Q&A for How to Start Walking for Exercise

Everybody is a little different, but yes! Your hips have a natural movement as you walk. So when your left hip is moving forward with your leg, your right shoulder should dip back a little bit. The reverse is also true; when your right hip moves forward, your left shoulder should dip a little. When it comes to your feet, make sure you touch the ground with the tips of your toes and your heels. Treat your foot kind of like a spring so that you're extending off of your tiptoes to propel yourself forward.

Walking burns calories, which will be taken from your fat stores and fat will be burned as fuel, as long as you don't consume more food than normal. For the best weight loss results, reduce calorie intake as well.

Most tracks are flat, so it doesn't make a huge difference. To balance out the lengths of your strides completely, it would be better to do equal numbers of lengths going each way.

The pain is probably your muscles developing small tears and rebuilding themselves as you gain more muscle mass in your legs. This is a perfectly natural process. Then again, you may be developing shin splints, so look up some stretches and/or corrective exercises for those if the pain doesn't go away or continues to increase.

Water is important in keeping you hydrated, so take it with you if you're planning on a longer walk. If you're just going out for 20 minutes or so, it's probably not necessary, but longer than that it would be good to have water with you.

Absolutely, especially if that's what works best for your fitness level and daily schedule. Splitting your exercise that way has the advantage of keeping your metabolism up throughout the day and may even help you to clear your head before settling in for the night.

Morning walks can help you feel fresh for the day, but the best time to walk for exercise is whenever you can fit it in.

Anytime is fine as long as it fits with your schedule. Many people prefer a brisk morning walk to get the blood moving, while others prefer an after-dinner walk to aid with digestion.

You can do a light walk, but a moderate or heavy walking exercise is not advised.

Yes, the increased exercise and calories burned will reduce fat all over your body, including your belly, as long as you're eating a healthy diet.

Yes.

A pair of comfortable athletic shoes and breathable clothes are definite necessities. You should also consider taking some water if you want to go for a longer walk. Also, you might want to take a pedometer or something else that can measure steps and/or distance.

Take a rest when your body is telling you it needs it. This may be after one block or many miles, depending on your physical fitness level.

You don't need any specific type of place to walk. Walk anywhere; it makes no difference. Walk around your house if you can't stand the places outside.

About 45 to 60 minutes would be good. If you aren't used to walking that much, start with whatever you are comfortable with, then add an extra 5 minutes of walking each day.

Try drinking 8 - 16 ounces of water about 30 minutes to an hour before walking. To increase chances of losing weight, add a slice of lemon or lime to remove all the toxins and work your bowels, which contributes to weight loss.

Sounds like you're doing great. Variation is key to good exercise. Every other workout, try stretching for 15 minutes and walking for 45 minutes to keep your muscles from getting used to a routine. You can also try altering the pace of your walk for maximum benefit.

The faster you walk, the more fat you will burn, but start out slow and work your way up to faster speeds.

The answer really depends on the person. Some people can walk quickly and comfortably just 20-30 minutes after eating a light meal. Others need more digestion time. If you have a larger, heavier meal, you'll probably want to wait at least an hour.

Try gently stretching the hamstrings; maybe try some jumping jacks just to get your blood pumping. Make sure your shoes are suitable and comfortable.

Of course! It is always great to split your exercise time.

They are two different forms of exercise, so it's impossible to say which is better. Walking is cardiovascular, while yoga is geared more toward stretching and strengthening. They're a good complement, actually.

Rather than carrying dumbbells, try wearing ankle weights while walking for the same strengthening effect and greater convenience.

Yes. When you walk is irrelevant, as long as you walk.

You don't have to, but it's always a good idea to stretch your muscles before any kind of workout, including walking.

That depends on a lot of factors, including what surgery you had, how long ago, your general health and age, weight, etc. It would be best to talk to your doctor or surgeon about this.

Eliminate junk food and soda (even diet soda), and start by simply walking for 20 - 30 minutes per day as a break from your homework. There are plenty of things you can still be doing on your phone while walking, such as texting friends or researching your next project.

You can walk in one place if you like. Doing this is sometimes referred to as stationary walking.

It is best to engage in physical exercise between 5-7 days a week, although the more days a week you can do it the better.