Walk To It

I think the fitness gods are trying to tell me something about walking, beyond the fact that it's good exercise and simple to do. FITNESS magazine reminded me that April 6 is National Start! Walking Day, an initiative from the American Heart Association to get Americans to walk at least 30 minutes a day. And Weight Watchers is kicking off an exciting program this week called the Walk-It Challenge. Both cool challenges in my book, especially considering going for a walk is one of the easiest exercises that doesn't even feel like exercise unless it's the middle of a sun scorching summer day, you're sweating up a storm and not feeling any heat relief from a cool breeze.


I'd still go for a walk in conditions like that. In fact I did when I broke my collarbone and couldn't run, but I still wanted to enjoy a summer day (and burn enough calories to constitute my reason for walking in the first place--to get frozen custard). That's more of a specialized case for taking a walk though, and not one Weight Watchers probably would want me to endorse for its Walk-It Challenge. But here are a few reasons WW suggests you start walking now, rather than later.

• Their third annual Walk-It Challenge kicks off this month with a culminating event on Walk-It Day, Sunday, May 22. 
• The Walk-It Challenge encourages people to incorporate physical activity into their weight loss goals along with healthier eating habits, which can help the pounds melt off faster.
• If you're a Weight Watchers member or online subscriber, you'll have access to a six-week training plan to help you go from zero miles up to the 5K distance that you can walk--or even run--on May 22. 
• Weight Watchers promotes physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, which follows the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that advise us to increase physical activity and reduce calorie consumption.
• In conjunction with this year's Walk-It Challenge, Weight Watchers will make a $100,000 donation to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to support the Healthy Schools Program. This program helps students and teachers lead healthier lives through more physical activity and smarter school nutrition.
• On May 22, you can find 50 different Weight Watchers 5K walks to participate in through RRCA clubs around the country.

Ready to get started? The six-week countdown starts now and you can go here for more tips to prepare.

Photo grabbed from o5com at flickr.