Regular walking helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression as well as boosts self-esteem and improves sleep. 30 minutes a day spent walking can lead to benefits like reduced body fat, lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, increase energy, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
I know this. You know this. But that doesn’t mean either of us is doing it. At least not every day. I’m a pretty regular walker but, short dark days and inclement weather can really foil my walking plan. Some days its easier to Just Say No to walking and Just Do It to tea, a cookie, and a good book.
Its pouring in Portland today and so I decided a break from the office and a couple of laps around the mall would be just the spark I needed. Turns out it was and in more ways than I knew. I was making the turn on lap number two, walking by a new and quite lovely kiosk set up by the good folks at Kaiser Permanente to snag seniors into their Medicare insurance web when a tiny sign caught my eye. I whipped out my cell phone and emailed myself the web address so I could look it up when I got home.
When I looked it up, what I discovered was an outstanding resource all about walking for health. Information, inspiration, education and encouraging ideas, this site has it all and then some. Check it out - www.everybodywalk.org
If you aren’t a walker, or even if you are, I highly recommend watching their outstanding 30 minute documentary.
Remember when you were a kid and walked to school? Me too. Uphill both ways, rain or snow. Turns out that was good for us. The video points out how we have engineered walking out of our lives and that in not good for us.
You might want to spend some time browsing through their online resources (love the walking App) and then sign up to Take the Pledge. I just did. I’m always better when I make myself accountable.
Not too shabby for a 30 minute walk at the mall. Now I’m ready to get out there again after dinner. This time I’ll hit the treadmill at the gym. Summer cannot come soon enough.
Walk on!
Nancy
The post Everybody Walk ~ appeared first on JustaBackpackAndaRollie.
