Which Equipment Helps You To Live Longer And Healthier?

by Joel

A study which was published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association on the topic of walking suggested that one reliable predictor of a person’s lifespan is how quickly they walk. The study followed older Americans, with the conclusion being that people who have a faster gait are more likely to live longer than their peers who walk more slowly. Since people who walk faster are, by and large, more physically fit than others, perhaps this data shouldn’t be surprising. Walking is a popular type of exercise and there is always debate over whether to use an elliptical vs treadmill.

This is only one of many studies which have been conducted on the benefits of walking and as you may have already heard, it is one of the best types of exercise. Better still, it’s a kind of exercise which is pretty easy to add into your daily routine. However, many people are at a loss as to the decision of using an elliptical or a treadmill, since with equipment like an elliptical, you can get all of the benefits of walking without even having to open your front door.

The Benefits Of Walking

Walking provides a number of important health benefits. Those who walk regularly tend to have lower levels of cholesterol, lower blood sugar levels and lower blood pressure than people who do not walk on a regular basis – they also have much lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. People who walk regularly, whether outdoors, or on gym equipment also find it easier to lose excess weight and maintain their ideal weight.

These lower risks of serious illness are largely responsible for the longer life spans of people who walk regularly. It’s a kind of exercise which anyone can do, whether or not they’re in good shape. Making walking a part of your routine also improves heart health, which leads to a faster gait over time.

Daily Walks

As long as you can walk at all, you can start using walking as a part of your exercise regimen to get into better shape or stay in good health. No matter what your age, gender or level of physical fitness, you can start seeing the positive results of walking if you spare as little as 30 minutes a day to exercise.

One of the best ways to begin is to find walking routes in your neighborhood. While you can walk pretty much anywhere, anytime you like, in poor weather you may want to stay inside and get some home fitness gear.

The most common pieces of home exercise equipment include:
• Elliptical Trainers
• Treadmills
• Exercise Bikes
• Rowing Machines

Like walking, rowing and biking are excellent exercise, but walking is best of all. An elliptical machine can be even better than walking, since they put far less stress on your joints than walking does. You can get the best results of all by using home equipment along with regular walks outdoors. The most important thing to do is to come up with a schedule for yourself and then follow it faithfully; consistency is key, whether you’re using a machine or just walking around your neighborhood.

Metabolism and Energy, Weight Loss And Walking

Walking is one of the most beneficial and easiest ways to get some exercise and whether you’re in great shape already or you’re trying to get there, walking can go a long way towards helping you meet your fitness goals. Walking on a regular basis can help to boost your metabolism and give you more energy as well, which makes it easy to lose weight and stay in shape.

Regular walks improve endurance and help people stay flexible. When you get regular exercise such as walking, any other physical activity you engage in will be safer and easier, which is another benefit of adding walking to your routine.

Along with the many other benefits of walking, a daily
walk or exercise which provides the same kind of physical activity can help you to strengthen your immune system and fight off illness as well. If you’re wondering how you could live longer and healthier, it could be as easy as taking a walk. Add a regular walk to your daily routine or invest in elliptical workout equipment like a Schwinn elliptical machine and get started living healthier today.

About the Author:

Joel is an enthusiastic aerobics fan who recently discovered the power and health benefits of a regular walking routine. He found out that he would keep his good physical condition by walking an average of 45 minutes every day that he decided to help spread the word so that more people can benefit from a regular walking regime.

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Fitness Article Submissions.