Make Walking Great Again
It's Free. It's Easy. It can be done anywhere. It's time to lace up and get to steppin'.
It’s wild to think I’m writing an article to encourage humans to walk more. But the 21st century is an odd time to be alive. We are simultaneously the most technologically advanced with the most advanced healthcare in history and yet we are more sick, overweight, depressed, and lonelier than ever.
Statistically speaking, you’re likely to be suffering from one of these maladies.
Maybe you’re overweight. Diabetic even.
Or you’re lonely, depressed, and lacking direction.
The fact is, your physical and mental health deteriorates when you neglect to be proactive.
Also doesn’t help when most of what you consume is little better than poison.
What you eat and drink, your environment, the media you consume, the people you hang out with, the thoughts you choose to believe. All contributes to building your health, or tearing it down.
More than 60% of US adults do not engage in the recommended amount of weekly exercise. That’s 150 minutes per week. Or 30min per day for 5 days.
Brisk walking is an accepted activity. You can go for a walk that takes 2% of your day and even skip the weekends, and you’ll meet the criteria.
People used to walk all the time. Heck, for thousands of years it was all we could do. The first bike came around in 1816 and the first automobile with an engine in 1886.
Sure we had horses, camels, and later carts/buggies but men and women used their own two legs to get most places.
Nowadays over half of American adults are barely walking at all. Are you one of them?
If so, it’s time to get moving.
Down your street. To the park. At the gym. In the woods. Up a mountain. At night. In the cold. In the sun. In the heat. With shoes on. Barefoot. Slowly. Quickly. With music. With a friend. Alone and silent.
You can do it any which way you’d like. The important thing is that you begin.
Heart disease, cancer, stroke, obesity and a plethora of other mortality causes can be delayed or even prevented by you taking up regular exercise.
Your kids want you around. Your grandkids need you.
You deserve better. Start caring for yourself and go take a walk.
Searching for ideas to make your walks more interesting? Check out this resource: A book on walking with different way to enjoy it every week - 52 Ways To Walk
-Coach Caleb
P.S. To turbocharge your fitness progress, add weight to your walk. Load up a backpack or buy a plate carrier specific to walking with weight. Build muscle, burn fat, and get healthier all at the same time! (GoRuck has great quality gear for this)