Goals Of Walking In A Fitness Routine - Part 2

One of the toughest parts of starting a walking fitness program is getting started and developing the habit. Walk fast enough to reach your target heart rate, but don’t leave yourself gasping for air. The goal of this walking program is to increase your heart rate so your heart is getting a bit of a workout as well as your legs.

Walking is a strong method of improving your cardiovascular fitness when you are starting from years of being seated without exercise. If you want to improve your overall general health, then aim for about 30 minutes 3-4 days a week at a rate that increases your heart rate. If you are walking to improve your cardiovascular health then you should walk for 20-30 minutes 3-5 days a week at a very fast pace. To achieve weight loss you’ll want to walk a minimum of 5 days a week for 45-60 minutes at a brisk pace.

To improve your overall health, your goal is to get your heart pumping and using the muscles in your legs. All of this increases the oxygenation in your body, cells and brain. You’ll find that you experience more creativity and will be productive in your problem solving while you are out walking.

Goals of weight loss require longer activity for calorie burn and a greater muscle development. These muscles will continue to burn more calories all day than the fat they are replacing. And, cardiovascular fitness requires shorter bursts of exercise at a faster pace to get your heart beating faster – and working harder.

Today the world is turning at a fast pace, and due to technology, most of us sit behind a desk all day long keying in data. For this reason, we need to find ways to improve our health. The answer can rest in a walking fitness program.

Resources:

TheWalkingSite: Beginnning a Fitness Walking Program

http://www.thewalkingsite.com/beginner.html

ShareCare: What are Realistic Golas I can Set When Walking for Fitness

http://www.sharecare.com/health/walking/what-goals-set-walking-fitness

Prevention: 14 Walking Workouts to Burn Fat and Boost Eenrgy

http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/14-walking-workouts-burn-fat-and-boost-energy

PBS: The 20% Boost Program: Fit Walking into Your Life

http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking/health/health20percentboost.html