Hello My Friends! I hope your walking challenge is going well! Todays post is about the benefits of walking outside vs. inside. Both are better than sitting on the couch, so keep that in the forefront of your mind that something is better than nothing!
Indoor Walking Benefits:
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Great way to burn calories and give your muscles a basic workout as well as practicing good form. Please do not hang onto the handrails. Walk only at a pace that allows you not to do this, otherwise you are throwing off your correct form and posture.
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Treadmills have readouts for your heartrate, calories burned, distance and time.
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Safety – a treadmill is a good substitute in lieu of a safe outdoor walking route.
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Weather – you can control the weather indoors vs outdoors.
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Easy access to water fountains, bathrooms and changing rooms.
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Entertainment – you can watch TV or read on a treadmill vs outdoors. Not sure this is a benefit!
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Fewer excuses if you have accessibility to a treadmill. You can’t say it’s too dark outside or the weather is bad.
Outdoor Walking Benefits:
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You will burn more calories outdoors because a treadmill will do some of the work for you and you have no wind resistance. However, adding as little as a 1% incline on the treadmill will overcome this factor.
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Walking outside challenges your balance and stability with all the small obstacles, dodges, starts and stops. This is a GREAT benefit!
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Increased mood and mental health. Studies show that participants had increased energy, feelings of revitalization, decreases in tension, anger and depression when they walked outside vs inside. Best places to walk for maximum mental health were parks and forests vs. an urban setting. Again people, something is better than nothing, so don’t let this be an excuse! 🙂
There you have it! Now go get your 20-30 minutes in of walking today, whether it be indoors or outdoors!
Cheers!