Walking is a great form of exercise which sadly, considering the numerous benefits that it makes available, is all too frequently overlooked by many people. It’s a form of exercise that’s suitable for almost anyone. There’s no need for any special equipment, training or expertise. There’s no need to make time for a trip to the gym either (and no membership fees) – so you can fit it into your daily routine as and when it suits you best.

Walking has a lower drop out rate than almost all other exercise techniques. It can be carried out up to an age when other exercise methods would, for the majority of people, be considered unsuitable. Due to the fact that it is a low impact workout, it has a very low risk of injury.

It might be because we have a “no pain, no gain” way of thinking – but it can be a little hard to credit that an exercise form which is so readily available, easy to do and free can produce such a long list of health benefits. Even so, the benefits are numerous, well established and clinically proven.

Regular walking will provide you with greater reserves of energy – you will be less fatigued during the day. It will help you to sleep better. It will help to counter anxiety and depression and improve your mood in general. It can help to reduce blood pressure levels. It can reduce the risk of heart problems and stroke. It builds muscle and bone density. It can even lower the risk of certain forms of cancer – and recent studies suggest that it may be effective at lowering the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, for many people the main attraction will be the fact that it burns calories and leads to both weight loss and a reduction in body fat.

It’s a long list of benefits. It could be an advert for some new wonder drug or miracle diet supplement – but it isn’t. To achieve these benefits no more than small modifications to your daily routine are required. Walking for as little as half an hour a day will produce positive results. If you can gradually work up to 10,000 steps each day – which is, for most people, about 5 miles – and is much more readily achievable than you might imagine, you will really start to see results. You will both look and feel better.

One commonly offered piece of advice is to leave your car in the garage and walk to the shops, work or school. If the distance involved is too great then you can still find plenty of other opportunities to build walking into your daily routine. For example, if you travel anywhere by bus, why not get off a couple of stops before your final destination and complete the remainder of your journey on foot? Take the stairs instead of the elevator from time to time. Go for a short fifteen minute walk at lunch time. These are just a few examples of how very minor changes can help to produce significant health benefits for you.

If you haven’t exercised for a while, or if you have a medical condition, then you should definitely talk to your doctor before you embark upon any new fitness program. However, the key to obtaining benefits to your health is consistency. There’s no need to over stress yourself or get all hot and sweaty. Include walking as a regular feature of your daily routine and you will be surprised at just how quickly you will be looking better, feeling better and enjoying life more.

Boost the effectiveness of your walking workout with Fitflops fitness shoes. They’re specially designed to increase the amount of work your lower body muscles perform during normal walking activity. Both women’s and men’s Fitflops are available in a wide choice of colors and styles.