forces range of motion and decreases muscle and joint soreness.

Low-impact exercise means reduced pressure on your joints.

Can be social. Invite your friends!

 

Form a Walking for Fitness Club!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Form a Walking Club!

Fitness is fun when others are included. And you’re less likely to skip out on your exercise when you know others are waiting for you. Add a social element to your workouts by forming a walking for fitness club. Getting started is easy. Here’s how:

Decide on a regular walking for fitness club day, time and meeting location and route.

Send an email, evite or group text inviting others to join you.

Send weekly reminders.

Through consistent exercise you’ll enjoy the many physical and psychological benefits. Here are just a few:

Regular exercise.

Build friendships.

Explore your town.

Expand your fitness horizons as you learn what other forms of fitness members enjoy.

 

 

Get Walking!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Walk Together!

Walking is great exercise to do with a group. Walking allows you to interact with others, get fresh air and sunshine, take in the sights and requires no additional equipment. Walking doesn’t require learning a new skill or competency maintaining  a high intensity workout. Walking is a by-design workout, you can make it whatever you want it to be! You’ll strengthen your heart, lungs and muscles, and improve balance, agility and coordination, all at the same time. Simply put your shoes, grab your keys and phone, and GO! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Exercise and socialize. Schedule a walk and talk with friends to catch up.

Take in the view. Walk to a vista or landmark location.

Walk to a destination. Walk to the store, library or movie theater.

Be a tourist. Take a scenic walk through your town.

Go off-road. Head to the local trail and and add an agility component to your walk.

 

 

 

Stand Up. Go Walk!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Every 2 hours- Stand up and go for a walk.

If you’ve been sitting for 2 hours, you’ve been sitting for too long! Stand up and go for a short walk! Set your phone alarm to signal regular walks during your day. You’ll energize your body, and refresh your mind.

 

Walk around your building.

Walk the hallway.

Walk your driveway.

Walk to the break room.

Walk the stairs.

March in place.

 

Post-Walking Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Post-Walking Stretch

After you’ve completed your walk or run, perform a Standing Lunge Stretch to maintain mobility of your ankle.

Stand facing a wall or post. Place both hands on the wall about chest-level. Step about 18 inches back with your right foot. Push your right heel down, and bend your left knee slightly feeling a stretch in your right calf muscle. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds. Release and return to your starting position. Repeat the stretch by stepping back with your left foot. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, and release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Walking for Fitness

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Walk!

Walking is effective cardiovascular exercise. Walking for fitness requires no additional equipment, and can be done right from your front door.

Ramp up your walking for fitness workout by adding in a few exercises at regular intervals:

Heel Raises: Stand keeping your torso straight. Lift and lower your heels.

Toe Raises: Stand keeping your torso straight. Lift and lower your toes.

Squats: Stand with your feet hip width apart. Bending from your knees and hips, sit back and lower your body toward the ground about six inches. Stand back up to return to your starting position.

 

*Always consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Start your fitness journey TODAY with walking

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Get a pedometer.

How do you know how to improve if you don’t know where you are? Head to your local sporting good store and check out the options. There are many! Basic pedometers display total steps only. However, if you enjoy technology and data, the sky is the limit on functions of advanced pedometers. Sophisticated pedometers track not only total steps, but other aspects of healthy living as well. Both categories of pedometers are reliable and effective.

Wear the pedometer for a solid week, then average your steps.  Taking the average offers a great starting point to building your fitness. Remember, it’s the overall volume of your physical activity that’s important when beginning to prevent physical injury and mental burnout. The Surgeon General recommends logging 10,000 steps each day. Your goal is to increase steps gradually to 10,000 steps a day. As always consult your physician before beginning an exercise program.

Pedometers offer motivation to be active throughout your day. Instant feedback takes the guess workout out of your fitness. Simply put on your pedometer and GO!

 

Get Extra Credit from your Walking Workout by Nicole Bryan

Looking to increase the intensity of your walking workout? Add in a few extra credit moves to burn additional calories. (Always consult your doctor before beginning exercise. The following is for those without injury or illness concerns.)

Walking Lunges. At the end of your walk, perform one to three sets of walking lunges. Step forward about three feet with your right foot. Bend your left knee and lower it about twelve inches toward the floor; bend your right knee so it is directly over your right ankle. Then transfer your weight forward onto your right foot, lift your left foot and swing your left foot to the center, then forward about three feet. Bend your right knee and lower it about twelve inches toward the floor; bend your left knee so it is directly over your ankle. Repeat ten times. For more of a challenge, increase the range of motion of lowering the knee towards the floor. Lower down until your knee is about two inches off the floor.

Standing Calf Raises. At the end of your walk, perform one to three sets of calf raises. Stand facing the curb or a step. Hang your heels off the curb. Lift and lower your heels. Perform ten to fifteen repetitions. For more of a challenge, place both arms across your chest when lifting and lowering your heels. Doing so will add a balance challenge into your calf raises.

Wall Squats. At various intervals during your walk, find a place to perform a wall squat hold. Position your feet about three-feet away from the wall and lean with your back against a wall or secure post. Slide your body down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the floor, keeping your knees directly over your ankles. Hold this position for ten to thirty seconds. Perform two to three sets back to back with thirty seconds rest in between holds. For more of a challenge, while in the wall squat position, keep your torso upright and still and lift your right foot about six inches off the ground and hold for ten to thirty seconds. Return your right foot to the floor and then lift your left foot about six inches off the ground for a hold of ten to thirty seconds. Perform two to three sets with each foot.

Walking Pick ups. Choose different landmarks on your route, or at specific time or mileage intervals do a quick pick-up of your walking pace for two to three minutes. During the pick up interval, shorten your stride, focus on the turnover of your legs, and move your arms. For more of a challenge, decrease the rest time in between intervals to thirty seconds of walking. Then go right back into another pick up interval.

Jogging Intervals. At each mile, do a short thirty second to two minute jogging interval. Extend the duration of your intervals to increase the intensity of your workout.

Stair climb. Find a flight of stairs on your walking route and do a few quick intervals up and down. To ramp up intensity, take the steps two at a time on the ascent and jog the descent.

 

*Disclaimer: Result may vary from person to person.

 

Be Prepared

Get Fit Quick Tip

Be Prepared! Be ready for anytime and anywhere fitness with a little planning ahead. Keep a pair of walking or athletic shoes by your front door, in your car or in your day bag. Doing so means when unexpected time becomes available such as an appointment running late, a cancelled meeting or impromptu downtime, you can simply put on your shoes and log a fast 10-20 minute walk!

Check back often for your useful and practical healthy living and fitness tip! Our Get Fit Quick tip will always be easy to remember and you’ll be able to implement it the very same day. Our tip will be so clear and concise you’ll be motivated to forward it to all your friends and family to inspire them to live healthy and fit as well!