The Benefits Of Walking 1 Hour A Day For Everyone Who Values Their Health

Want to know the best benefits of walking 1 hour a day for adults who want to lose weight? These benefits of walking 1 hour a day are essential because the self care technique of walking is an important part of every healthy lifestyle. 

As someone who has struggled with stomach pain and can no longer run, I have fallen in love with walking. Yes, I wish I could run, but walking is so incredible!! When walking, you’re truly able to embrace your surroundings and not just focus on making it through the run.. unless you’re gifted and are able to do both!

Walking for an hour a day can be difficult for numerous of reasons with the most prevalent being that it’s time consuming. However, if you are willing to put in the time or even half of the time, you will experience extreme health benefits to your lifestyle. As someone who LOVES applying new self care habits to my daily life, I am going to share all of the best benefits of walking 1 hour a day that everyone should know. 

You are going to learn all about the best benefits of walking 1 hour a day so you can lose or maintain your weight and feel your absolute best. 

After learning about all of the benefits of walking 1 hour a day, you are going to be motivated and ready to walk everyday to improve your health and lifestyle. 

This post is all about benefits of walking 1 hour a day so you can lose or maintain weight and improve your health. 

The Top Benefits Of Walking 1 Hour A Day

1. Good For Your Heart

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If you want to get a good cardiovascular workout in without the facing “torturous running”, walking can be a great source to get your cardio. Cardio is essential as it improves your cardiovascular health which in turn gives you a longer life expectancy and reduces risks of diseases. Walking briskly increases your heart rate, improves circulation, and lowers your blood pressure.

Also, stepping up your walking pace may cut your risk of dying from heart disease in half compared to people walking at a slower pace. If you are just starting out, a good practice to do is to increase your walking pace every week so you feel a better workout each day. 

2. Improves Mood

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Walking helps your mind by improving your mood. This is because walking lowers stress and anxiety, which is a main reason people like me fall in love with walking in the first place. Walking improves your mood because it releases endorphins which stimulates relaxation. Walking is the perfect self care technique if you are looking to improve your mental state as well as your physical appearance. 

My favorite thing to do while walking is to listen to a motivational or religious podcast. You should make sure to listen to a podcast or music to help you relax and take your mind off things on your walk. Also, audio books are a fabulous way to distract your mind on your relaxing walk. 

3. Control Weight

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The misconception that walking cannot help you control or lose weight is ridiculous. Walking has the ability to lose many calories and increases with the pace and distance you decide to walk. The benefit of walking 1 hour a day is that it is long enough to where the calories will add up, especially the faster you walk. So get your walking shoes on and get walking.

As someone who suffers from stomach pain when running but still wants to be outside and exercise this is the perfect alternative. I will get my comfiest sneakers on and walk as fast as I can. Moving fast will help you lose calories and gain cardio for different activities.

The best way to maintain your walking pace is to make sure you are properly dressed. Ensuring you are not too cold or too warm by maintaining your body temperature will help you.

4. Prevents Overthinking

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Overthinking is a main reason why many people fall in love with walking. Simply getting up from work and taking a break to walk can help trigger many ideas without overthinking getting in the way. As stated earlier, listening to a podcast, music, or audio book during the run can prevent overthinking as well. 

If you don’t want to listen to a podcast, then you can still walk without overthinking. All of the time I will go on walks and just listen to the nature and it is sooo soothing!! Listening and watching the nature all around me on my walk is enough to make me happy and stop overthinking

If you catch yourself thinking of new ideas on your walk, you should make sure to journal after you walk. It is important to write them down as soon as possible so you do not forget anything. 

5. Aids In Digestion

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Walking can help you with your digestion especially after a meal. This is because walking stimulates the stomach and intestines. I truly believe this because sometimes when I work out, my stomach starts to hurt from the GI and gut movement. So, if you want to reduce bloating or help move food through your digestive system, then go for a walk! I can speak from experience when I say there is nothing better than walking off a big meal!

You should make sure to not walk overly brisk after a big meal as it may upset your stomach. Typically walking at a calm pace after a meal is ideal and save the faster walks for at least an hour after a big meal. 

6. Improves Sleep

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Another one of the benefits of walking 1 hour a day is that it improves your sleep! If you are someone like me and overthinks when they go to bed, then this is a huge plus! Walking improves your sleep because you get exposed to natural light which helps entrain a strong circadian rhythm and promotes healthy sleep. This makes sense why I always have better sleeps in the summer, because I am always outside walking in the sunshine!

Besides the sunshine benefiting your sleep, workouts also have a strong impact on your sleep schedule. When you move your body and use more energy, your body is naturally more tired for bed as it needs to recover. 

7. Promotes Muscle Growth

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Although walking is not the same as lifting weights in the gym, it still promotes muscle growth since walking forces you to rely on your body for traveling. The benefits of walking 1 hour a day will improve your muscles, but it just might take some time. It may take months before you start to notice a change, but you will be surprised in the new muscles you develop in your walking journey. 

You should make sure that you wear proper shoes so that you can continue walking the distance to grow muscles. The pair of shoes you have can protect you against injuries such as shin splints. 

8. Helps Immune System

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One of the benefits of walking 1 hour a day has the anti-inflammatory effect to help improve your immune system. Even just 30 minutes a day can reduce inflammation and help immune cells regenerate regularly. This is especially essential during common sick seasons like the flu season. If it is too cold to walk outside, consider walking on a treadmill to help boost your immune system. To kick it up a notch, add an incline for extra health benefits. 

You should make sure to make time for your walk. It can be as short as your lunch break or as long as you want, but a little bit of walking a day will help your body’s immune system and lessen the risk of you getting sick. 

9. Reduces Joint pain

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Walking is recommend for people who have any type of joint pain or arthritis. Walking is recommended for these people because of it’s low impact, bone health benefits, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and strengthens your joint flexibility. All of this is to show that walking has tremendous benefits for your body besides losing weight, building muscle, and helping your mind. 

Try incorporating other type of workouts to get the maximum benefits of walking. For example, stretching is an excellent counter piece to walking as it will help you stretch out any muscles that became sore from your walks. Another example could be arm workouts since you are not using your arms as much as your legs during your walks.

This post was all about the top benefits of walking 1 hour a day for everyone who values their health.