When it comes to walking, there are many different forms. You can take a slow, leisurely walk; you can power walk; you can walk on an incline; you can even hike up a mountain. All of these are forms of walking that boost your overall daily calorie burn and health. That’s one of the greatest benefits of walking. It can be adjusted to any fitness level and any location.
Fitness walking
Fitness walking is defined as “the aerobic sport of brisk, rhythmic, vigorous walking, intended to improve cardiovascular efficiency, strengthen the heart, control weight gain, and reduce stress” by the American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. This type of walking is usually done for a set duration or time or for a set distance.
When participating in fitness walking, you’re aiming to walk to improve your overall fitness level, speed, and health. Fitness walking is usually done at a brisk pace, one at which you find your heart rate elevated and carrying on a full conversation may be difficult. This type of walking helps to burn the most calories per minute, and therefore, can promote more rapid losses of weight and body fat.
Walking for daily living
Walking is defined as “to advance or travel on foot at a moderate speed or pace” or “to move about or travel on foot for exercise or pleasure” by the Random House Dictionary. This type of general walking is the stop and go walking you do throughout the day. You may walk through the grocery store or walk around your house as you clean. At work you may walk from your desk to the break room, or to speak with a coworker.
Although this type of walking isn’t always done at a brisk pace or with the intention of increasing fitness, it still plays a large role in weight management and overall health.
The amount of general walking you do throughout the day can be measured in individual steps versus distance or length of time. Using steps to measure your total activity throughout the day can make increasing exercise more manageable. Stating that you will walk an extra 1,000 steps during the day can sound more doable than saying you will add an extra half mile walk.
In fact, working in extra steps during the day instead of trying to schedule additional exercise makes walking less of a chore and more just another part of your day. Adding those extra steps is something you’re more likely to stick with, allowing it to have a greater impact on your health and your body weight.