How to WALK
Do You Know How to WALK?
Go Walking Today
by Tanya Feke, MD
The holidays are winding down. It is time to reward ourselves with the most precious gift of all – our health. This should be a year-round effort, so let’s not wait until January 1st to make some much needed change.
Here is a simple mnemonic that teaches you how to WALK.
Work out. The time has come to bury the guilt of those self-indulgent calories and get moving again. To be most effective, find an exercise that makes you smile. That may mean putting away the Jane Fonda DVD to explore other avenues such as hiking, rock climbing, or Zumba. Variety is the spice of life so mix it up with what interests YOU.
Ask someone to join you. For one, it’s much more enjoyable to exercise with a friend. Two, you are more likely to stick with it long-term when you do. It all comes down to accountability. You are less likely to let down your work-out buddy than you are yourself. So make a commitment to one another. In the end, you will both reap the benefits.
Log your steps. Too often, I hear folks justify their lack of formal exercise by saying “I don’t have time to exercise” or “I get enough exercise at work”. To that I say, prove it! Get yourself a pedometer, either a clip-on variety or a free online app, and see if you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day. If not, it’s time to add a kick to those steps.
Keep motivated. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle go beyond muscle tone and a slim waist line. Through endorphins and cardiopulmonary fitness, exercise makes you feel good inside and out. When you find yourself veering from the course, remember what it feels like to be ill, remember the people who matter most to you, and remember your health goals. The sooner you get back on track, the better.
Show everyone you know how to WALK!