Benefits of Walking Over 50

Benefits of Walking Over 50

For many baby boomers, the day begins with unpredictable aches and pains. Somewhere north of 50, you may find that putting your socks on in the morning suddenly tests your physical capabilities in unpleasant and new ways.

Interestingly enough, this miracle intervention does exist and has for some time. Written on your family doctor’s prescription pad, it would simply read walk every day. While you may still need medication prescribed by your doctor to treat what ails you, walking will help improve your health.

What if a pharmaceutical company were to sell an anti-aging prescription drug designed to do just that? What if this miracle pill also promised to prevent, or manage, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, help you maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your muscles and bones, improve your mood and enhance your balance and coordination and all with no side-effects? There would be no end to the demand for this product.

Walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress. And if cardiac health and a lower death rate are not enough to get you on your feet, consider that walking also helps protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction.

How do you get moving, if movement hurts?

Prepare your mind and body

Look for opportunities to walk. Start walking slowly for the first five to 10 minutes as a warm-up. Walk with your head up and eyes focused on the horizon.

Set a goal to walk every day

You might start with five minutes a day for the first week, adding five minutes each week until you are able to walk 30 minutes each day. If finding a 30-minute block of time in your day represents a barrier, break the activity into three 10-minute power walks.

Monitor your progress

Buy a pedometer and track your steps and distance per day. Tracking your progress will keep you focused on the bigger picture.

Fuel your motivation

Find a walking partner. Make a commitment to walk every day and reward yourself at regular intervals for sticking with it.

Cool down and stretch

Happy walking.