I was talking to one of my clients yesterday about what great exercise walking is, when I realized that everyone else might want to know too!
Years ago, when I started my quest for fitness, I would walk my neighborhood. Eventually, I got an elliptical machine and a treadmill – I had always wanted to be a runner, and was finally able to make that happen through the help of the treadmill. I spent hours on each of those until I started running outside & the rest is history.
I was a gym rat for a really long time, spending countless hours on the cardio machines – even on perfectly beautiful days because I thought that I was burning tons of calories that way.
One of the most fun aspects of the bodybugg, is discovering how many calories each of my activities burns. For example: cleaning the house can burn 5 Calories per minute, preparing dinner & cleaning up is around 3, doing laundry about 2.5 – but still that’s more than sitting at my computer, which is about 1.
So that’s everyday activity. What about exercise? When I run, I can burn anywhere between 10 & 11 Calories per minute, treadmill is 1 calorie lower. The elliptical is about 7-8, same for the rowing machine. What’s shocking for me is that walking in my neighborhood burns about 5.5 – 6 calories per minute, which is 1 calorie more than bicycling! So on days when my body doesn’t want to run, it makes no sense to me to spend the day inside on the elliptical when I can be outdoors walking for just a little longer for the same calorie burn.
You don’t need special equipment to get started (a good pair of shoes helps!) & there aren’t any health risks associated with walking (disclaimer: if you’re extremely overweight or have a history of heart problems, check with your physician before starting any exercise program). And, as mentioned in this article, there are tons of health benefits including:
Reducing the risk of coronary heart disease- Lowering blood pressure
- Reducing high cholesterol
- Reducing body fat
- Enhancing mental wellbeing
- Increasing bone density
- Reducing the risk of cancer of the colon
- Helping to control body weight
- Helping osteoarthritis
- Helping to increase flexibility and co-ordination
I’ve rediscovered walking. I find it completely relaxing & rejuvinating. The weather here in Austin is gorgeous these days & the weather around the country is changing to spring time. It’s time to get out & enjoy such fantastic exercise. The most awesome thing about walking is that everyone can do it.
Elizabeth is a Master Certified Life and Health Coach with over 18 years of experience, dedicated to helping women in midlife thrive through holistic health and wellness. Her personal journey began with a desire to reduce her own breast cancer risk, which evolved into a mission to guide women through the complexities of midlife health, from hormonal changes to mental clarity and emotional resilience.
Elizabeth holds certifications from prestigious institutions such as The Life Coach School, Precision Nutrition, and the American Council on Exercise, as well as specialized training in Feminist Coaching and Women’s Hormonal Health. Her approach is deeply empathetic, blending her extensive knowledge with real-life experience to empower women in their 50s and 60s to build sustainable health habits that last a lifetime.
Recognized as a top voice in women’s health, Elizabeth speaks regularly on stages, podcasts, and webinars, inspiring women to embrace midlife with energy, confidence, and joy. Her passion is helping women regain control of their health, so they can fully engage in the things that matter most to them—whether that’s pursuing new passions, maintaining strong relationships, or simply feeling great in their own skin.