top 5 benefits of walking

Being the Ambassador for Rewalkz.Me,which is one stop health portal that rewards users for staying fit and healthy, I can't emphasise enough on what's not to love about walking, its as simple as putting one foot in front of the other that comes with countless benefits. You can choose to walk outdoor and enjoy the serenity of the neighborhood, walk up the stairs instead to build a better booty or if it rains you can choose to walk to walk indoor on the treadmill, only if it rains! There is no excuse for you not to walk at all to be honest.

Here are my top 5 benefit of walking. 

It’s free

Besides running, walking does less damage and harm to your knees and everyone can walk, its all inclusive movement that is in your blood, we were not built to sit all day which decreasing our mobility as we age but sadly we have to work but that doesn’t mean we cant find means to get up and walk. 

boosts your vitamin D levels naturally

If you’re walking outside in daylight, you’ll be boosting your body’s stores of vitamin D – a nutrient that’s hard to get from food, but that we can synthesise from exposure to sunlight. While sun safety is still important (see experts agree that exposing as much skin as you can to the sun, little and often and without burning, will help you to produce sufficient vitamin D. My favourite way of maintaining my natural tan.

reduces body fat. 

Walking isn’t going to get you shredded or ripped,but frequent walking will help anyone lose some body fat, A person weighing 60kg burns 75 calories simply by strolling at 2mph for 30 minutes. Increase that to 3mph and they’ll burn 99 calories. Speed it up to a fast walk (4mph) and that’s 150 calories – the equivalent of a jam doughnut. "Walking also increases muscle mass and tone and the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism – so the more calories you burn, even at rest. 

Reduces stress

Anyone who has come back from a walk in a different frame of mind than they went out with can attest to this. Studies back up that walking benefits your mood -- and may even ward off depression and anxiety. This is so true, my walks with Simba always make me see things in a better perspective and I feel so much better after our long slow walks. 

Boosts your immune system

Walking regularly can lower your risk of arthritis, macular degeneration, and even cancer by an astonishing 50% compared with people who don't exercise, the list goes on. I cant think of a negative impact of walking if you are a healthy able body human being.

here's how to start!

If you happen to be a Fitbit user, go to http://www.rewalkz.me and sign up an account to be ready to join in our next challenge and who knows you might out walk us all!A quick update of our leader board for the current challenge which i am on. 

• Walk regularly, aiming for at least 5 days a week. Walking every day is even better and will help make walking a habit more quickly

• Build up to walking for 30 minutes, but start at 10 minutes in week one. 10 minutes might seem like nothing, but the point is to build the habit. Butler says, even though it's just 10 minutes, still set aside the time in your schedule. "Change into comfortable walking clothes if you can. 

• Keep a good pace. "Speed is not the focus, but you should walk at a purposeful pace, as if you have some where to be.