Walking For Better Health

| Rachel Bauer

I know firsthand how difficult weight loss can be.  My scale has ebbed and flowed with my changing body for the better part of my adult life.  When I had my ‘enough’ moment and decided to change my health for the better on a permanent scale (pardon the pun) I had the same big thought as everyone else.  You know a big thought, we’ve all had it. Where Do I Start?

For me, it started with a buddy system.  Specifically, my dog is my buddy. He and I were both weighing in at our heaviest and in desperate need of a lifestyle change.  I sometimes struggle with motivating myself to stick to goals, but I will do anything to help my dog.  A quick internet search told me that moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking, would not only help with weight loss, but it has been shown to even help with rates of chronic disease1.  With a dog as my buddy, walking seemed an obvious task to give myself.  Our walks changed from around the cul-de-sac, to around the block. Then we added two more blocks, and eventually a stop at the local baseball field to circle the bases.  I read that adding one-minute intervals of power walking was good for burning calories,2 so my dog and I pushed ourselves to speed walk every once in a while.  As our routine increased, so did our endurance.

The unexpected twist to my walking weight loss journey?  My mental health started doing better as well. Being outside with the fresh air and scents invigorated my body.  Smiling and waving at neighbors made me feel more connected to the neighborhood. I ventured into parts of my neighborhood I’d never seen before and discovered outdoor décor that gave me creative ideas to brighten up my own yard.  I felt like my life was suddenly filled with more colors.

Conditioning my body to take longer walks ended up being a game changer for me.  I began eating healthier and added some elliptical training to my routine. The pounds, I am pleased to say, have been dropping off.  My lifestyle has seen the greatest improvement from all of this. I recently went on a vacation in Italy. I spent most of my days walking to different areas, seeing the delights of Italy’s tourism, climbing their (surprisingly) high hills.  My travel partners are in much better physical shape then I am, but we were all delighted to see that I can now keep up! I climbed the huge hill to see the Boboli gardens in Florence. I took a four-hour walking tour of Venice. Adding walking to my health plan allowed me to experience Italy with enthusiasm and delight.  I am living proof that adding the simple step of walking more to your daily routine can effect great changes in your life!

If you want to optimize your health through our personal training and dietary services, contact us today to schedule your free consultation!

Rachel Bauer
Executive Assistant
Live Your LifeTM
Bringing Physical Therapy & Wellness to You!

Rachel graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Cloud State University, with a B.A. in Literature and Writing. She thrives in her role as an Executive Administrative Assistant, bringing compassion, organization, reliability, and a sense of humor to her work environment. She enjoys being an Assistant because it utilizes her skill set and is a continuous way for her to be of aid to others. She’s previously worked as an Administrative Assistant in Marketing and Finance.

She enjoys helping others and believes that kindness is the key to happiness. She has volunteered for several humanitarian organizations, and passionately supports the care and ethical treatment of animals. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, reading books, seeing musicals, and traveling to as many different places as possible.

References
1Peter Kokkinos – Physical Activity, Health Benefits, and Mortality Risk.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501820/ Date Accessed 11 Sept, 2018.

2 Women’s Health – Exactly How to Lose Weight by Walking More. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/g19909679/how-to-lose-weight-by-walking/  Date Accessed 11 Sept, 2018.

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