HEALTH: Start Walking...

When can you find time to walk. Scenario #1: There was a time when my wife went back to school and I became the stay at home dad for four kids and I was stuck in the house all day. I knew how important getting out of the house was but even during the school year, I still had a 4 year old at home. I decided I had to go out every day and go walking, so I found three different times to walk: 1) walking my dog in the morning, whether with a dog or by myself, getting up early and just going out for a walk was essential for my mental survival; 2) walking my kids to and from school 1 mile each way; 3) strapping my 4 year old in a stroller and just taking off down the road. I found time to do it and I made that a necessity. Scenario #2: When I worked for the State of Alaska (bitter winters), I had to watch the kids in the morning before work so my wife could sleep in a little so I couldn't do it then. When I arrived home my spouse wanted some adult interaction because she had been talking to kids all day. So I walked both at lunch, even trucking it through knee deep snow during the winter, and when the kids went off to sleep. Since after bedtime was to be spent with my spouse, I usually didn't walk then, but I found that one time a day to walk.

When was the last time you went out for an actual walk. 5k, 1 mile, even down your street? Do you already walk or run every day? When do you do it? Why do you do it?

Here are a few of the top reasons given:

• 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.

• Improve your balance and coordination.

Double it with another task, whether walking with your dog, kids, a co-worker for a n impromptu meeting. If you can't find time, make time but get it done.

Managing to walk or run each day allows you to manage yourself. Whether its for health reasons or to regulate your mood, getting out to walk is essential to doing the right thing for your body. Get moving, get out, get healthy.

ACTION ITEM:

1) Start up a routine to go walking or running a minimum of 10 minutes a day.

2) Be consistent at doing it every day for one week.