If there is one exercise that we are all familiar with, even those of us who are sedentary, it is walking. No form of exercise is easier or simpler. It’s part of our everyday life: you don’t need any equipment or practice.
When talking about physical activity and health, walking always deserves a mention. Many are quick to dismiss this form of activity because it doesn’t have the same calorie-burning benefits as other exercises like biking or running. But that’s no reason to ignore it entirely. Also, the main reason you should exercise should not be for weight loss, but for your overall health. A healthy lifestyle will facilitate weight loss as a result.
We’d like to go over the pros and cons of walking, so you can determine if it’s something you should spend more time on in your life.
The professionals…
- It’s simple, easy to do and counts.
- you can focus on other things while walking. For example, you can listen to a podcast or a language course.
- It’s low-impact and joint-friendly.
- there are no issues with form as is potentially the case with execution.
- overtraining when walking is hard.
The best part of walking is that it’s an easy exercise that counts. Walking a few times a week for a dedicated period is enough to keep you active. Staying mobile will provide you with essential health benefits and act as protection or relief from diseases like type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. With type 2 diabetes, walking will help lower blood sugar levels, especially when you walk for 14 to 20 minutes after a meal.
An underappreciated benefit of walking is that it’s easy on the joints. Running is a favorite exercise for many because it is excellent for improving fitness and burning calories. But it’s not a desirable long-term strategy for many people. It’s tiring on the joints, and incorrect form can also cause many functional problems.
The cons…
- it is not the most efficient exercise for burning calories.
- it does not provide the physiological adaptations that other types of exercise, such as resistance training, do.
- can be boring
As you can see, the downsides are few and to some extent trivial. So what if it’s not the most efficient exercise for burning calories? You can avoid this by controlling your diet. It can also be tedious, but an MP3 player can help you out.
We think you’ll agree that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. And besides, walking is therapeutic. In this sense, walking may be the most relaxing and meditative form of exercise there is.