Walking for Fitness: A Plan

By: Chris Nickson - Updated: 20 Feb 2018 | *Discuss

 

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It’s hardly a secret that walking is great exercise, and an excellent way to increase your fitness levels. It’s probably the easiest and cheapest form of exercise you can undertake, since at its basic level it requires no equipment at all.

But if you’re planning on using walking as an exercise programme, or part of one, you need to have a plan to do it properly. It requires a commitment and the willingness to stick to your plan.

Making a Start With Walking

People walk at about three miles an hour, and to have any aerobic effect you need to undertake at least half an hour’s exercise several times a week (five is recommended), so to begin you should plan on covering 1.5 – 2 miles at a time in about 30-40 minutes. The trick is to keep doing it regularly. Set yourself a schedule, walking at lunchtime or in the early evenings, and keep to it.

Stick to the flat at first, without the strain of hills; you can work up to them after a couple of weeks. Plan your route around the neighbourhood, or, if you live somewhere more rural, in an area away from cars.

If you have a reasonable level of fitness already, but don’t walk much, you can still use this as a first step. Those who don’t walk much might find their legs ache a little at first, but that will soon pass. If you do experience breathlessness or dizziness, stop and go to see your doctor.

Building Up

Remember that exercise still needs to be regular to be effective, so you’ll need to make the time for walking. Increase to an hour and include some hills, just to push yourself a bit (nothing too steep unless you know you can handle it). Keep up the three miles an hour pace.

You could also go hiking on the weekend. It doesn’t need to be a marathon or a hill challenge, but perhaps four or five miles out in the fresh air. A change of scenery can add zest to your walking. At this point you might even want to join a rambling or hiking group that gets out regularly, although be sure to tell them you’re just starting out.

The longer you stick to it, the fitter you’ll become and ready for greater challenges. Keep walking during the week and make time on the weekends to get into the country and enjoy walking there.

Remember, you won’t achieve staggering results overnight. As with any sensible exercise programme, it takes time and application to see a change. Don’t overdo it, work up gradually, and above all, enjoy it – otherwise it’ll simply seem like a chore.

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