Is Walking Beneficial? An Expert Instructor Explained

Walking is having a major character moment, and I’m all with that! Between hot female walks, Nordic walking, cozy cardio, and the 12-3-30 treadmill workout, a moderate, steady pace is highly popular. And for good reason: walking is a beneficial, easy workout that provides several health advantages.

First, let us get technical. “A walk is when you have constant contact with the ground, according to the definition of the American Track and Field Programs,” explains Bradee Felton, a certified personal trainer and holistic health coach. “It becomes a run as soon as both feet are off the ground at any time.”

But is walking excellent exercise? Yes, walking is a fantastic cardio exercise (particularly, you reach a steady state zone 2). However, if it is the only sort of workout you perform each week, particularly if growing and retaining muscle is on your agenda, you may be falling short. Walking is only one component of a well-rounded exercise regimen.

You’ve probably heard that walking 10,000 steps a day is the optimum objective (equivalent to about five miles), but this isn’t necessarily true for everyone. “Walking 10,000 steps can be a great marker, but you want to make a goal that is good for you,” Felton said. “Do you now walk merely 1,000 steps per day and need to set a more realistic goal? “Set a goal of 5,000 steps,” she advises. Start small and work your way up.

According to Felton, it’s also a good idea to spread out your step target throughout the day and go for short 10- to 20-minute walks whenever feasible. Consider pacing while on the phone, using the stairs instead of the elevator, and using a walking pad while working, she says. Instead of focusing on a certain amount of daily steps, she recommends developing a realistic and sustainable long-term habit for your lifestyle.

Are you ready to add some pep to your step? An professional trainer explains whether walking is adequate exercise, as well as its key benefits and safety suggestions for getting started.

Walking every day is a great strategy to increase your daily exercise and get health advantages, but it’s probably not enough. Felton also suggests doing two to three days of resistance training each week.