About.com

Dr. Weil Seeking 50 Walkabout Ambassadors

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:14:57 +0000

Are you ready to take a 28-day walking challenge? Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear along with Orthaheel is launching a nationwide Walkabout 28 day Quest for Health. They are seeking 50 brand ambassadors from all across the USA and all walks of life.

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Vote in the 2012 Walking Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:08:40 +0000

The voting polls are open for the 2012 Reader's Choice Awards through March 21, 2012. You nominated your favorite walking shoes, walking gear, and walker-friendly events and tours. Then our walking experts selected five nominees per category. Now you vote for your readers' choice. You can vote once per day per category. The winners will be announced March 30, 2012. Come see the finalists and vote.

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Fat Tuesday - Fit Tomorrow?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:40:25 +0000

Happy Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras. It's party time in many places around the world. Traditionally, it's followed by a fast on Ash Wednesday. Like New Year's Eve, it may be a last blowout before you reassess how your diet and fitness plans for the year are working...or not.

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Race to the Moon - Every Body Walk!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:59:28 +0000

Health insurers know it pays to keep people healthier. HealthAmerica launched its Race to the Moon program in October, 2011. They sent free activity monitors to over 2000 subscribers to enlist them in a virtual group goal of walking from the earth to moon. They sent me a kit so I could try it out and interviewed other participants.
Race to the Moon Gets Them Walking

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Team Up to Lose Weight and Move More

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:32:38 +0000

If you go solo in trying to lose weight and/or increase your physical activity, you may have better results teaming up. But choose your teammates wisely -- their success will predict your success. Being on a team that was successful in losing weight or increasing their pedometer steps per day was the biggest factor predicting success for Shape Up Rhode Island program participants. Researcher Tricia Leahey, Ph.D., of The Miriam Hospital and Alpert Medical School has published two papers on these findings, one for the increase in physical activity (pedometer steps per day) being team-dependent. The other just came out last week, showing that weight loss success in the same program depended on the success of your team. Press Release: Weight Loss Can Be Contagious, Study Says.

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Nominations Close 2/15 for the Reader's Choice Awards 2012

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:20:39 +0000

Nominations are open for the 2012 Reader's Choice Awards through Feb. 15. You nominate your favorite walking shoes, walking gear, and walker-friendly events and tours. Then our walking experts select up to five nominees per category and you, the walkers, vote for your readers' choice. We have some categories returning from our first awards last year, and several new categories. Come tell us what you like best in each category.

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Heart Rate - Find Your Workout Intensity

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:07:16 +0000

Are you really getting an aerobic workout? Brisk walking is usually considered moderate intensity exercise. But that definition means you must be breathing a little harder and getting your heart rate up. To really know whether you are working out hard or hardly working out, a heart rate monitor or pulse monitoring is needed to tell you what heart rate zone you are in.

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It's OK to Cheat on Your Walking Partner

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:47:55 +0000

"You walked without me?"
Are you in a restrictive relationship with your walking partner and made to feel guilty if you walk without them? Is this cheating? Should you walk without them? If you find yourself feeling guilty when you walk without your partner, or sneaking around to do it, you need to stop and address those feelings so they don't inhibit your exercise program.

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Shoelaces That Stay Tied

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:11:08 +0000

I'm a skeptic. I also seem to have above-average difficulty in keeping my shoelaces tied, which is a bother for a walker. Even my comfort shoes need retied every time I get out of my desk chair. So I was amazed that Wonder Laces worked as promised and don't come untied -- even just using a plain old single-bow knot. Not only that, but they are made with elastic and expand and contract with your foot. I'm sold. Wonder Laces review

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Will Susan G. Komen Backlash Hurt Walkers?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:50:40 +0000

When breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen For the Cure decided to stop funding Planned Parenthood for breast health exams on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, they set off a huge ...

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Wear Red Day Friday Feb. 3

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:14:26 +0000

Attack a killer by wearing red on Friday, Feb. 3. Heart disease and stroke are the leading killers of women in the USA, and they kill more women than men each year. The American Heart Association is promoting Go Red for Women on Friday, Feb. 3 to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women.

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Still Lots of Winter

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:57:57 +0000

No matter what the groundhog predicts tomorrow, we've got plenty of winter left to walk through. I'm staying prepared for ice and snow walking. I prefer to avoid it, but you don't always get a choice. And heaven knows the weather-guessers (as my grandpa called them) are often wrong. So I keep shoe traction devices like the Yaktrax Pro in my home, car and office. I also have a pair of walking poles stashed in each location, to help me make it across icy parking lots.

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Steps to More Steps Per Day

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:48:26 +0000

How can you be more active throughout the day and beat the health effects of being inactive? Here are some steps to begin.

Wear a pedometer - it's the best and easiest way to know how much you really are moving each day.
Set a step goal that is 2000 steps more than what you log right now on a typical day.
Wear comfortable shoes to work or school so you can fit in bouts of walking throughout the day.
Find cues to get out of your chair every 15 minutes throughout the work day. Whenever you take a call, stand up and pace around. This will help battle the health effects of sitting too long at any one time.
Spend most of your breaks and half of your lunch time walking. This should easily add 3000 to 7000 steps to your daily total.
Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderately-intense exercise, such as a steady bout of brisk walking, as its own activity. This will bring you the health and weight loss benefits of aerobic exercise.

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10 Pounds Down

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:48:45 +0000

Like many of you, I started a weight loss diet right after Christmas. It's been a month and I'm down 10 pounds. I am super-charged to keep losing.

How to find the right diet: Our Weight Loss Guide shows you how to pick a diet program that is right for your budget and lifestyle. There are many free options out there, including our sister site, CalorieCount.about.com. I use their food and exercise log to stay on my calorie targets. In the past, I used Weight Watchers Online, and I liked the menus and shopping lists provided at eDiets.com. I've been weighing myself daily with the Withings Wifi Body Scale -- I like the convenience of it recording and charting my weight.

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Starting Over After an Injury

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:18:06 +0000

If you haven't been walking for fitness for over two months due to an injury, you may wonder how to start over again to rebuild your walking program. I've had this experience several times. Plantar fasciitis, knee injury and sprained ankle were the causes for me. But many have had a break due to a long respiratory illness or other malady. Once the pain had cleared and my doctor gave me the go-ahead, I started fresh and slowly like somebody new to fitness walking.

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MapMyDOGWALK App Debuts

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:05:13 +0000

Those clever folks at MapMyWalk have a new free iPhone app aimed at dog walkers. MapMyDOGWALK works pretty much like the other iMapMy apps for walking, running, biking, etc. But it is sponsored by Subaru and includes features for both you and Fido. Besides mapping and measuring your walks, you can geo-tag photos and add them to your saved routes. That ability was formerly only available for the iMapMy+ apps and not the free ones. You can tweet your walk or post it to Facebook.

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Taking Your Walking Indoors

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:47:57 +0000

Are you taking your exercise indoors because you don't like the wet and cold? You don't have to stop walking, here are options and tactics to keep walking indoors. Yesterday it was pouring cold buckets of rain outside, and for the first time in a year I drove to the mall and spent an hour fitness walking around its two levels before boredom set in and the number of shoppers increased. I was definitely not the only one using it for a workout -- one mom with a stroller was also putting in the laps.

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Winter Walking Challenge - Idita-Walk

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:20:49 +0000

Need some mid-winter walking motivation?. The Idita-Walk invites you (and your dog if you have one) to challenge yourself to walk 30 minutes a day for 35 days, wherever you may be. It is named after the Iditarod sled dog race. You don't have to walk from Anchorage to Nome, you can just walk around your neighborhood or on a treadmill. If your dog walks on the treadmill with you, send me a photo!

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What's Your Excuse?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:51:20 +0000

Outdoors, it's cold and wet. The gym is packed with sweaty people spreading germs on every surface. I look fat in my gym clothes. We all have excuses. What's your walking excuse? I have a big list of walking excuses and excuse busters -- ways to overcome your own objections.

OESH - Walking Shoes Completely Re-engineered

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:13:09 +0000

Serious researchers studying how our feet interact with athletic footwear decided we had it all wrong. They've come up with a completely different midsole technology that supports the foot at the points in a stride their research determined it was needed. The result are OESH shoes -- that's the word shoe "upside down and inside out." They sent me a pair to try out. I am a pretty big skeptic when it comes to claims about footwear, but I think they are on to something with these shoes. At the very least, they fit my feet right and feel natural to walk in. Their cantilever midsoles are different, but unlikely to produce stares. Review: OESH Shoes

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Top 10 Walks in the USA Winners

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:39:05 +0000

If you're starting to feel cabin fever, here are the winners of my yearly poll of AVA walkers to choose the best walks in the USA from among over 1800 year-round walking routes offered by local clubs. Top 10 Walks in the USA of 2011. All of these routes are offered this year, 2012, although some are seasonal and don't open until spring. These walks are everywhere, and if you aren't in the loop, here is a search for AVA year-round walks. I've done six of the top ten walks -- how about you? This year the AVA has a new trail rating system.

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Walking Gadgets Win Awards at CES

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:00:40 +0000

The Consumer Electronics Show 2012 gave Innovations Awards to fitness gadgets that walkers may find useful. I've already tried two of them.

Gaiam Touch Heart Rate Monitor SE336 from Oregon Scientific: The watch has a sleek, buttonless thin design you don't mind wearing all day. It pairs with a chest strap heart rate monitor. It has fairly basic heart rate monitor functions, but is aimed towards users who just want to know if they are in the right zone and burning calories. Review | Compare Prices. I actually prefer their strapless model, the Touch ECG SE338 (Compare Prices), which looks similar and only takes your finger pulse.

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Shining on Dark Walks

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:54:32 +0000

Did you know you are invisible? If you go out for a fitness walk or dog-walking in the early morning or evening this time of year, it's probably dark. Even walking through parking lots to the grocery store puts your pedestrian body at risk of not being seen by drivers. If you wear a running jacket, it might have some reflective striping. But most winter coats, ski jackets and hats are unreflective and come in muted, dark colors. You might as well be wearing a ninja suit - and your dog probably is invisible, too.

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Hipzbag - the New Hands-Free

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:42:39 +0000

What do you do when you don't have a pocket to carry your cell phone and the belt clips they sell seem to have it dangle precariously from your waistband? Hipzbag is a solution - a stylish redesign of the fanny pack for the iPhone age. Hipzbag Review

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Get in Shape with Walking

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:22:36 +0000

Want to be a shape other than round? You can rebuild yourself -- better, stronger, faster.

How to Get in Shape with Walking - a workout plan to shape up. Brisk walking and a combination of walking workouts can improve your cardiovascular aerobic fitness and endurance. For shaping, toning and muscle-building, add in workouts for the upper body, lower body, abs and core.

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Slim Chance Awards - Worst Weight Loss Products

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:21:29 +0000

The 24th annual Slim Chance Awards from Frances M. Berg highlight bad weight loss products. From fraud to quackery, these products are unlikely to help you lose weight.

Most Outrageous: Just Think Media markets acai berry weight-loss pills, colon cleansers and resveratrol supplements. Canada's Anti-Fraud Call Centre and the United States Federal Trade Commission are pursuing complaints (FTC Complaint) that customers found their credit cards overcharged and were unable to get promised money-back guarantees.

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How to Build Your Walking Habit

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:24:42 +0000

The new year is a time for a fresh start. Maybe this is your first time to seriously plan to get into shape. Maybe it is the tenth or eleventh. Success in forming a new habit is more likely if you set measurable, timely goals and write down your progress each day. Here it is, step by step:
How to Build a Walking Habit

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Back to the Gym or Personal Trainer?

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:53:53 +0000

Losing weight and getting fit are top New Year's resolutions, and gyms are usually packed in January. But if you are looking to join a gym, you need to consider many factors before you talk to the oh-so-friendly (but actually high-pressure) salesman, or you may have buyer's remorse in the morning.

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Consumer Reports Rates Top Treadmills and Pedometers

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:06:59 +0000

Just in time for your resolutions, Consumer Reports has tested and rated treadmills, and pedometers and pedometer apps. Here is how they stacked up.

Best Treadmill: Precor 9.31 (Compare Prices): This non-folding treadmill is also on our list for top premium treadmill, and was nominated for the Walking.about.com Readers' Choice Award in 2011.

Best Buy Treadmills:
Sole S77 (Compare Prices): A mid-range non-folding treadmill choice
ProForm Performance 600 (Compare Prices): a folding treadmill at $800 or less.
Horizon T202: (Compare Prices) also a budget folding treadmill for under $1000.

Best Buy Pedometer: Sportline Step & Distance SB4202 ($5), a simple pedometer sold at Walmart. I haven't tested this one, but online reviews by users say it has many of the weaknesses of cheap pedometers, such as a reset button that is too easy to hit accidentally. I would go with a better pedometer for a little more money.

CR Recommended Pedometers:
Mio Trace Acc-Tek (Compare Prices): uses accelerometer technology, which is more accurate for counting steps.
Omron GOsmart Pocket HJ-112 (Compare Prices): I've long put this at the top of my list for pedometers. Review
My top picks for pedometers

Cell-Phone Apps Best Buys:
Accupedo pedometer widget (for Android)
Pedometer Pro GPS+ (for iPhone) at $3 Best Buys.
What is your favorite pedometer app?

Photo courtesy of Pricegrabber
Source: Consumer Reports Press Release 12/28/11

Jump Start Your 2012 Walking Fitness

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:59:45 +0000

If your resolution is to be leaner, faster and stronger, we have free email courses that can help. I have walking programs and tools to make those resolutions stick.

Weight Loss: Walk of Life 10-Week Program
The goal is to use fitness walking and other exercise as well as better nutrition to get fit, lose fat and feel great. Each day you get a walking and exercise assignment and coaching, nutrition tips and a healthy recipe.
Beginners and Toning Shoe Walking: Let's Get Walking 28-Day Program
For people who are just getting into walking for fitness, or for those starting out fresh with toning shoes. this daily program will get you started right. You will learn proper walking posture and stride and build up slowly to the minimum daily recommendation for walking - 30 minutes a day, 5 days or more a week.
Treadmill Walking: Treadmill Workouts 12-Day Program
Find out how to choose and use a treadmill for your walking workouts in 12 daily lessons.
Pedometer Walking: Step Counters 28-Day Program
A pedometer can be the best and cheapest fitness tool of all to keep you on course. This daily email newsletter has tips to increase your walking steps each day, towards a goal of 10,000 steps per day.
Walk a Half Marathon: Half Marathon 16-Week Training Course
Walking a 13.1 mile half-marathon is a great walking goal, and it is the most popular distance at the big events. This weekly newsletter gives you a walking schedule and training tips as you countdown to your half-marathon. Minimum requirement: able to walk 4 miles comfortably.
Walk a Marathon: Marathon 19-Week Training Course
The marathon is the Mount Everest of walking goals - 26.2 mile or 42 kilometers. This weekly newsletter counts you down towards your marathon, with weekly walking assignments and training tips. Minimum requirement: Able to walk for 8 miles comfortably.

Deadliest Night for Walkers

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:55:16 +0000

This is a great time of year for night walking to view the Christmas lights. But it also is the deadliest time of year for those who combine drinking and walking. If you are going to see the lights on foot, lay off the wassail until you are safely at home. Trauma surgeon Dr. Thomas Esposito at Loyola University Health System notes that 29% of the pedestrians seen at his facility who were hit by cars had a measurable blood alcohol content, and 24% were legally too drunk to drive.

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Joining Calorie Camp

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:49:46 +0000

Alex sent in a report on how he walked off 75 pounds. He has good advice, the same you have heard from me -- you need to eat fewer calories than you burn off each day, while still getting the healthy nutrition you need. A combination of more activity and exercise, plus eating fewer empty calories, will lead to steady weight loss. This is the basis of my free Walk of Life 70-Day Program.

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Fitbit Ultra - My Favorite Pedometer Keeps Improving

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:14:51 +0000

The Fitbit Ultra improves on the original Fitbit by adding a stopwatch function and counting the flights of stairs you climb. I love this clip pedometer for many reasons. It's small, it's silent, and it uploads data wirelessly to my computer, automatically. I never have to remember to do anything, other than putting it on.

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15 Years Ago Today - It's a Wonderful Walking Life

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:43:45 +0000

It's my 15-year anniversary today at Walking.about.com. If this were It's a Wonderful Life and the angel Clarence could show me what life would be like if I never became the Walking Guide at About.com, what would that be like?

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Last Minute Gifts for Walkers

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:39:29 +0000

I'd rather be out strolling past the Christmas lights than elbowing my way through crowds at the stores and mall, so I prefer online shopping. Here are last minute online ideas for gifts for walkers. Gift certificates can be fun if you also print out ideas of what they could spend them on.

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