Six Simple Strategies to Turn Your Walks into Workouts

If You are already fitness walking several times a week ? great! Now its time to step it up a bit. Here are 6 ways to turn your walks into workouts. They involve adding a little creativity but with these few simple techniques you can maximize the benefits of your walk and get more of an overall body workout.

Swing it!

Have you ever made fun of the walkers who swing their arms? Well they know something you don't. This is the best way to increase the effectiveness of your workout. Bend your arms at your elbow 90 degrees as you walk. Swinging your arms will quicken your pace, raise your heart rate and help you to burn 5 to 10 percent more calories. Continue walking at a quick pace with your arms swinging naturally by your side. As you walk gradually bend them into the 90 degree angle. Keep a natural rhythm to your swing. Walking with bent arms will help with your gait, balance, and propulsion."

Interval walking

Breaking up your walk into slow and fast segments is a great way to increase your stamina, build muscle and burn more calories. "Vary the pace of your walk so that you have a phase of working hard (up to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate) followed by a recovery phase where you stroll slowly bringing your heart rate down," Head for the hills

Rough it!

If you normally walk circuit on sidewalks or paved road shoulders, it might be time to find a trail. "Walking on a rough but level track requires 50 percent more energy than walking on a paved road," Find a local park that has hiking trails or maybe there is a hiking club in your area that you can join. Look in the phone book or on the internet under volksmarching.

Circuit walking

A combination of walking and strength training. This may seem a little foreign at first but give it a try and you'll find that time go by quickly and you'll become stronger for it. Walk for a while then stop and do an exercise like sit ups or push ups on a park bench or even jumping jacks, just some exercise other than walking. This will shock your body into a new level of fitness.

Enter an event

Sign up for a 5K or 10K walking event or even walk for a cause, Breast Cancer or pregnancy center. Set a goal and train for that goal like an athlete. This will keep you motivated and push you towards the next level of fitness walking.

Reward yourself with a good pair of walking shoes.

Tina Seay is the author and webdesigner of http://www.LearnSomethingToday.com Her goal is to help others achieve their goals and live a quality life. Her other website include http://www.YourWeddingStory.net and http://www.ForTheCatLover.com

This article can be printed as web-content or in a newsletter or ezine with the author's bio-SIG included.

---

An Introduction to Tennis

Is tennis good for you?Absolutely - tennis is a gentle... Read More

Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, and Exercise Tips ? Keeping Your Body-fat Low; Part 1 of 10

Ever go to a party and wish you were the... Read More

Six Simple Strategies to Turn Your Walks into Workouts

If You are already fitness walking several times a week... Read More

Exercising In Heat

Summer is officially here. Finally you can pack away your... Read More

3 Steps To Starting a Successful Fall Exercise Program

Ah, the crisp cool breeze, the invigorating feel of the... Read More

The Different Types of Treadmills

When we usually think of treadmills, we tend to think... Read More

Why Core is Key

Do you currently suffer or have you ever suffered from... Read More

The Cool Down - Recover Faster & Avoid Injury!

Many people dismiss the cool down as a waste of... Read More

A Fitness Mothers Time

So you've been a mother for a while. Good for... Read More

How NOT to Return from an Exercise Break

Several sites, including this one, recommend that you take a... Read More

Get Out and Play: Top 7 Outdoor Exercises

Do you remember when our parents used to yell at... Read More

Do You Have A Fitness Battle Plan?

In fitness, as in war, you want to be on... Read More

How to Keep Your Body Fit

Fitness is just as imperative as health. As a matter... Read More

Core-Principles: The Function of Functional Training

Okay?okay?okay! Enough already!!! It seems like with every new term,... Read More

Monitor Your Body Fat Levels For Results

A very important aspect in really finding out if you're... Read More

2-Minute Fitness

Why would I want to write about yet another fitness... Read More

Warning! Lack Of Exercise Could Be Harmful To Your Health

You know it's bad when the Surgeon General issues a... Read More

Fitness Focus: Overcoming Obstacles

If you're like me, the quest to be in shape,... Read More

Debunking the Myth of Spot Reduction

Do you ever wonder how to shrink the fat on... Read More

Tour of Diet ? Cycling for Your Health

The last seven years, or so, at the Tour de... Read More

Get Fit From Home!

Using Things Around The House Don't feel that just because... Read More

Lance Armstrongs Training Tactics: #1 Rule - Greatness Needs NO Explanation!

Great endurance racers will tell you "Leave your egos at... Read More

Exercise Intensity

"Physical Fitness"Some physical activities (exercise) are not intense enough to... Read More

7 Ways To Guarantee You Stick To Your Workout Program

1. Begin Looking at Exercise Differently. Think of exercise as... Read More

Exercise - Anxiety & Panic

Yes, all I'm afraid this does play a part in... Read More

Speed Training With Intensity - Bound To Get Faster

Bounding can be a great addition to your high intensity... Read More

Double Calories Burned With Five Minutes Of Exercise Each Morning!

Recent studies have shown that if you perform just five... Read More

Top 10 Reasons To Exercise In The Morning

If I had to pick a single factor that I... Read More

Exercise And Stress

"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize... Read More

Are You A One-Dimensional Trainer?

Most people are classically biased toward one of the three... Read More

Diet and Exercise ? Without Going to the Gym

Exercising and dieting are tasks that are very difficult for... Read More

Stretching for Health

Lack of flexibility is now seen to be a major... Read More

How to Choose a Good Jogging Stroller

If you lead an active lifestyle and you want to... Read More