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Lose Weight For Free

Want to lose weight for free? No supplements needed, no drugs required, take a walk. With the economy deteriorating fast we are all looking for things to do that are free. Unemployment is up, prices are up, about the only thing going down are our pensions and 401K’s.

Now is the time to make a decision. We can either watch CNBC all day as the analysts try to explain why we have to shoulder the burden of the bad decisions of Wall Street and pay the multi-million dollar salaries of the already rich CEO’s who have destroyed their companies or we can take this time to get in shape.

I have to confess that I have been obsessed with the economy. After spending the last couple of weeks focused on nothing else and slowly sinking into a very blue mood I have decided to take the time to get back on track with a healthy life style and try to lose a little weight in the process. After all the most expensive life style is the sedentary life style since it is the life style most likely to result in health problems. Since I have to buy my own health insurance it is worth it to me to try to avoid doctors and hospitals. I have very little faith that my health insurance company will cover anything without a fight.

Shake Up Your Walk

Walking the same route every day can get boring……really boring after the 100th time walking past the same houses on the same roads so you need to shake it up, inject something different into your walking routine, make it new!

Here are some ideas on how to shake up your walking routine:

• If you walk on your treadmill start walking outside. Walk inside everyday? Take a break and walk outside one day a week.
• Walk in a different direction. Even if you walk the same route sometimes if you turn left when you walk out your door instead of right it will feel different

Walk An Hour Lose 500 Calories

Another study is being published that touts the benefits of walking as a healthy way to lose weight. According to a study by Ramblers’ Association of the UK, a brisk one-hour walk results in approximately 500 calories burned.

A specially commissioned study released by the Ramblers’ Association (RA) finds that a fast 60-minute walk covering 4.4 miles (7km) burns off about 500 calories.Now that pace is no stroll through the park but it is not race walking either.

From walking website :Grough

The results of the study were released to coincide with Get Walking Day, led by the RA’s new president, TV presenter Floella Benjamin. Ms Benjamin, a walker and marathon runner, said: “Walking is a great tonic; it keeps me fit in mind and body and really puts me in a positive mood. The more you do, the better you'll feel, even walking for half an hour five times a week makes a real difference.”

Walking Gets a Boost From Honda Motor Co.

As reported on the  Tech On website, Honda Motor Co Ltd has developed a prototype "walking assistance" device, which helps the elderly and other individuals that have difficulty walking. They will present the device at "Barrier Free 2008".

The device is designed to help people with weakened leg muscles that may be a result of aging or other reasons but are still capable of walking on their own. Although the device is a long way from going into production, it is good news for many people who may have problems walking.

Weight Watchers Walking Clinic

Good News! Weight Watchers has started a walking clinic. Information on the clinic first appeared in the January/February 2008 issue of the magazine and focuses on your first 8 week plan. The March/April 2008 magazine continues with a plan for the next 8 weeks.

The Weight Watchers Clinic is divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced making it helpful for all walkers. Each level of the Weight Watchers Walking Clinic has a focus: beginners focus on form, intermediate focuses on strength and advanced focuses on time management.

Walk Grand Central Station in New York City

New York City is a city of walkers so you do not have to look for opportunities to walk when you are there. When I visit the city I walk an average of 3 to 5 miles per day. I know this because I take my pedometer with me and wear it at least one day of my trip. I need to walk that much since many of my trips around New York involve stopping for a slice of pizza.

I was in New York City last weekend and it was too cold for a girl from the south to spend much time walking around. I thought about what I could do for exercise that was free. I used to live in New York City and commuted through Grand Central twice a day so I was familiar with the terminal. I read that Grand Central had recently been renovated and I was curious to see it. So, I put on my walking shoes and headed on over.

Women Should Walk in Groups

In early January, Meredith Emerson and her dog went for a hike on Blood Mountain in Georgia. Blood Mountain is a very popular and beautiful hiking destination in the southeastern part of the US and we all have a right to hike it either alone or with our friends.

Unfortunately for Meredith and her family there was an evil man walking the same trails that day. By kidnapping and killing Meredith he not only took Meredith’s life, he also took away the sense of peace and comfort many women find in walking alone.

Walk and Learn a Language

I recently started downloading podcasts of Italian lessons to my iPod and it is working very well. I can listen to the podcasts while I am taking a walk or traveling. Of course, people look at me oddly since I am talking to myself while I walk. There are a bunch of free podcasts you can subscribe to at iTunes if you have an iPod.

Many sites other than iTunes also offer free and subscription based podcasts. I subscribe to the free ones and if I like them I either make a donation to that organization or if they have a higher level subscription rate that adds value I will buy that.

Walk For Better Eyesight

A new study reports that taking a walk, or participating in any exercise, can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by up to 70%. AMD is a degenerative eye disease in which the light-sensitive cells in the back of the eye stop working. It is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60.

Researchers followed nearly 4,000 men and women in Beaver Dam, Wis., between the ages of 43 and 86 for 15 years. The participants gave information about their lifestyle and exercise habits and had eye examinations every five years.

The study shows that older adults who had an active lifestyle and exercised three or more times a week had a 70% lower risk of developing wet AMD.There are two types of AMD, wet and dry.

Pedometer Wearers Walk More

Do you want to walk more? If so, then keep a step diary.

NBC nightly news reported that people who wear a pedometer walk 1 more mile on average, but only if the keep track of their steps. In fact, 20 studies have found that wearing a pedometer prods people to walk more.

In a report for the American Medical Association, Dr. Dena Bravata of Stanford University reports that increasing physical activity depended on setting a goal and keeping a diary of the number of steps walked each day. “Every night, you write down how many steps you walked that day,” she said. “By flipping back through your diary, you’re able to see patterns, for example, ’On the two days a week I took the stairs, I increased my steps.”

Walk, Walk, Run, Walk, Walk, Run

Walking is great exercise, but as with all exercise after a while you stop seeing as much of an improvement as you did when you first started. You need to step up your aerobic activity in order to continue to see an improvement.

I can't jog for extended periods of time or my body starts to complain, especially my knees. What I can do is jog for short periods, and I do mean short. My goal is to increase my heart rate so that I am slightly out of breath, but not so out of breath that I can't carry on a conversation.

I either time my jog keeping it to 60 seconds, or I jog between two specific points, for example from one corner to the next. I am not a runner and never will be, but I do want to get the most out of my exercise and adding some running helps me do that.

Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer

The Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer has all the great features of the older models and has a new feature that allows you to upload your workouts to your computer.

Omron's most technologically advanced pedometer, model HJ-720ITC, now includes Omron Health Management Software to help you track days, weeks, months and years of exercise. Simply connect the pedometer with its USB connection to your PC to begin tracking your health today. The pedometer measures steps, aerobic steps (10 minutes or more of continuous movement), calories and distance.

Take your Pedometer on Vacation

I have always wondered how many miles I walk in an average day while I am on vacation. This year I took my pedometer with me to Italy and found out that in an average day I walk about 5 miles. I felt pretty good about the distance walked, but of that 5 miles only about 30 minutes was walked fast enough to be considered aerobic.

In other words I was strolling around the narrow streets and through beautiful churches but I was not getting a cardio workout.

As soon as I realized I was doing more meandering and less aerobic walking I stepped up the pace, at least for part of the day. After all I was in Italy so there was no way I was going to rush around like I do when I am in New York City. On the other hand I was drinking a lot of wine and eating pasta twice a day so I needed to burn some calories if I wanted to fit in my clothes when I returned home.

Via dell' Amore, Cinque Terre

The Via dell' Amore hiking trail in Cinque Terre, Italy runs between Riomaggiore and Manarola. I use the term hiking trail loosely because it is actually a paved path and is very easy to walk. It would be easy to push a stroller or wheelchair on the path but I do not believe the path is wheelchair accessible. To get to the Via dell' Amore you have to walk up a series of steep stairs.

All of the trails in the Cinque Terre require a purchased ticket and the Via dell' Amore is no exception. You can purchase 1-day, 2-day, 3-day and 7-day Cinque Terre Cards. These cards allow you to hike all of the trails in the Cinque Terre.

There are benches where you can sit and admire the view or just watch all the people wandering by. There is a small restaurant on the Via dell' Amore where you can get something to eat and drink. Picnic tables with a spectacular view are located above the restaurant. You do have to walk up a number of steps to get to the picnic area.

Although the Via dell' Amore is an easy walk, it may not be for you if you have a fear of heights. There is a railing all along the trail, but there is a long steep drop off from the railing to the Sea.

Not all of the trails in the Cinque Terre are easy so don't be fooled. Just because you find the Via dell' Amore to be a leisurely stroll does not mean you won't find some of the other trails challenging.