Walking Makes a Great Initial Stride

Deciding what to do when first starting a fitness program can be a challenge for many people. If you are a beginner, being unfamiliar with what exercises to do or aerobic equipment to use can make working out seem intimidating and confusing.

One of the best ways to begin getting into shape is to start a walking program. Regular walking is one of the best and safest cardiovascular exercises that you can do. The beauty is that it requires no instruction, is easy to do, won’t cost you a cent and can be done nearly anywhere.

Schedule several days per week and plan to walk as many minutes as you can at a comfortable pace, one in which you are only slightly winded. Log your progress, and as you get stronger, you can pick up the pace, add more minutes or exercise more frequently through the week.

Wearing a pedometer is an excellent way to track how many steps you are taking. One mile burns approximately 100 calories and is equal to approximately 2,000 steps.

As always, get your doctor’s approval before starting an exercise program.

(c) 2005 Marjie Gilliam