Day 95 of #LiveWell2017

Today is National Walking Day, so let’s celebrate.

Walking is one of my favorite activities and a great way to #LiveWell2017. It doesn’t jar the bones like running does, it gets me just about everywhere I need to go in the city (for free), and it makes me feel good! I try to walk at least 30 minutes every day – to run my daily errands, for exercise, or simply to get out and see what’s going on in the neighborhood. The best part of walking is that there are so many great health benefits. Here are five of my favorites:

1. Just 10 minutes of brisk walking can boost your mood for about two hours. Any time I feel stressed or upset, I strap on my walking shoes and go. I always feel better afterwards.
2. It’s good for your heart. People who walk daily can reduce their blood pressure and risk of heart disease.
3. It’s a Type 2 Diabetes deterrent. A Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study found that “walking briskly for a half hour every day reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30 percent.” I read once that taking a 15-20 minute walk right after eating is also helpful.
4. It reduces the rate at which you gain weight. Weight-gain was never an issue for me until I hit “the change.” Now, it’s a struggle to keep the midriff fitting into my pants, so walking everyday is my best defense against out-of-control weight gain.
5. It improves sleep – at least for women. One hour of walking each morning can stave off that mid-life insomnia.

Walking each day can improve health, heart, mood, and sleep. So, celebrate National Walking Day and get that heart pumping. Go take a walk!

Where did you walk today?