How to walk away from stress
October 17, 2011
You Docs
We know cold, gloppy weather’s coming, and we know treadmills are great — we spend plenty of time on them ourselves, making sure we hit 10,000 steps a day, no excuses. But anytime you can walk outdoors, do. Especially if life just dealt you lemons, not lemonade. When you’re tense or angry, walking (like any physical activity) gets your head straight fast. And walking outside works even better.
Is it the fresh air, the sunshine, the greenery? Probably all that and more. There’s something about the great outdoors that gives you an extra workout kick. You feel more alive, energetic and optimistic — and more committed to your daily walk (yep, they’ve studied this). So you, too, can have a no-excuses attitude. That alone is a pretty big perk. But wait, there’s more!
• You’ll burn a few extra calories. Credit wind resistance, dodging people/potholes/puddles, going up and down slopes. Real hills make a bigger difference (and firm your tush).
• You’ll like you more. Self-esteem jumps from all kinds of “green exercise,” i.e. outdoor activities: hiking, biking, surfing, striding around the neighbourhood.
• You’ll think better. Just 90 days of moderate walking boosts blood flow to your brain by 15 per cent . (Can you say “smarter”?) Walking also lowers your blood pressure and heart rate. (Now say, “See ya, heart disease.”)
• You’ll have fun. The people-, pet- and baby-watching are better than most TV.
• You’ll get lucky. Whether you’re looking for love, work or new ideas for the front door, leaving home helps you find it.
YouDocs Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen are authors of YOU: Losing Weight. Order it at StarStore.ca. Submit questions and find more info at RealAge.com Links: http://starstore.ca http://www.realage.com
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