Looking to shape up and reduce your risk of heart disease and other diseases?
The American Heart Association and St. Elizabeth Healthcare teamed up to launch a new walking trail in Edgewood.
Similar trails already exist several other places in Northern Kentucky and people are not only invited to use them, but encouraged to do so for better health.
“Since January 9, I’ve lost 45 pounds literally just by walking three miles a day and watching what I eat and counting calories,” said the president and CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Garren Colvin.
According to the St. Elizabeth experts, worldwide inactivity is responsible for more deaths than smoking now. That’s partly because movement is like medicine for common health conditions.
“There are so many benefits of walking: lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reduce your fat, keeps you healthy. Walking is a huge benefit to everyone,” said Jessica Hartig of St. Elizabeth.
The Mayo Clinic agrees that walking even 22 minutes a day – the recommended amount – can help you maintain a healthy weight, prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, strengthen your bones and muscles, improve your mood and improve your balance and coordination.
Mayo offers this advice on technique:
Turning your normal walk into a fitness stride requires good posture and purposeful movements. Ideally, here’s how you’ll look when you’re walking:
• Your head is up. You’re looking forward, not at the ground.
• Your neck, shoulders and back are relaxed, not stiffly upright.
• You’re swinging your arms freely with a slight bend in your elbows. A little pumping with your arms is OK.
• Your stomach muscles are slightly tightened and your back is straight, not arched forward or backward.
• You’re walking smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe.
Still need convincing? Check out the American Heart Association’s walking resources here.
