Walking for Fitness

Walking is a great way to get fitter and healthier.

Don't be fooled into thinking that walking is an easy fitness option as it can be an incredibly intense activity (while being less stressful on the body than many other forms of exercise).

Walking and jogging form the basis for most fitness programmes as they help boost cardio-vascular stamina and reduce body fat.

Different types of walking offer different benefits – mainly because of the intensity with which they are conducted.

And the terrain you chose to walk on is also important as uphill walking is clearly more demanding than it is on a flat surface while heavy ground will be tougher going than hard surfaces like roads, paths and trails.

If you consider yourself very unfit or have not exercised regularly of late, it is always a good idea to visit your doctor before embarking on any sustained fitness regime.