Is Walking a Good Workout? These Benefits Will Surprise You

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Wondering if walking is a good workout? 

Keep reading to discover the fantastic health benefits. Plus:

• Why it’s the #1 form of exercise — especially if you do 60 minutes a day.
• 20 mental, emotional and physical health benefits.
• The surprising LOVE benefits!
• 7 easy ways to fit more walking into your life.

Is Walking is a Good Workout?

Most people don’t class walking as a “real” workout, but I’m here to tell you it is. 

It’s not just my opinion — multiple research studies confirm walking is a great overall workout — with one study showing 60 minutes a day improves your health significantly.

The #1 Form of Exercise

If you’re at the start of your health and wellness journey, walking is one of the simplest ways to start working out regularly. And, it’s one of the easiest exercises to stay consistent with no matter how much motivation you have.

In fact, if I had to suggest one exercise to begin with when starting to exercise, walking would be #1. 

It’s simple, easy and free. And has an unbelievable number of benefits not only for your physical health but for your mental, emotional and relational health too.

20 Health Benefits of Walking Regularly:

1. Helps you clear your head.
2. Enhances your mood.
3. Reduces stress and anxiety.
4. Alleviates low mood and depression.
5. Boosts your energy.
6. Alleviates fatigue.
7. Helps you lose weight (if you walk for 30 minutes a day, you could burn an extra 100 to 300 calories. That’s 30,000 calories a year — the equivalent of running ten marathons).
8. Helps you maintain a healthy body weight.
9. Tones your legs.
10. Makes your bones, joints and muscles stronger.
11. Improves your cardiovascular fitness.
12. Reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.
13. Reduces cognitive decline.
14. Increases longevity (research shows walking an hour a day can increase your life expectancy by 20%).
15. Gives you more energy due to the increased oxygen flow through your body.
16. Enhances the quality of your sleep.
17. Boosts your immune system.
18. Improves your creative thinking (if you’re struggling with a problem, take a 10-minute walk to get new ideas).
19. Reduces symptoms of social withdrawal (where you avoid people and activities you enjoy or want to be by yourself most of the time).
20. Improves your social wellbeing and relationships by increasing your feelings of connection (when you walk with others).

The Surprising Benefits of Walking for Love

Personally, I don’t just love walking for its health benefits and how good it makes me feel. I love it for my relationships too — especially with my partner, Phil.

Our daily walk is quality time we look forward to — every morning and night. And I don’t feel myself if I miss it.

So, we aim to make time for two 30-minute walks together each day — with our Cockerpoo, Baylee. 

Walking Together Without Any Distractions Does Wonders for Your Love Life

Walking and the quality time it gives us each day — away from screens and the busyness of life — has made it one of our favourite things to do together. 

And without a doubt, it’s strengthened our relationship and increased our love and connection with each other so much. 

Good Communication is Critical in a Relationship, and Our Walk Gives Us a Time for It Every Single Day

Thanks to this daily time without interruptions or distractions, we end up having conversations about everything — how our days been, our plans for the weekend, problems we’re having, things on our mind we need advice on, and much more.

These conversations get us on the same page, clear our heads and lighten our hearts.

With that said, and now you know walking is a good workout, here are a few tips to help you fit more of it into your life.

7 Ways to Fit More Walking into Your Life:

1. Go on a 10-minute walk before or after breakfast every day. It’s a great way to wake up, and no matter what else happens during your day, you can be happy knowing you got your exercise in.
2. Take your lunch break outside and go for a 10-minute stroll.
3. Organise a weekly walking date with a friend, your mum or work colleagues. 
4. Find the adventurer in you and explore new walks at the weekend — your dog will love you for it!
5. When you’re somewhere new — on holiday in Croatia or on a city break to New York — explore where you are on foot. 
6. Have “walk & talk” meetings at work.
7. Replace some time you spend watching TV or on social media every day with a walk. 

Now You Know Walking Is a Good Workout Make It Part of Your Routine

Compared to other workouts, walking is easy to motivate yourself to do. It’s always on your doorstep. And it’s completely free. 

So, to answer your initial question, walking is definitely a good workout :).

Happy walking!

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With love,

Becky x