Walking is Great Exercise, Even in Winter

Look at a calendar.
It's almost February.
Are you still struggling with that New Year's resolution to lose weight and feel better? You're bored with the treadmill that you got for Christmas, you've already skipped three weeks at the gym, and your favorite TV shows are back with original episodes. Good intentions just seem to fly out the window when "24" comes on, don't they?

One of the simplest ways to escape the "no-exercise-months" of winter is to increase the amount of walking you do every day. Walking may seem a slow way to burn calories, but it is actually one of the best all-around exercises you can do for your body. This is true especially when the weather forces us to stay indoors a great deal of the day.

The benefits of walking have been well documented. Even a moderate amount of walking has been shown to burn a high percentage of body fat, improve the immune system, and aids sleeping. It's even a help overcoming seasonal depression. Best of all, just thirty minutes of walking five times a week helps reduce weight.

There's no need to go on a strict schedule of power walking. Just a look at your daily routine will show you how you can benefit from adding short walks to your exercise plan.

In the neighborhood: Did your neighbor's kids leave a scarf behind? Do you need to distribute those PTA flyers? Maybe you really need to borrow a cup of sugar. Whatever the reason you've got to go down the street, don't think about the car. Dress right, and walk there. Just being out in cooler weather will raise your respiration rate, and your heart will benefit, too. Be sensible, be aware of the wind chill (if it's really cold, make sure you're bundled properly) and don't overdo it. Like any exercise, your walking distance and ability will gradually improve over time. The secret is to work at it every day.