Author:  Maria Alfano

Walking for fun?  Is that even such a thing??  Let’s be real.  Who here likes to exercise?  Not many of us do.  Walking for fun is a great midlife exercise that frankly, doesn’t feel like you are actually doing the deed!

It’s not about how fast or how slow you walk.  The length of your stroll is much more important.  Experts say 10,000 steps a day is all you need for a healthier, better you.  That seems like an insurmountable number.  It is totally doable.  You don’t think about walking around the kitchen to get meals ready as exercise, but each and every one of those steps counts towards the big 10K.  Maybe you can intentionally forget to bring the groceries in from the car.  Take in one bag at a time.  Each trip back and forth from the car adds up.  This is a journey.  No one expects you to walk all these steps on the first day!

Brisk walking on a bright sunny day, the mental benefits of walking, and walking daily are a few ways to get your midlife body moving.  All for just the cost of a good pair of walking shoes.  You don’t need expensive gym memberships to do this.  You just need to drive to get up and go.  Heck, dust off that old treadmill and take it for a spin.  You would be surprised how many steps you can get in while watching your favorite reality show.  Don’t sit on the couch.  Move around.  The show will be just as exciting and you will get in your steps at the same time.

This post will show you how walking for fun has so many benefits that will surprise you.  You don’t have to fear the word exercise anymore because this is “Fun” with a capital F.

7 Reasons Why Walking For Fun Is A Great Midlife Exercise

Walking For Fun

Why bother walking you ask?  Walking is a low-impact aerobic exercise that anyone can do.  Even walking for fun has some awesome mental and physical health benefits.

The easiest way to start walking is to set a timer for 15 minutes and just walk out the door.  When the buzzer goes off, take note of where you are.  What landmark is near you?  What is the street number of the neighbor’s house that you reached in the 15 minutes?  Turn around and walk home.  Repeat this 15 minute walk every day for one week.  Each time try to pass the landmark you reached the day before.  Keep track of your steps every day.  Most smartphones come equipped with a step counting app these days.

The next week increase your walk to 20 minutes.  Repeat the process above daily.  Increase the number of minutes you walk each week until you find a comfortable pace that will take to the 10,000 steps per day.

Check it out:

Your Heart

1 -Keeps the old ticker happy and healthy and promotes good lung function.  Moving your body means your heart is pumping more blood and that blood is carrying more oxygen and nutrients to all the vital organs, including back to the heart.  30 minutes of daily walking increases lung capacity so you can breathe better.

2 -Reduces the risk of heart disease because you are pumping clean oxygenated blood through it on a regular basis.  Walking helps stabilize blood pressure and has been shown to control bad cholesterol.  Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that clogs your arteries and slows the movement of blood.  Exercises like walking for fun help reduce fat which in turn reduces the fat in your blood vessels.

Physical

3 -Helps with joint pain – cartilage is the cushion between the bones that keeps them from rubbing together.  Because walking promotes good blood circulation, the cartilage gets more nutrients and oxygen keeping it stronger so it can support your bones better.

4 -Increases your stamina – ok ladies how many of you are tired at the end of the day?  Or, are you tired of your partner always being too tired at the end of the day?  This leaves no energy left for some sexy time.  What if I told you that walking regularly not only increases your endurance and his, it also gives you more stamina for the private time you both need.  Moving your body gives you more energy.  Suddenly going up a flight of stairs no longer leaves you gasping for air by the time you reach the top step.  Well, that same movement buys you more time in the bedroom too!

5 -Strengthens your bones – the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  In this case, it’s natural lubricants.  Like all other organisms in the human body, bones are living tissue matter that needs to be taken care of just like your muscles.  The more you exercise, the stronger your bones become.  Because we stop producing estrogen in midlife, exercise is a way to slow the bone loss that comes with low levels of this hormone.  Exercise in turn helps to slow the onset of osteoporosis.

Emotional

6 -Brightens your mood – this is the perfect time to meditate and reflect on your day.  You can enjoy a beautiful day outdoors.  Take in the sites, smells, and sounds all around you – a tail wagging, a child’s laughter, or two old buddies playing chess in the park.  Invigorating and joyful, these will surely put a smile on your face and set the mood for the rest of the day.

7 -Improves your sleep – exercise increases the production of melatonin which is the hormone that tells your brain, it’s dark outside so shut down for the night and rest.  But, exercising too close to bedtime will have the opposite effect.  You release endorphins while exercising that stimulate the brain and keep it active for longer.

Bonus #8 – Promotes a positive body image as you lose weight and get tone while you walk for fun.  As you increase the number of steps you take each day you will start to see noticeable changes to your body.  Your waist will be trimmer, your gluts will be tighter, your batwing arms will be a little smaller, and you will feel generally much better.  A better you is a happier you.

Get Moving

Lace-up those sneakers and put one foot in front of the other for an amazing experience simply by walking for fun.  Here are your 7 ways to get up, get out, and get moving.

Fun Stuff

How To Make Walking Fun

I SPY – Take the time to look for interesting things as you walk:  pretty birds, a babbling brook, fancy cars, an old neighbor, or even a construction crane that is peeking up over the tree line.  Get to know your neighborhood and what is happening around you by simply observing.

WALK THE DOG – Don’t have a dog?  Walk your neighbor’s dog or volunteer to walk dogs at a shelter.  Either way, you get to be outside, enjoying the sunshine and the company of a friend who is always happy to see you.

NOT TOO PROUD TO TOUR – Be a tourist in your own town.  Visit neighborhoods you never ventured into before.  Pretend you own the biggest and most beautiful house on that street.  Photograph unique buildings and scenery.

Something Meaningful

FRIENDSHIP WALK – Isolated from the restrictions of the pandemic?  Walk for fun with a friend the social distancing way.  Catch up on the latest news (or gossip) as you move through the park.  Give yourself the pleasure of enjoying your friend’s company in the great outdoors.

WALK FOR CANCER – Walking for a good cause is not only fun but it gives you purpose and you help your favorite charity raise some much-needed money for research.  Doesn’t that give you the warm fuzzies?

Plain Old Exercise

SPEED WALKING – I used to laugh at how people looked during the Olympics when they were speed walking.  Once I tried it, I realized, this is no joking matter.  Speed walking engages muscles you didn’t know you had.  If you’re not careful you can easily throw your hips out of whack!

NORDIC WALKING – This is a fairly new way of walking in North America.  Over the last several years folks have taken up walking with ski poles.  This engages all parts of your body as you move along, no matter how fast or how slow you go.  Your arms work to hold the poles and propel you forward.  And, your legs will move faster as your arms swing.

In Summary

This post was all about walking for fun, the mental and physical health benefits of walking, and ways to get your midlife body moving.  We have so many strikes against us in midlife and beyond.  Walking for fun is one way we can take control of our bodies and keep them healthier longer.  Just 30 minutes per day will make your muscles stronger, increase your heart and lung capacity, and help you lose weight.

Other posts you might enjoy:

• 5 Easy Ways to Exercise with Household Items You Need In Your Repertoire
• 13 Amazing Hydration Facts You Can Use Today To Keep Your Aging Body Healthy For Many More Years To Come
• 7 Best Brain Healing Foods You Need In Your Diet To Improve Your Midlife Health

Share with us your favorite way to walk for fun!