Walking is a great form of exercise. It’s low-impact, free, and something that most people are able to do – however slowly.
It’s often been publicised that we should be aiming to walk 10,000 steps a day.
Whilst this is a great goal to aim for, don’t let it put you off if you aren’t active.
Many people that first start to increase their activity levels find it difficult to reach 10,000 steps in a day.
That’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, either.
Increasing the amount of exercise that you do is already progress.
You can track how many steps you do in a day by wearing a fitness tracker or smartwatch.
You could also use a pedometer for a low-cost option.
However, before you start planning your step goals, you should find out what your current activity levels are.
Some people are surprised at how much they already walk during the day.
This is particularly true for those that work in retail or jobs that don’t involve much sitting down.
It’s important to know what your current daily average is so that you know how much more active you’ll need to be to reach your daily step targets.
Active and healthy adults should aim for 10,000 steps a day in general.
Those that struggle with walking are encouraged to do as much as they feel they’re able to.
The actual numbers aren’t as important as the walking itself.
Just increasing your activity levels little by little can help some people more than aiming for a certain number of steps.
It’s also important to remember that the intensity of your walk can affect how many calories you burn.
This is because you burn more calories when working at a moderate intensity when compared to a relaxed walk.
For example, a brisk walk of 7,000 steps can burn more calories than a relaxed stroll of 10,000 steps.
Walking shouldn’t just be about losing weight, though.
It’s a fantastic way of keeping yourself active or preserving any mobility that you have.
It can help to keep joints moving and aid with circulation.
Walking can also be a great way to relax, especially if you live near a park or the countryside.
It’s even a free mode of transport if you’re needing to get somewhere locally!
Many people find that when they start walking out of enjoyment or to enjoy the scenery, their activity levels increase by default.
This can be a fantastic way of incorporating more exercise into your lifestyle without focusing on numbers.
