A brisk 30-minute walk five days a week is more effective than any other form of exercise for keeping weight down, according to new research by the London School of Economics published this week.
Dr Grace Lordan led the research, which took data from seven separate years of the Health Survey for England to work out the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist size and various types of physical activity. She focused on activities that increased heart rate and caused perspiring, including brisk walking, heavy housework, gym workouts, cycling, swimming and running.
The study found that people who regularly took brisk walks for at least half an hour five days a week had a more pronounced reduction in BMI and smaller waist size than any other activity. What’s more, the effects were greatest for women and those over 50.
So congratulations to everyone who is regularly getting out there Nordic walking – especially if you’re female and over 50! You can be smug in the knowledge that you are doing the best possible exercise for weight maintenance and a trim waist (as if you didn’t know that already). But the benefits for Nordic walkers are even greater. Don’t forget that Nordic walking:
- Burns up to 46% more calories than ordinary walking – which is why it’s so good for weight loss as well as weight maintenance.
- Works all the muscles that tone your tummy and nip your waist in (keep going with that rotation!).
- Get’s your heart rate up (because Nordic walking’s a total body exercise your heart has to work much harder than ordinary walking in order to supply all the muscles used to propel you forwards).
- Works 90% of your muscles so tones your whole body – and especially those bingo wings – as well as all the other benefits.
We now have twenty-five classes a week to choose from at Bristol Nordic Walking so you can easily meet the 150 minutes weekly requirement with us and reap the benefits. Even if you can’t find enough classes that suit your schedule, with your own poles you can go out whenever you like. Finally, if you need a bit of motivation, don’t forget we offer Body Boost – a personalised fitness programme based around Nordic walking to get you fit and in shape. There are now two options to choose from, a six or twelve week programme. Both entitle you to unlimited walks with us so you could walk up to four times a day with us if you wish – what’s not to like about that?!
Wishing you all a very happy week’s walking, especially those joining Patsy on her Naish Hill and Cadbury Camp longer walk next Sunday 15th November.
Vicky
If you would like to find out more about our Body Boost programme please email vicky@bristolnordicwalking.co.uk
