Is Walking Enough?
Question: I enjoy walking outdoors and walk 4-5 days per week. I feel this is a good workout for me, but do I need to be doing more?
Answer: A good fitness program should include a balance of cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training. That being said, if walking is what you are enjoying right now, then keep at it! Understand that, at some point, you’ll want to incorporate the other components to improve your overall fitness. If you are a beginner, walking just 30 minutes a day can help keep your bones strong, exercise major muscle groups and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have been walking for some time now, maybe your body is plateauing, in which case you just need some new techniques to intensify your walking workout. Vary the pace of your walk by alternating slow and quick steps. Challenge your walk by incorporating hills, a steep incline or stadium stairs within your walking route. Adding the use of trekking poles or a weighted vest can also ramp up the intensity of your walking workout.
About the author: Jolyne Roch is the club owner and Certified Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness in Lindenwoods. To submit a question for future articles, please contact the author at winnipegmb2@anytimefitness.com.
