One of the most common questions I ask my clients when we are first starting our session is what they have done physically since our last workout. One answer that I get pretty consistently is that they did their daily walk or that they walked their dog.
Sorry to say. But. If your walks, whether they are with yourself or your pet are the same every time, then this does NOT count!
Your body is absolutely conditioned to this and is not feeling any stress which, it needs to qualify as a workout.
There are 3 things that you can change to make this more of an exercise instead of a daily stroll. The good news is that you don’t have to do all 3, just pick one.
Time, Distance, Elevation, Speed
Here are the 3 – Time or distance, elevation, and speed. (okay there’s 4)
If you have been walking the same distance or for the same amount of time for several months, it’s time to add to the distance and/or time.
Your second option would be to add some hills into your walk. In order to make this more of an exercise you need to raise your heart rate. Start Sweating! It’s not a crime.
The third is to increase your speed. Unless you have some joint problems that would prevent you, break out into a jog every so often. This is another way to raise your heart rate and break out into sweat. You don’t have to go real fast. But for instance, every ten minutes instead of walking, run for about 1 to 2 minutes.
Now this is not to say that your daily walks are for nothing. But unless you’re feeling even a little stressed by this then don’t kid yourself into thinking that this is exercise. It is NOT!