Archive for the ‘Choosing Walking Shoes’ Category:
Begin Fitness Walking Taking 10,000 Steps a Day Now
If you were to begin taking 10,000 steps a day every day starting now, you would greatly increase your level of health. You would also be able to control your weight and your metabolism would increase. It is estimated that the average person only takes approximately 3,000 steps on a daily basis (Source: Walking off the Weight). In order to add 7,000 more steps to your daily routine you need to don your comfortable clothing (appropriate for the season), lace up your walking shoes and off you go!
If you want to start fitness walking but have lived a more or less sedentary life up to now then start slowly. Don’t push your body too hard. Even though walking is not a strenuous form of exercise, you need to give yourself time to get used to the new routine. Wear a pedometer in order to count how many steps you take on any given day. Work your way up to more and more steps as opposed to trying to walk 10,000 from the very beginning.
Suggestions to Help You Walk More Steps a Day
In order to walk more steps every day, here are some helpful suggestions:
-Make your health a top priority. Choose a time that is convenient for you to go for a walk and stick to it.
-Find someone you can walk with. This will make your walks more enjoyable because you will have company. Having a walking buddy also serves to keep you both motivated.
-If you must walk solo, bring along your IPod or MP3 player with all of your favorite tunes. Music is a mood boaster that will make your walks more pleasant. You will also probably find yourself walking faster in time to the faster songs! (Please note- safety should always be important when you walk alone. Never play your music so loud in your ears that you cannot hear traffic around you or become oblivious to your surroundings.)
-If you can, walk to work or school. If that is not possible then park further away from work then normal and walk the rest of the way. If you take the bus or subway to work, get off a stop or so before your usual stop and walk the remainder of the way.
-Wear your walking shoes to walk to work and then change into your work shoes. Or better yet, buy shoes that can double as both walking shoes and work shoes.
-Combine your errands with your walks on days when you have the time.
-Always choose the stairs over the elevator.
-Go fitness walking in parks. Parks provide plenty of interesting terrain and give you the opportunity to enjoy nature. Seek out trails for hiking near your home and hike as often as you can.
Subscribe to the comments for this postEnsuring That Walking Shoes Fits Properly
Finding a proper walking shoe that cushions the foot as it is supposed to be cushioned is the first part of finding a proper pair of walking shoes. Bear in mind that all feet are not made alike and neither is all walking shoes. For example, people who have high arches need more cushioning than those who do not. As well, those with low arches or flat feet have special considerations.
Once you find a pair of shoes that you like, you then have to ensure that they fit properly. According to Tom Brunick, the director of The Athlete’s Foot Stores R & D in Naperville, Illinois the notion many people have that you must break in a shoe is incorrect. He says, “Shoes shouldn’t need to be broken in to feel comfortable. If a shoe is uncomfortable in the store, that discomfort will be compounded on the road.” (Source: http://www.cvshealthresources.com/topic/topic13905)
Tips for Getting the Best Fit Possible
Make sure that you buy the right shoe for your feet by following these good fit tips:
1. When trying on a pair of walking shoes you should never buy ones that are too small. Make sure that there is a half an inch of space between the tip of your longest toe and the end of the shoe. See if you can comfortably wiggle your toes around inside the shoe. A too small shoe will wear the toe of the shoe out quicker and it will also lead to rubbing, blistering, calluses and plenty of unnecessary discomfort.
2. It is essential that you try on both shoes, not just one. Most people are not perfectly symmetrical and have one foot that is slightly larger than the other.
3. It is best to go shoe shopping in the late afternoon. This is because feet swell throughout the day and if you buy a pair of shoes in the morning they may end up too tight for you.
4. The ball of your foot should fit comfortably and easily into the part of the shoe that is the widest. In the same way, if your heel slips around then the shoe is not the right size for you.
What to Look For When Buying Walking Shoes
Regardless of whether you walk a little or a lot, you need a good pair of quality walking shoes that will help to prevent injuries from occurring. According to Mark Fenton, a former member of the US race walking team and author of the book “Pedometer Walking” (2006), there are three important elements you must look for when it comes to shopping for walking shoes. They are:
1. A shoe that has a flexible forefoot that bends not at the arch of the foot, but at the ball of the foot.
2. A heel that is round or bevelled which makes for ease of motion and a more natural roll from one end of the foot to the other.
3. An upper that is as “forgiving” as possible. The upper is the portion of a walking shoe that covers the foot.
Walking shoes are not the exact same as running shoes. The most obvious difference is found in the midsoles which contains the cushioning layer of the shoe. Walkers do not pound their feet as hard on the ground as runners do and therefore do not require the same level of cushioning in their shoes.
Proper walking shoes are designed with a thinner midsole in order to make the roll of the foot from one end to the other as natural as possible (from heel to toes). A shoe with a thick heel wedge can cause pain and discomfort and can lead to shin soreness and sometimes shin splints due to the fact that the forefoot slaps down onto the ground in a harsh manner. A walking shoe has a more flexible outsole (which is the bottom of the shoe), whereas running shoes have stiffer outsoles.
In order to find the most appropriate pair of walking shoes for you, you should visit a sporting goods store (or a couple if necessary) and try on a variety of different pairs. Wear a pair of socks that you would ordinarily wear with the shoes and walk on the hard floor of the store as well as on the carpeting. What you need to aim for is a pair of walking shoes that feel stable when you walk around on the carpet while at the same time, help to soften the impact of walking on the hard floor.
