Walk for your lives!
Ever watched one of those movies or television shows where some catastrophe occurs and someone in the crowd yells, “RUN! Run for your lives!” Have you considered the another possibility, “Walk for your lives!”
The idea, of course in the catastrophe, is to escape the danger (whatever it might be).
Well…
As a society, we’re facing a danger.
Actually, we’re facing a multitude of dangers associated with poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Lifestyle choices which involve poor nutrition and physical inactivity strongly contribute to the development of deadly chronic conditions–cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These diseases reduce our quality of life and can lead to early disability or death.
I’m inviting you to consider adding more physical activity to your lives by walking.
Walk for your lives
Walking has numerous benefits for us:
- Improves cardiorespiratory fitness (strengthens our heart muscle)
- Helps maintain a healthy weight (and can help us lose weight when a walking program is combined with healthy eating)
- Can help lower cholesterol
- Helps relieve stress
- Can provide family or social time
How much do we need to walk to receive healthy benefits? (first consult with your health care provider to be assured walking is a safe activity for you).
The ultimate goal is to achieve 150 or more minutes of walking weekly. This works out to an average of 30 minutes, five days per week. The good news is–if you can’t find a 30 minute block of time to walk, break it up into three 10 minute walks throughout the day. Walk briskly (as you are able). If you are just starting out on a walking program, it’s wise to begin in small increments, such as 5 minutes per day. You can add 5 minutes, daily, per week and work up to 30 minutes over a six-week period, seeking the goal of 150 minutes per week gradually increasing, both distance and speed of walking.
And the great news is…
Walking is beneficial for each of us–children, young adults, middle agers and older adults. No matter our age, a walking program is an excellent component of a healthy lifestyle.
This article from the Mayo Clinic provides greater detail on the benefits and guidelines for utilizing walking to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
When the weather isn’t good enough to walk outside, you could try these alternatives–a large shopping area or store, a recreation or community, center, YMCA, or inside your house.
Amen to all you have said. I had to laugh the other morning as I read John5:8 – ‘Jesus said “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”. So my version now is ‘get up. pick up yourself and walk!’………..Not only do I need this in the physical area of life but also in spiritual. Let us pick ourselves up and walk in the way with Jesus.
Blessings to all
I love your message, Angie! “Get up, pick yourself up and walk.” I expect we all need this–I know I do. Let’s walk with Jesus! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for encouraging us to walk more, Katherine. The last few weeks have found me and my husband outside (when the rain stops!) to groom our yard from two years of not being here. We did have a yard man cutting the grass but he didn’t pull weeds! My flower beds produced abundant green things that I didn’t like. So in this case we have had some exercise but nothing replaces a good walk. And on those days I sit and write I do need to be reminded to get up and move around. We need you as our coach! Blessings my friend!
Yard work is great exercise and doing it together with your husband is wonderful “couple” time. I feel your pain–a LOT of weeds can accumulate in two years. Might take you a little while! For us, as writers, we do need reminders to “get up” and get away from our computers. When we’re “in the groove” and words are flowing, it’s hard to stop and walk or exercise. But on the other hand, activity works to get blood flowing to stimulate our brain, give us energy, and can help us solve a problem in our writing that we’ve struggled with. Thank you for sharing encouragement, Barbara. Blessings!
I love the physical benefits of walking. I also walk to clear the bugs from my brain.
I agree 100%, Diana, and I also feel closer to our Father when out in His creation. It’s a wonderful time to meditate, pray, and be thankful. Wishing you joy and sunshine!
I go to the gym 3 days/week but also take walks- a mental health break, fresh air. If I’m stuck in a scene, unsure what should happen next, a blessed walk will typically shed light in an “Aha!” moment.
That works for me, Mary. Walking through God’s creation helps me solve a plot issue or rewrite a scene that needs help. I need that mental health break, too. Wishing you joy and blessings.
Katherine, how does one insure continued disipline fpr a healthy lifestyle? This is a weak area for me in the midst of all my other responsibiblites. I need to walk and eat healthier. I’m still struggling. Sigh. Thanks for your continued posts. Your words keep me accountable.
Discipline–that’s the word, Lisa. When our motivation runs out, discipline is what keeps us going. It’s hard. Life gets in the way and sometimes temptations sneak in and distract us from our goals. Let’s talk some by email. I’ll be praying for you, my friend.
Walking is great exercise and good for the soul too! Thanks, Katherine, for this great reminder. God bless!
Walking and physical activity are good for body, mind, and soul. We honor God by taking care of our body and we are blessed by receiving so many health benefits. I’m so glad you’re a walker, Nancy. May God continue to bless you and your ministry of service to Him.
Wonderful remind Ms. Katherine. Staying active is so vitally important to our health my friend. Some great points here, spattered with lots of encouraging words.
Encouragement is so important in every aspect of our lives, but especially needed when it comes to making good choices for our health. Hoping you all are having some warm weather and sunshine on the ranch. It’s so much easier to be outside and active when we’re not freezing our fingers and toes. Blessings, my friend.
I enjoy walking and hiking especially when the weather is warm. We try to get out when it’s cooler, but it’s just not as fun! Looking forward to Spring!