Get Walking – Lose Weight !

Fairly minor lifestyle changes can make a big impact on your weight loss program - walking can be a simple and easy addition to help towards your weight loss goals.

By Sam Russell

Being overweight used to just be for the minority and for people as they passed through middle age and had a less active lifestyle. But now all that's changed - we don't walk anywhere, we take far less physical exercise, we eat too much and unfortunately much of our food is so heavily processed which in some cases only adds to our weight problems. Plus our lifestyles now encompass "fast food" as well - which in itself is not all bad, but for many it’s the amount and regularity that results in weight gain!

Is Image so Important?

Plus in this image conscious society many of us - whether we are overweight or not - consider ourselves to be overweight.  This is great news for all the companies involved in the weight loss/slimming market and there's no doubt they have a role to play, but its worth also considering the more obvious and nil cost opportunities to help get those extra lbs off.

So look no further than one of the most widely accepted forms - walking to lose weight

 That’s right, walking to lose weight. It’s one of the easiest things that you can do, and it’s something that can also be integrated into your busy schedule without your having to think twice about it.

As Result of Lifestyle

For many of us our weight issues are a result of lifestyle - you can't help that you work in an office, have a desk job but even more reason to get out and about at lunchtime or after work and getting into the habit that many experts consider to be one of the best ways to lose weight which is a brisk 20 minute walk every day.

It’s easy, simple and costs nothing but a little bit of your time. It also has added benefits if you've spent hours with the monotony of the office or house work, a brisk walk gets the blood flowing, increases your heart rate and you'll return to your work refreshed and revitalised - something that most of us need for the afternoon session in the office.

Now, although it might seem ridiculously simple to do this - after all, how hard can it be, but the problem for many of us is the age old 'commitment' issue - its great to do it when its nice and sunny but harder when its cold or wet. Without a commitment you'll get nowhere.

Consider your Options - Depending on your Situation

For a busy stay-at-home mother, or even a new mother with a tiny newborn to look after, you can very easily incorporate walking to lose weight into your life as a social outlet with other mom's to catch up on the latest with your equally busy friends, or in the case of new mothers, you can take this as the excuse you need to have some grown up conversation.

For Office Workers

Stuck in that office day in day out - its vital to get some fresh air - it helps your mental state of mind and you get to lose weight as well - how hard can that be? But again you need to commit  - a walk in the park really will do wonders for your peace of mind, you'll return to your office with a new perspective on matters, even those that have been troubling or concerning you - try it - it works!

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Be prepared...

Walking is a great all round exercise - but its worth considering your choice of footwear, after all a 20 minute brisk walk in 6inch stilettos could very easily end in disaster. For many the solution is simple a spare pair of walking shoes or trainers that you can quickly slip into at break times - it’s easy.

A Sociable Affair?

If you find the idea of walking on your own boring - consider this, talk to work mates, ask them to join you, start a competition with a co-worker who also wants to lose weight or if that doesn't appeal - grab your ipod or mp3 player and listen to your favourite music or learn a foreign language whilst you walk.