Fitness - EXERCISE: GETTING STARTED : Walking for health
Walking for health(0 photos)
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.
It's underrated as a form of exercise, but walking is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active.
Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke and some cancers.
Use this guide to increase the amount of walking you do every week and maximise the health benefits.
Before you start
Any shoes or trainers that are comfortable, provide adequate support and don't cause blisters will do.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Choose thin layers, which you can add or remove depending on conditions.
If you're walking to work, you could wear your usual work clothes with a comfy pair of shoes and change shoes when you get into work.
For long walks, you may want to take some water, healthy snacks, a spare top, sunscreen and a sunhat in a small backpack.
If you start going for regular, longer walks, you may want to invest in a waterproof jacket and some specialist walking shoes for more challenging routes.
Starting out
Start slowly and try to build your walking regime gradually. To get the health benefits from walking, it needs to be of moderate-intensity activity. In other words, it needs to be faster than a stroll.
If, to begin with, you can only walk fast for a couple of minutes, that's fine. Don't overdo it on your first day.
You can break up your activity into 10-minute chunks, as long as you're doing your activity at a moderate intensity.
Begin every walk slowly and gradually increase your pace. After a few minutes, if you're ready, try walking a little faster.
Try to walk 10,000 steps a day. Most of us walk between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day anyway, so reaching 10,000 isn't as daunting as it might sound.
Towards the end of your walk, gradually slow down your pace to cool down. Finish off with a few gentle stretches, which will improve your flexibility.
From walking to the shops or part of your journey to work, to walking the dog and organised group walks, try to make every step count.
Staying motivated
Make it a habit
The easiest way to walk more is to make walking a habit. Think of ways to include walking into your daily routine. Examples include:
walking part of your journey to work
walking to the shops
using the stairs instead of the lift
leaving the car behind for short journeys
walking the kids to school
doing a regular walk with a friend
going for a stroll with family or friends after dinner
If you live in a city, Walkit has an interactive walk planner to help you find the best walking route. Each suggested route includes your journey time, calorie burn, step count and carbon saving.
Mix it up
Add variety to your walks. You don't have to travel to the countryside to find a rewarding walk. Towns and cities offer interesting walks, including parks, heritage trails, canal towpaths, riverside paths, commons, woodlands, heaths and nature reserves. For inspiring walks, visit Walk Unlimited.
Ramblers organises group walks for health, leisure and as a means of getting around to people of all ages, backgrounds and for all levels of fitness. Its website has details of many locally organised walks in towns and cities, as well as the countryside.
The UK's 15 National Parks run free guided walks for the whole family during the holidays.
Become a volunteer
One way to keep walking regularly is by becoming a volunteer to promote walking in your community and help other people get active. Walking for Health is England's largest network of health walk schemes, helping people across the country lead a more active lifestyle. Volunteering is a great way to keep active, make new friends and explore your local area. Watch a video about volunteering for Walking for Health.
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.
It's underrated as a form of exercise, but walking is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active.
Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke and some cancers.
Use this guide to increase the amount of walking you do every week and maximise the health benefits.
Before you start
Any shoes or trainers that are comfortable, provide adequate support and don't cause blisters will do.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Choose thin layers, which you can add or remove depending on conditions.
If you're walking to work, you could wear your usual work clothes with a comfy pair of shoes and change shoes when you get into work.
For long walks, you may want to take some water, healthy snacks, a spare top, sunscreen and a sunhat in a small backpack.
If you start going for regular, longer walks, you may want to invest in a waterproof jacket and some specialist walking shoes for more challenging routes.
Starting out
Start slowly and try to build your walking regime gradually. To get the health benefits from walking, it needs to be of moderate-intensity activity. In other words, it needs to be faster than a stroll.
If, to begin with, you can only walk fast for a couple of minutes, that's fine. Don't overdo it on your first day.
You can break up your activity into 10-minute chunks, as long as you're doing your activity at a moderate intensity.
Begin every walk slowly and gradually increase your pace. After a few minutes, if you're ready, try walking a little faster.
Try to walk 10,000 steps a day. Most of us walk between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day anyway, so reaching 10,000 isn't as daunting as it might sound.
Towards the end of your walk, gradually slow down your pace to cool down. Finish off with a few gentle stretches, which will improve your flexibility.
From walking to the shops or part of your journey to work, to walking the dog and organised group walks, try to make every step count.
Staying motivated
Make it a habit
The easiest way to walk more is to make walking a habit. Think of ways to include walking into your daily routine. Examples include:
If you live in a city, Walkit has an interactive walk planner to help you find the best walking route. Each suggested route includes your journey time, calorie burn, step count and carbon saving.
Mix it up
Add variety to your walks. You don't have to travel to the countryside to find a rewarding walk. Towns and cities offer interesting walks, including parks, heritage trails, canal towpaths, riverside paths, commons, woodlands, heaths and nature reserves. For inspiring walks, visit Walk Unlimited.
For wheelchair users, visit Walks with wheelchairs and for parents with buggies, visit Walks with buggies.
Join a walking group
Walking in a group is a great way to start walking, make new friends and stay motivated.
Walking for Health's Walk Finder allows you to search for organised walks near you. Many of the walks are aimed at people who do little or no exercise, but who would like to become more active. Watch a video about Walking for Health's walking groups.
Ramblers organises group walks for health, leisure and as a means of getting around to people of all ages, backgrounds and for all levels of fitness. Its website has details of many locally organised walks in towns and cities, as well as the countryside.
The UK's 15 National Parks run free guided walks for the whole family during the holidays.
Become a volunteer
One way to keep walking regularly is by becoming a volunteer to promote walking in your community and help other people get active. Walking for Health is England's largest network of health walk schemes, helping people across the country lead a more active lifestyle. Volunteering is a great way to keep active, make new friends and explore your local area. Watch a video about volunteering for Walking for Health.
Set yourself a goal
You can walk 1,000 steps in around 10 minutes. Pedometers are a fun way to keep track of your walking. Use a pedometer to work out your average daily steps and then start adding extra steps. Find out how you can benefit from walking 10,000 steps on five or more days a week.
Source: NHS UK