My heart will start beating slower and slower especially if you don’t join me in a walk this spring. We had a beautiful weekend here in Washington, DC and walking outside was such a pleasure, it was great to see so many people out soaking it up with a walk. There are so many factors that lead to a healthy life and heart, one major heart felt benefit is getting aerobic exercising 4-6 days a week and a vigorous walk is one of the best methods.

Briskly walking can provide almost the same aerobic benefits and calorie burn as jogging. WebMD’s, Robin Parks, MS gives us a peek at some of the benefits in her article, “Walking for a Healthy Heart.”

Walking is a form of aerobic exercise and is one of the easiest ways to increase your physical activity and improve your health. Physical activity increases your heart rate, strengthens your heart, and increases blood circulation through your body, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your organs. Exercise also increases your lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, lowers blood pressure, helps to reduce body fat, and improves blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Key points:

• Have a checkup before beginning an exercise program. If you have heart problems, your doctor may want to do tests to find out how much activity your heart can safely handle.
• Start out slowly at first, with a warm-up in the beginning, a faster pace in the middle, and a cooldown at the end.
• To stay motivated, walk with friends, coworkers, or pets. Set goals you can reach.
• Use a pedometer to count your steps. Wear it all day and try to take at least 2,000 more steps a day than you normally do, and gradually increase your steps over time.
• Try to walk briskly for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week or more. Work up to 60 minutes, if possible.
• A recent study shows that if you have heart problems, a home walking program may be as beneficial as participating in a hospital- or clinic-based cardiac rehabilitation program. ¹ This can be important for people who don’t have access to organized cardiac rehab.

MikeZ_walk with me this spring, it would be so good to see you.

Please consult your physician before starting any exercise or weight loss program.
Your physician is your very best resource.

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