Physical activity not only promotes physical health, but it can boost mental health too. Yet, if you're busy, it's not always easy to find the time to work out. Or maybe you're just not big on going to the gym. In cases such as these, walking in place can help you stay active and healthy.
As the phrase suggests, walking in place involves lifting the knees in a walking motion, yet remaining in one spot. The nice thing about this exercise is that you can walk in place anywhere — at your desk at work, while waiting in line at the store, or someplace else.
This is just slightly different than house walking, which involves walking around your house. Both are forms of indoor walking. Yet, with house walking, you're moving from one location to another. When walking in place, you remain in the same spot.
If you walk at home, you may use walking in place as a way to stay active while watching your favorite television show. You can also walk in place while standing in front of the stove and waiting for dinner to be ready.
You can even walk in place outdoors. If you have to let your dog out, walk in place while waiting for it to go to the bathroom. If you're watching your kids play outside, you can walk in place while making sure they are safe and having fun.
One of the advantages of walking in place is that you don’t need nice weather to get physically active. While you can walk in place outdoors, you can just as easily do it indoors too. It is a physical activity you can do year-round.
You also don't need to purchase a gym membership. Nor do you need to buy any fancy equipment for a home gym. It's a no-cost way to get and stay in shape. And you don't have to drive anywhere to do it.
Not to mention, it's a great feeling to look at your pedometer after walking in place and see how many steps you’ve racked up. Just think about all the extra calories you’re burning, without even really trying. That makes it a great tool for weight loss and maintenance.
The best part of this walking exercise is that you can do it no matter what your fitness level. If you're new to working out, just bring your knees up a little when walking in place. If you're more advanced, do more of a march instead of a walk.
If you want to walk in place, yet feel like you're someplace else, virtual reality is an option to consider. Some manufacturers have created virtual reality equipment that helps keep you in place so you don't accidentally wander around the room and hurt yourself.
How to Make Sure You Lose Weight With FitbitIf you're ready to start walking in place, here are a few tips that can help.
Any movement you do can help you become more physically active. When answering this question, you need to ask yourself: What is my goal?
If you simply want to move around more, you may consider walking around your house as exercise. If your goal is to improve your health, moderate-intensity exercise is recommended. So, you may need to boost the intensity of your walking to hit this goal.
Yes. You can lose weight by walking in place, especially if you were sedentary before as any type of movement can increase the number of calories you burn. Pair walking in place with a healthy, balanced diet and you have the recipe for weight loss success!
One study found that stepping in place burns roughly 258 calories per hour, which equates to 129 calories for 30 minutes. This research further noted that if you only walk in place during commercials, by the end of a one-hour television show, you will have burned around 148 calories.
Although our schedules may be busy, and some of us aren't too fond of going to the gym, there are still ways we can keep ourselves more active and moving toward a healthier lifestyle. Walking in place is one option that can help you do both.
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