Walking and Health

Walking is beneficial to anybody trying to stay in shape. Even if you have different medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, a back injury that flares up every now and then and knee or ankle injuries from the past that act up especially in cold weather. Always consult your doctor first, but most doctors will recommend some type of exercise program that includes walking. Walking is one of the least evasive forms of exercise. Your joints are not likely to get jolted like they are in running and jogging and the stress impact to your knees, ankles, and other joints are minimal so most people are not prone to injury with walking.

I found a great article that I would like to share with you that is found on Arthritis.org. Click here to read the article on Five Strategies for Walking Success. Enjoy the article it applies to all walkers whether you have arthritis or not. It’s main focus is on how to develop a routine and to keep walking day in and day out without losing focus and still stay motivated.

http://www.arthritis.org/five-strategies-for-walking-success.php

Click below to go to Home page to Walking and Health:

http://walkingandhealth.com/

I am training to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer coming up in Long Beach, CA in a few months. I walk throughout my neighborhood and at the local parks, but every now and then I want to try something different and new. I found a website that I would like to share with you. It is called USA Track and Field and you can check it out at http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/. This site allows you to plan out your own walking route and get exact distance totals anywhere in the US. You can use this tool if you are local and at home or take it with you if you are planning a vacation and want to continue your daily walking routine. You can basically stay in shape wherever you go.

I started at a point in my neighborhood where I knew I could park and go from there. I wanted to do a six mile walk. I located my state, my city, and the cross street by drilling down on the map of the United States. At the street level, I clicked section by section through the area until it added up to six miles. It even allows you to save the route. You can also choose another route in the area that someone else has already planned out.

I think this is a great tool for walkers and runners alike. The site even calculates the amount of water you will need on your walk or run. Like I’ve said before, you don’t have to be a marathon runner to get out there and do some great walking. The health benefits are wonderful and soon you’ll have more endurance, your clothes will feel better on you, and you’ll have a better outlook on life as you begin to get into shape-all just by walking.

Click below to go to Home page to Walking and Health:

http://walkingandhealth.com/

My family and I are planning a camping trip. We are staying at a camp site that is filled with a variety of activities for both the adults and the kids. This particular campsite, located in Southern California, where the summer temps can get up there, has a water slide where the kids can get wet and get in some great physical activity. They don’t even realize that as many times as they slide down the water slide is how many times they’ll be taking the steps back up again. What a great exercise for them and for the adults.

Get the most out of your vacation by planning outings. Go for a bike ride, or take a trip to the lake or beach, take a musuem tour or visit your favorite local attraction like a Disneyland type activity. In any and all these activities, you’ll be having so much fun and your mind will be on different things that you won’t even realize how much stress free physical activity you are racking up for the day. The average person can leisurely get in 4 to 8 miles of walking easily, depending on how long you are actually on your feet.

Remember to take plenty of water, wear sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes, dress in layers in case the weather changes and always go in a group of at least two or more. You’ll have a better time with friends and family. Have fun and stay safe on your next vacation!

Click below to go to Home page to Walking and Health:

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I am committed to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this year once again. All of us have a great achievement that we try to strive and accomplish in our lifetime. Last year I set a goal in April to participate in the annual two-day event for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Long Beach. I had to train in order to walk 26 miles and I had to raise $1,800 in order to participate in the walk. I started back in April of last year training by going for short distance walks at local parks in the city. When I first ventured out I was in a worn out T-shirt and old tennis shoes and walked about 20 minutes at a park. I don’t even think it was a quarter of a mile! By the end of August, and five months later, I had all the right walking gear and even walked one Saturday morning a whopping 10 miles!!

At that point, I felt like I was in the best shape of my adult life, even though I was overweight. I knew I had lost inches everywhere, and had built up strength and endurance to handle the two day marathon. My fundraising was lagging behind my training, but I knew somehow that my friends and family would help me by seeing my commitment and by knowing that their donation was going to a good cause. They all came through and I only missed the $1,800 mark by $160. Thank you all!

This year I am committed more than ever to participate in the walk again. This year I am again training but hope to lose weight this time. My doctor says I need to lose weight and he said the best way is by walking. My goal is to lose 50 pounds. I need everyone’s monetary support to help me reach my fundraiser goal, but I’m asking for your spiritual support so I can drop fifty pounds and get into a safe and manageable weight level by the walk. I think once I reach this goal, I’ll be so pumped and energetic. I’ll be able to maintain my new weight just by doing the walk every year. I think my problem this past year is that I felt I had to keep eating the same quantity of food and at times more in order to be able to walk all these extra miles, similar to a pregnant woman eating for two. This time, I might eat the same quantity of food, but I’m choosing a better nutritional quality of food, which should help me to burn more calories than I’m taking in. I’m sure you don’t need to know the details of my approach. I just wanted to express my thoughts as to why I did not lose any weight last time.

I plan to walk again this year and this time we have several others who wanted to participate. We are creating a team and now we have five people who are walking. Last year it was me and my mom and we did it together. It was a wonderful experience that I will remember always. Please prayerfully consider making a donation. I know you must get asked many times and there are so many worthwhile causes out there. A cure for breast cancer is one of them. Luckily my mom and I and my sister, who is going to walk, do not have breast cancer. However, we know of people who did have breast cancer in the past, received treatment, and are breast cancer survivors. I have two girls and they have many girl friends and we have to think of them and their future. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they didn’t have to worry about breast cancer in their lives?

I intend to lose 50 pounds by the walk, then another 50 pounds after the walk. Please support me and the Avon Walk and make a donation in honor of my anticipated weight loss. A donation from $25 to $50 would be most graciously appreciated. The more donations I receive the more I’ll feel supported and encouraged and I will make it happen. I logged into 50MillionPounds.com and entered all my information and I am tracking my weight loss via the site. In the meantime, please view my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer page by clicking on Angie’s Walk Page.

Thank you so much for your support. I encourage you to comment on your own experience and/or provide any suggestions you may have for me. I especially need help on how to stay focused on my goal to lose 50 pounds.

Your comments are welcomed.

Click below to go to Home page to Walking and Health:

http://walkingandhealth.com/

Walking for Health. Walking and Health will present different articles on walking and how it is beneficial to your health. Also, look for ways to outfit yourself in walking gear and to make the most of exercising and staying fit through walking and other forms of low impact aerobics. You will find a large selection of gear including walking and running shoes for men, women, children and even toddlers. You will also find a large selection of socks, support bras, tops, t-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants. You need to be equipped with the proper gear in all types of weather and climates.