Fitness Walking Program
If you have made the decision to start a fitness walking program then good for you. The only thing you need to get started is motivation, a good pair of walking shoes and comfortable clothing that allows your skin to breath and your body to move freely.
When you start your walking program, take it slow and go easy on yourself. Start with a short jaunt around the block that takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Do this every day for a whole week. The following week add five minutes to your daily walks and keep adding an extra five minutes until you are walking for approximately 30 minutes a day.
Make sure you keep yourself well hydrated. This means drink water before your walk, as well as during and afterwards. Always warm up before your walk with a series of stretches that prepares your muscles for what is to come. Then end your walking routine with a cool down. Stretching is extremely important as it helps to prevent injuries from taking place.
As you walk, pay attention to your posture and make sure that you are walking as tall as possible. Always hold your head up high and keep your eyes looking forward. Both your abdomen and your buttocks should be tightened to optimize your chances of getting the best results from your walking routine as possible. Keep your shoulders down and your back straight but try to be as natural and as comfortable as you can be.
One of the most difficult aspects of starting a walking program is developing a schedule that you will stick to. If your busy lifestyle allows you to walk on a daily basis (or close to a daily basis) then this is a good goal to aim for. You should be able to walk briskly but not to the point where you need to gasp to get your breath. If you choose to walk with another person you should not be walking so fast that you are unable to carry on a conversation. In other words, you should walk at what is called a “talking” pace.
Subscribe to the comments for this post