Angie's World

Walk and Enjoy the View

Linda Boeckner, Phd, RD & Alice Henneman, MS, RD
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension

"A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time -- pills or stairs." ~Joan Welsh

The new MyPyramid guidelines for nutrition and physical activity suggest most adults receive health benefits if they are moderately active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Walking is a simple, pleasurable and inexpensive way to be physically active. Seek opportunities to enjoy beautiful and interesting scenery on foot AND do something good for your health at the same time. This article includes Nebraska scenes.

Moderate levels of physical activity can boost your energy levels, plus give you an overall sense of well-being. Regular physical activity has these direct physical benefits:

• improves strength and endurance
• builds stronger bones and muscle
• assists in weight management
• improves blood pressure

Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Nebraska Panhandle, consists of 45,818 acres of rolling sandhills, the largest continuous dune area in America.

Beginning your walking program

To (pardon the pun!) start off on the right foot, here are a few simple tips to help you start a walking program.

Check your readiness. If you have not been physically active on a regular and consistent basis for more than a year, check with a medical care provider. Also, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or experience dizziness or chest pain upon exertion talk with your medical provider before you begin a walking program.

Get the right equipment. Since walking is so easy, you don’t need much to get started. During the summer, you will want to wear light, loose clothing that will allow you to cool down if you work up a sweat. During cooler weather, wear layers of clothing to keep yourself warm but not overheated.

The shoes you wear are the most important equipment for a walking program:

• Your shoes should be flexible and give you enough room for your foot to expand while walking.
• Flat sole with little difference in height from the toe to the heel of the shoe is best. Many folks find that a good running shoe also works well for walking and gives needed flexibility and support.
• Replace shoes about every six months if you are a daily walker.
• Wear clean, comfortable socks inside your shoes to prevent blisters.

Hats and sunglasses are important for protecting your eyes and skin. Wear sun screen when it is appropriate.

Check your walking style and stride. Walk tall and straight without arching your back or leaning forward:

• Keep your eyes focused ahead of you and hold that smile!!
• You can swing your arms at about a 90o angle as you walk but keep your elbows close into your body. You don’t need to pump your arms wildly into the air.
• Use a heel to toe walking step so that you hit the ground first with your heel and push off with your toe.
• Watch the length of stride. Smaller steps are better than striding out too far. Your stride should be comfortable to you and not overtire your legs and muscles.

Camp Clarke Bridge connected the gold mines of the Black Hills to the railroad in Sidney, Nebraska.

"I have two doctors, my left leg and my right." ~G. M. Trevelyan

Tips for planned walks

Here are some tips to help you enjoy and stay with a walking program:

• Begin with a slow pace for about 5 minutes before you move into the walking pace that you will continue through the rest of the walk. This will allow your muscles to warm up. At the end of your walking time, use a 5 minute slow down to cool yourself down. Also, stretch your leg muscles as a part of a cool down period.
• Purchase a walking meter (pedometer) to count the number of steps or measure the distance that you have gone. Walking meters have the advantage of giving you a tool that will measure all of your steps in a day. Clip it on for the entire day and you will record the steps that you get in your normal daily activities as well as your planned walks.
• If you don’t wish to use a walking meter, you can go on planned walks according to the clock. Gradually aim for an accumulation of at least 30 minutes of planned walking each day. If you are already close to 30 minutes each day, it’s okay to increase your time beyond 30 minutes.
• Consider making walking arrangements with a friend or a walking group.
• Scout your community for walking paths and other safe places to walk.
• Walk at the time of the day that is most convenient for you. Walking time can be in the morning, mid-day or evening. For some, it will be easier to break up your walking time throughout the day and that is okay, too.
• Think through how you will handle walking when the weather is bad. Check if a nearby school, church, mall or other facility will allow you to walk there during bad weather.
• If walking doesn't work out for you on one day, pick it up again the next day. Keep it fun rather than a chore.

Carhenge, located near Alliance, Nebraska, is an exact replica of Britain's Stonehenge, except it is built with cars instead of stones.

A "virtual" walk through Nebraska

If you can't visit these Nebraska sites in person, visit Walk Nebraska at www.walknebraska.org. This Web site, developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, encourages walkers to complete a “virtual walk” on five different trails in the State of Nebraska.

At key points along each trail ‘walkers’ receive helpful tips to learn more about how to take care of themselves nutritionally, how to protect themselves from the sun, or how to use their physical activity to their best benefit. As they reach trail milestones, they see notable Nebraska landmarks and learn a little more about this beautiful state.

As you enter this Web site, you will receive instructions for recording your walking activities that will translate into miles that will help you travel along a Nebraska trail of your choosing. As you continue to walk each day, you will be able to check your progress on your trail.