Why I Walk An Hour A Day

Aug 30

Did you know walking daily is arguably the best thing you can do for your overall health? Thankfully it is one of the more simple ways to exercise that almost anyone can do! Walking is a great way to start moving your body more if you don’t currently have a consistent workout routine. Walking is free, convenient, low-impact, and can be done at any fitness level.

I began walking for an hour daily in July 2023. Prior to that I had been doing high intensity workouts for cardio along with weight lifting 6 days a week. Once I added in walking at an incline daily, I dropped my lifting to only 4 days a week and no other form of cardio. My body has transformed. I know it is because of adding daily walks into my routine. Over a year later, I am still walking for an hour every day. It is my ME time! I can work on my phone, listen to a podcast, pray, catch up with friends… all while improving my health.

There has been so much research done on the benefits of walking. A quick Google search can bring up site after site for you to read. I’m just going to go over a few key benefits that I believe are so important!

Walking helps you maintain a healthy weight and even helps you lose body fat. Several studies have even shown that walking for a longer period of time (vs. running) helps you burn fat. The reason is because your body uses stored fat as fuel compared with workouts of higher intensity that rely on carbohydrates as fuel.

Walking can also improve your sleep habits! This happens because physical activity naturally boosts the effects of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Walking also reduces pain and stress, which probably contributes to better sleep. Everyone can benefit from a great night of sleep.

Walking has been shown to help boost your immune system! It does this by increasing the number of immune cells that attack pathogens in your body. A study showed that those who walked at least 20 minutes a day (5 days a week) took 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised once a week or less. Those who did get sick had it for a shorter duration, and their symptoms were milder.

Walking can greatly improve your heart health. How does walking help your heart? It reduces cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and improves the health of your arteries. Every cardiologist recommends walking to keep your heart healthy and strong.

I could literally go on and on with the amount of research I found on the subject of the benefits of walking. Before cars and other forms of transportation, everyone walked everywhere. Our bodies were designed to move, and they work better when we are consistently walking and moving them!

During the winter months, when it is raining, and even when you are home alone with small children, it is hard to get outside to walk daily. If you are serious about making walking a daily habit, I highly recommend investing in a walking pad or treadmill! I am linking several options at different price points below!