East Oregonian : E.O., March 25, 2020, Page 21, Image 21

Senior Living Spring 2020 | 11
The benefits
of walking
There aren’t many exercises out there,
if any, that are more key to your physical
health than walking.
Consider people from older generations
before the convenience of transportation.
Our walk-happy ancestors were generally
less obese because of the regular exercise
they received from walking and other
physical work.
Frequent walking has been found to
lower stress, reduce blood pressure and
regulate blood sugar. Even five minutes of
walking per day can give you a health boost.
So, strap on your tennis shoes and hit the
sidewalks in your neighborhood. It’s time to
start giving your body the maintenance
it deserves.
Start slow
For beginners, five or 10 minutes of
walking is a great start to better fitness and
health. Find a safe, familiar place to walk
where you can focus on your routine.
Don’t forget to purchase a comfortable
pair of walking shoes. Walking in a pair
of uncomfortable shoes, especially if you
haven’t walked regularly in a while, can ruin
the experience for you and lead to strains,
stiffness or soreness the next day.
Turn up the intensity
Although a simple walking routine is
great for your health, rev your engine by
turning up the intensity and vary your
speed. Inclines are a great way to increase
exercise intensity when walking. Adjust the
incline on the treadmill or find a slightly
sloped hill in your neighborhood park.
If you have any medical conditions or
chronic illnesses that may get in the way of
a new walking routine, consult your doctor
before getting active. He or she will have
recommendations on how you can integrate
more walking into your everyday activities.
Track your steps
A great way of motivating yourself to walk
more is keeping a close eye on how many
steps you’re taking. You can find various
step-tracking applications for your mobile
phone. There are also wearables that you can
incorporate into your workout gear.
Don’t just use your tracking application
for workouts, but also for your day-to-
day activities like walking the dog, doing
laundry or mowing the lawn.
You may be surprised to find how
many calories you burn with just these
uncomplicated activities.
Terry Becktold
Sr Health Care Specialist
terry@pendletoninsurancecenter.com
• Are you prepared for the unexpected medical costs
during retirement? Based on life expectancies the
average 65 year old couple will need at least $300,000
for health care costs in retirement?
• Have you planned for unexpected Medical costs?
(7 out of 10 people will need long term care during their lifetime.)
• Who is paying your final Expenses?
We have affordable plans
for every budget.
CALL TODAY 541-276-0367
1904 SW Frazier Ave | Pendleton, OR 97801