Our lives are becoming easier each day due to the advancements in technology and as a result, we are becoming lazier. Even the foods we eat contain a lot of saturated fats and are loaded with sugar. We will become unhealthier as the days go by if we do not make a conscious decision to lead healthier lives. If you want to be healthy, it is not enough to laze around all day and spend 1 or 2 hours at the gym. You need to be active throughout the day. You don’t have to run around all the time or do squats or push-ups every time you get a chance. You only have to walk more.
Your goal should be to walk 20,000 steps a day. There’s no need to start pacing back and forth just to reach your goal. You have to start slow and take “one step at a time.” If you lie around in your bed or on your couch all day, get up and move around. If you take your car to the nearby grocery store, walk there. If you walk till your nearest bus stop, walk till the next one and then take the bus. A small effort on your part will help you reach your goal soon and you will definitely have a healthier life. Here are some of the things that will happen when you start walking 20,000 steps a day.
1. You Will Lose Weight
It does not take a genius to figure out that walking 20,000 steps a day will help you lose weight. With all the calories you burn by walking, you will shed all the unwanted fat from your body. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Do not overestimate the number of calories burnt. Walking 20,000 steps a day does not give you the right to add those extra fries to your meals or to eat a large chocolate cake at the end of the day. The only way you will lose weight even by walking so much is by eating healthy and restricting your calorie intake.
2. You Will Be More Active
One major problem with working out for 1 or 2 hours a day in the morning or in the evening is that you tend to procrastinate. You may be to too sleepy to work out before you head to work or you may be too tired to work out after. If your level of physical activity is evenly spread throughout the day, you are more likely to get your daily dose of physical activity without it overwhelming you. Go for short strolls during your breaks and try to avoid the lift as much as possible. You will soon feel your energy levels rise and you will not feel the strain on your body.
3. You Will Sleep Better
Walking 20,000 steps a day is definitely tiring. By the end of the day, you will feel more tired and will sleep like a baby. Being exhausted by doing something good for your body instead of being exhausted by the stress of work or the other problems of everyday life will leave you satisfied, ensuring a peaceful and well-deserved rest.
4. You Get To Experience The Beauty Of Nature
When you walk, you get to experience the immense beauty of nature, which fills you with peace. This is because the beautiful sunrise or the sunset, the leaves rustling in the wind, the drops of dew falling from the leaves, and in fact, all the beautiful sights and sounds of nature has a therapeutic effect on your mind and body. As you walk more and soak in the magnificence of nature, you will become more relaxed and calm. Make sure to take deep breaths to maximize the effects.
5. You Will Have A Positive Outlook On Life
When your mind is relaxed and your body is in great shape, you will start looking at life from a positive angle. When your level of physical activity increases, your body releases happy hormones known as endorphins. The effect it has on your body is similar to that of morphine. So, the more steps the merrier.
The first step is always the hardest. Once you decide to make your life better and to start walking more each day, soon no challenge will be too hard. But make sure to consult your doctor first if you have any health issue and always wear shoes that support your feet properly.
