The importance of walking

I hated walking.

Yes, I know, it’s not a good start for this post but I had to tell you the truth somehow. I’ve learned the importance of walking not a long time ago. I started to work out last year. I became more active day after day, month after month. And you know what? If I don’t do my daily workout, I become nervous and I have so much energy that sometimes I feel like I’m going to explode all of a sudden. Or maybe I could hit someone but I think this is not a good idea…

Last Saturday I had to go to the bank and then I decided to go for a walk. Well, I ended up walking for more than 45 minutes at -10 degrees on the longest street in the world… Yonge Street (pronounced ” young”). Yep, it’s listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world (1,896 km/1,178 mi). The temperature was not so bad (last night here in Toronto it was -27C) and I felt great. I felt happy.

The distances in Toronto are very big but when I can I avoid taking the subway or the bus even when it’s cold and I leave my car in the parking when I’m not late.

A few weeks ago I interviewed the Ontario minister of Health Promotion Margarett Best. She said that unfortunately still many Canadians continue to lead sedentary lives. Simply walking around your block or to the store or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can make a lot of difference.

I have become a huge fan of walking lately. I’ve been living in Toronto for more than 4 years now and sometimes I still feel like a tourist. Walking is the best way to notice new things, new restaurants (!), new shops, new places, new people and the beauty of a city that still gives me goosebumps.

Walking at a moderate pace for 30-60 minutes burns stored fat and can build muscle to speed up your metabolism.

Walking can slow the aging process.

The risk of death from heart disease could be reduced by 34% by walking at least 2 hours per week.

Walking 7 hours a week decreases the risk of breast cancer and Type II diabetes .

Regular walking can reduce your risk of colon cancer and glaucoma, and even reduce the risk of catching the common cold by up to 50%. You can have your children walk to and from school, friends’ houses and so on – safely, of course.

So guys get off from that couch and go for a walk! And I don’t mean walking from your house to your car!!!