If you are walking for exercise and to improve your health, you may want to monitor your pace. A new study has found that walking speed matters if you want to live longer.? A recent study conducted in Australia examined the walking speeds of 1705 men. Researchers found that those who walked at a faster pace were more likely to outpace the grim reaper.
How fast should you walk?
In the Australian study, men who walked at a pace of 2 miles per hour lived the longest.? Of course, the men who were physically able to walk that fast may have been healthier in the first place so it may be a stretch to assume that if you walk at that pace you will certainly live longer.? But other studies have looked at the health benefits of different walking speeds.
A moderate intensity workout can be reached if you walk at a pace of 100 steps per minute.? That would mean you should walk 1000 steps in ten minutes or 3000 steps in 30 minutes. Experts generally recommend 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week to improve your health and more if you are walking for weight loss.
If you don't have the time to walk for thirty minutes, you can still break up your workout throughout the day.? Three segments scattered throughout the day will do the trick.? This might be a particularly good goal for someone who works a desk job and needs to break up long periods of sitting.
Walking for Weight Loss
If you want to lose weight and get healthy, walking is a great way to start.? It is also one of the best forms of exercise for people who are overweight. Keep in mind, however, the mechanics of walking can be different if you are obese.? Your gait and center of gravity is different if your body is larger. If you are overweight and starting an exercise program, focus on consistency rather than pace.
When you are just starting out, set a goal to walk for at least ten minutes every day.? Once you have successfully reached that goal, increase the amount of time that you spend exercising.? As you get more comfortable with 20 and 30 minute sessions, then begin to focus on walking speed.
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