Walk to Live Longer
Is living longer one of your goals? I can hear you now: “Only if those added years are quality ones that I enjoy in good health.” I hear ya; I feel ya. Who wants extra time that is devoid of fun, interest, and good relationships? Pffftt to that.
Add Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years
Did you know walking can prolong your life? And the more steps you take, the more years you add to your life. We’re talking good years (statistically speaking, of course. I certainly can’t predict your future, though you sure can heavily influence yours).
Now if you are already thinking ahead, you might be trying to trap me with this bold assertion. “Saaay, Kymberly. What if I start walking and walking heaps and tons. Will I gain immortality?” Yeah, walking also adds brain power. True fun fit fact.
Walking can prolong your life - by how much?
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Let’s go with what a study out of Aussieland says: When 2500+ middle-aged Australians increased their daily pedometer steps from a sedentary level to 10,000 steps per day, they reduced their mortality risk by 40%. In short, walk more = live longer.
Walk to Improve Health
10,000 Steps or Just 3,000 Steps?
What if racking up 10,000 steps a day is too daunting or unrealistic for you, yet you still think living longer sounds tempting? Add just 3000 steps per day and you’ll reduce risk of a premature death by 12%. Can you devote the equivalent of walking 1.5 miles or for 30 minutes daily in order to add years to your life?
Another benefit? Just 30 minutes a day of walking reduces your heart attack risk as much as a high-intensity exercise program. For those of us over 50 with joints that rebel at high intensity activities this is good news indeed.
Living Longer Not Enough? Check out MORE Benefits of Walking
There you are living extra years thanks to your 30 minutes per day walking. But why not also become more fit altogether? Read “Can Walking Really Get You to Your Fit Destination” if you are keen to lose weight, maintain your current weight, or simply improve your health. Also check out “Walk to Lose Weight and Gain Fitness.” Your goal will help determine your walking regimen.
Avoid Physical Discomfort from Walking
Walking is pretty darn safe and low risk. But let’s say you get so motivated to live longer and increase your fitness level that you overdo it. If you get sore muscles or joints (or want to prevent injury and soreness in the first place) then follow our suggestions in these three posts:
Walk Well to Begin With
Or you could walk with amazing form and professional level technique if you take into consideration 7 Easy Steps to Walk Better. Exactly — you can avoid injury, stiffness, and muscle aches in the first place if you practice “Great Gait.”
The more steps you take, the more years you add to your life. How many steps? How many years?
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Walker Moments![Dog walk/ Living Longer]()
Personally I love walking daily, especially as my dogs turn their sad eyes on me if I try to skip a day. This past month however, the term “walker” took on a new meaning for me. Instead of the word defining me as someone who ambulated daily, it referred to the walker I had to use post total knee replacement surgery. Ever try to sneak up on someone when rockin’ a walker? Clunk drag clunk drag. But it helped me get those vital steps in the first week after surgery. Now in week three post “new knee” surgery, I have graduated from the walker to crutches and finally to no assistance as of two days ago.Like never before, I appreciate the joy and life enhancing aspects of simple walking. With my new knee and the evidence on living longer via walking, I plan to go forever and ever and ever and ……….
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Kymberly Williams-Evans, MA
The post Living Longer via Walking: Who Wants In? appeared first on Fun and Fit: Active Aging Answers for Boom Chicka Boomers.