Is exercise a major stumbling block in your holistic weight loss plan? Then you need an easy fitness routine that’s convenient, affordable, and that you’ll stick to. Walking offers all those benefits – and more. But, as with any fitness program, you’ve got to have a plan.

By now you may have heard that using a pedometer is a great way to plan walking workouts. Several organizations, including Shape Up America founded by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, recommend that people walk at least 10,000 steps each day.

An Easy Fitness Routine with Powerful Results
In a study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine, researchers found that using a pedometer helped people to set goals for the amount of steps they walked each day – and to stay motivated to reach those goals.

In the 18-week study, pedometer users increased their walking by over 2,100 steps, or about a mile a day. They lost weight and had significantly better systolic blood pressure, which reduced their risk of stroke and other vascular diseases.

How to Start Your Easy Fitness Routine
1. Get the right gear. A pedometer will help you to set walking goals, track your progress, and monitor your heart rate and blood pressure. However, you also need the right shoes to protect your feet and joints.

When shopping for shoes for this easy fitness routine, make sure you choose models that are suitable for your pronation based on whether your feet have flat arches, normal arches, or high arches.

2. Warm up. Do a five-minute warm-up first, followed by some gentle stretches held to a count of 30 seconds. Make sure you stretch those big muscle groups – your quads and hamstrings – and your calves too.

3. Pace yourself. If you’ve been a couch potato, take things slowly at first with this easy fitness routine. Walk at a pace that allows you to easily have a conversation. As you get fitter, pick up the pace.

4. Do your easy fitness routine at a time that makes sense for you. Trying to stick to some hard and fast rule about workout times can sabotage your natural weight loss goals. Whether you walk in the morning, afternoon or evening, you’ll still see results.

5. Work it into your day. Unlike having to make special plans to go to the gym, you can walk at any time and anywhere. Getting the most from this easy fitness routine can be as simple as taking the stairs at work, getting off the bus a few blocks before your stop, a walk in a nearby park after lunch, or walking to pick up your kids from school instead of driving.

The more you customize this easy fitness routine, the more successful it will be at helping you to lose weight naturally and keep it off over the long run.

RESOURCE
The Stanford University School of Medicine news release, “Pedometers help people stay active, Stanford study finds.”