As I write this, the new year has just begun and many people are looking to lose some weight as part of a resolution. This is not the only time of the year when people want to lose weight. In fact, it’s something more people are striving for every day. If you’re looking to start losing some weight or just get a little healthier, walking for weight loss is a great way to start shedding a few pounds.
It’s hard to talk about walking for weight loss without mentioning diet. The key to losing weight is to burn more calories than you consume. Let’s assume that you currently do not exercise at all and your weight remains fairly constant. That means every calorie you burn while walking will translate into weight loss. If you change something in your diet you will accelerate your weight loss. A couple of simple things are to drink more water and fewer sugary drinks and to eat a vegetable with every meal. Related to these ideas, there is a lot of research indicating that artificial sweeteners are no better than sugar, so replacing your coke with a diet coke may not have much benefit. Also, dousing a salad with a high-calorie, fatty dressing doesn’t help much either.
Now let’s talk about walking to lose weight for a minute. This is one of the simplest ways to help you lose weight. The goal of walking to lose weight is to burn calories and get your heart pumping and blood flowing. This is not meant to be a cardio exercise, so you won’t sweat a lot and shouldn’t get out of breath. If you sweat a lot and find it hard to breathe at first, don’t worry. After a few days walking you will get used to it and it will be easier. The best time to walk is in the morning. It’s a great way to start the day. It will help you get your blood flowing and wake you up. It will jump-start your metabolism so it starts burning calories right away in the morning. If you do this before you eat, you’ll burn calories from fat instead of the calories you ate for breakfast. Generally, this will start your day with a win. If you get into the habit of walking, you’ll feel better and you should start to lose weight.
Once you’ve gotten into a good walking habit and start to lose some weight, you may want to turn your walks into a jog. This will burn more calories and really start to work out your heart. You can also add things like weight training or pilates to start toning your muscles. The most important thing is to start and walking to lose weight is a great way to start. Check out the links below for a great general weight loss program and some dietary supplements. Both can really help you lose weight if used correctly.
One more thing before I go. You should check with your doctor before starting any exercise program to make sure there are no reasons why you shouldn’t start walking to lose weight.
Good luck!
