walking: the hidden secret

Walking: The Hidden Secret

When Reen and I lived in Pawleys Island, SC the first thing we did every morning was walk. I remembered learning years before that walking 20 minutes after eating for 30 minutes minimum was the best way to burn calories and lose weight. The weather was usually mild, sunny, and beautiful so a morning walk became a given. It was simply part of our daily routine.

But when we moved to Maryland and then Colorado, the weather was not so accommodating. Life became busy with work and over time we walked less and less often… before I even realized it, we stopped walking completely.

When we moved to Chattanooga, TN two years ago, beginning Watermancg.com in our new location captured most of our time and again walking was forgotten.

Well friends, since Reen and I are successfully losing weight with healthier eating, this summer we will reinstate walking into our busy schedule! Yes, it is a choice to walk when life is busy and so many things clammer for our attention, But, walking is the hidden secret to enhancing Your Refreshed Life, responding to the truth your body is the Holy Spirit’s home and your responsibility to care for (I Cor. 6;19), and holds too many wonderful health benefits to be overlooked.

Here are just a few of the benefits of walking (with statistics to prove it):

1. Improves Your Heart’s Health

  • Benefit: Walking strengthens your heart and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Statistic: A study published in Circulation found that walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week can reduce your risk of heart disease by 19%.
  • Extra Benefit: The risk drops even more when you try longer or more intense walking sessions.

2. Supports Your Weight Loss and Maintenance

  • Benefit: Walking burns calories and helps you maintain or lose weight.
  • Statistic: A person weighing 160 pounds burns approximately 314 calories per hour walking at 3.5 mph, according to Harvard Health.
  • Extra Benefit: Walking just 1 mile per day can lead to about 10 pounds of weight loss over a year (with a consistently healthy diet).

3. Boosts Your Mental Health

  • Benefit: Walking reduces your stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression.
  • Statistic: A study in Mental Health and Physical Activity states that as little as 12 minutes of walking improved mood, attentiveness, and confidence more than simply sitting and thinking.
  • Extra Benefit: A nature walk enhances the positive effects even more.

4. Lowers Your Risk of Chronic Disease

  • Benefit: Routine walking lowers the risk of diabetes, stroke, and even certain cancers.
  • Statistic: The American Diabetes Association reports that walking 30 minutes per day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30%.
  • Extra Benefit: If you consistently walk you also experience better blood sugar control.

5. Improves Your Brain Function and Memory

  • Benefit: Walking boosts your clarity of thought and may reduce risk of dementia.
  • Statistic: Research from the University of California found that seniors who walked more than 4,000 steps a day had better memory and cognitive function.
  • Extra Benefit: Physical activity increases brain volume in the areas where the memory functions.

6. Strengthens Your Muscles and Bones

  • Benefit: Walking helps prevent muscle loss and bone density decline due to age.
  • Statistic: A study in Bone journal showed that walking for 30 minutes daily improved bone density and reduced the risk of hip fractures by up to 40% in postmenopausal women.
  • Extra Benefit: It also helps improve balance and coordination, so you will be less likely to fall.

7. Increases Your Lifespan

  • Benefit: Regular walking is considered consistent with a longer life.
  • Statistic: According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, walking at a brisk pace is linked to a 24% reduction in risk of early death.
  • Extra Benefit: Even walking 10 minutes a day can make a measurable difference in the length of your life.

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