Today is National Walking Day.
So we walked.
We walked to McDonald’s for coffee.
We walked around the neighborhood.
And another neighborhood.
We walked until someone fell asleep in the stroller.
We did it because it is National Walking Day, of course. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that someone woke up at 4:30 a.m. and refused to go back down.
We covered just more than 2 miles during our little adventure. While I read a blog post recently where the writer said she didn’t consider walking exercise (for her, personally), I am in the “it all counts” corner. I think if you do something with the intention of moving your body for health benefits that it counts as exercise. If you go for a walk to burn calories, you exercised. If you walked down the street to deliver cupcakes to your neighbor, it might not count.
Not that it matters what I think. I am not an expert. The ones at the American Heart Association, the group behind National Walking Day, have this to say:
"There are countless physical activities out there, but walking has the lowest dropout rate of them all! It's the simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health.
Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day can help you:
- Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
- Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
- Improve blood lipid profile
- Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity
- Enhance mental well being
- Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
- Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer
- Reduce the risk of non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes
What are your thoughts? Do you plan to take a few steps for National Walking Day?
My workplace is actually throwing a big to-do for National Walking Day... they paired with the AHA, and there's some kind of rally and a contest (for people who walk the most) and so on. All my exercise comes from walking, so I'm excited! I definitely agree-- it counts!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the walking is exercise camp and will def go outside today!
ReplyDeleteBTW, Miles is toooo cute!
Walking is great!i do a lot of walking; we haven't owned a car in years, so walking is pretty much my main form of transportation. And if you walk everywhere to do errands, it adds up. Especially if you are carrying groceries, pushing a stroller, and keeping up a brisk pace. Glad to see you got out for what looks like a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteI did some walking yesterday for National Walking Day! I totally agree with you, if you are moving that body then it counts as exercise. The husband and I are talking nightly walks after dinner to move this baby along, hope it helps!!!
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