Did you know that taking a frequent walk is one of the most effective ways of improving your health?
Just 30 minutes of brisk walking a day can improve your physical health, increase your fitness and help manage your weight by burning off those excess calories.
Walking is the ideal exercise to build into your daily route. You can take a brisk walk :
- almost anywhere and at anytime of day. The variety of settings available is one of the things that makes walking such a practical and pleasurable activity.
- at convenient times and at a pace that suits your schedule. Walking for 30 minutes during the day is ideal for people unable to commit to a half-hour fitness regime.
- for your local trips. If you are in the habit of using your car for short journeys try walking instead. It could save you a fortune on petrol, parking and maintenance costs.
Walking is a great way to burn those excess calories and get in shape
Walking for 20 minutes will use approximately 100 calories (for someone weighing 62 kg or 9st 11lbs).
And walking a mile in 20 minutes burns approximately the same amount of energy as:
- Running a mile in 10 minutes:
- Swimming breast stroke for 10 minutes:
- Doing aerobics for 16 minutes:
- Playing football for 12 minutes:
- Cycling for 16 minutes:
- Weight training for 17 minutes:
And walking is considerably easier to achieve.
Walking is virtually injury-free and has the lowest drop-out rate of any form of exercise, making it a highly effective work out.
In 2005 the Council also produced a Cycling and Walking to Health leaflet. For your free healthy walking and cycling leaflet please contact:
Linda Webb
Tel 020 8496 6781
Email linda.webb@walthamforest.gov.uk
