Top 5 Reasons to Take a Walk and Live Longer

Written with love by Cathy Gehr

Health Benefits of Walking with Cathy Gehr

Health and fitness goals are just as important, if not more important, as your other life’s goals. How are you going to be able to work towards and achieve your other goals if you’re feeling sick and tired, listless and lazy, weak and weary? Do yourself a favor. Put your health and fitness goals at the top of your list, and I guarantee that all your other dreams and desires are well on their way to coming true.

In addition, being healthy is a whole lot cheaper than being sick. And how cheap can it be than to simply get up and start walking!

I’m not talking about a slow, meandering lope, but pulling your shoulders back, holding your head high, pumping those legs, swinging those arms and briskly power walking like you mean healthy business.

Health Benefits of Walking with Cathy Gehr (Video)

Research Proves the Health Benefits of Walking

Kirk Erickson, from the University of Pittsburgh, ran a study on 120 people, ages 60-80, and presented his findings at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Half of the group took a power walk 30-40 minutes three times a week. His findings revealed that this exercise regime played a significant part in delaying mental and cognitive decline. It also helped certain brain structures to thwart shrinkage and re-grow, turning back the hands on the age clock by 1-2 years.

That’s with only 30-40 minutes of power walking three times a week. What if you do it every day for one hour, starting at whatever age you are right now! Just thinking about it makes me want to bolt outside and start walking!

Best Ways to Help You Exercise

Walk and talk: Turn meeting times with colleagues and friends into walk-talk time. Mix socializing with exercise
Half lunch / half walk: Mix up lunch time with half for lunch and half for walking
Less stops, more steps: Get off public transport a stop or two earlier and walk to your destination
TV tune-up: Walk or jog in place as you watch your favourite 30 minute television show
Take the stairs: An old-time favorite for improved heart health and core body strength