Greetings,

Five Minute Walk Paths - For Our Own Good

Further to an article in the Montana Standard;
"Companies Encourage Workers To Adopt Healthy Habits"

As we drive along our nation's highways we keep looking for Rest Stops with "Five
Minute Walk Paths" around their perimeter. Needless to say we do not find any.

A quarter of a mile in about 4.8 minutes is considered to be a healthy pace to walk.

For our own good, might it not be time for us to encourage our National, State, and/or City/County Governments to create Five Minute Walk Paths around our Highway Rest Stops, and/or in/around our City/County, State and/or National Parks?

Should you believe this to be an would be an endeavor worthy to be manifested, please consider being a participant in this Manifestry Method of Community Transformation - For Our Own Good effort.

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Greetings,

Five Minute Walk Paths in Parks, and at Rest Stops

For your consideration and/or action;

Further to an article in the Montana Standard:
"Companies Encourage Workers To Adopt Healthy Habits"

As we drive along our state and nation's highways we keep looking for Parks and/or Rest Stops with "Five Minute Walk Paths" around their perimeters. Needless to say we do not find any.

A quarter of a mile in about 4.8 minutes is considered to be a healthy pace to walk.

For everyone's good, might it not be time to create Five Minute Walk Paths in/around our City/County, State, and National Parks, and/or around our State and National Highway Rest Stops?

No Walkers around?

I prefer running and cycling, but in our non-ambulatory society anything that pumps the heart and provides circulation is a good thing. Walking is good Medicine for a lot of reasons.

I love walking and hiking and think it's a great idea if it gets people moving. We have lots of trails around this area, and pedestrian/skate/bike/equestrian trails from the old railroad lines being torn up and converted.

Good to see there are a few walkers around.

Frequent Walking vs. Extended Walking

We have just had an article in our local newspaper relative to the importance of walking vs. stationary exercise for mental as will as cardiac health.

There seem to be many studies documenting that thirty minutes of walking is needed for best cardiac health.

But we have not been able to find any studies comparing "Frequent Walking (five minutes at a time five or six times a day), and Extended Walking, (thirty minutes three or four times a week).

If any of you know of any such studies I would greatly appreciate knowing about them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: acommoner95355,

quote:

We have just had an article in our local newspaper relative to the importance of walking vs. stationary exercise for mental as will as cardiac health.

That brings to mind Tom's book, "Walking your Blues away".

quote:

acommoner95355: But we have not been unable to find any studies comparing "Frequent Walking (five minutes at a time five or six times a day), and Extended Walking, (thirty minutes three or four times a week).

I suppose the studies for the short walks would focus on calorie burning.

The 30-minute walk is sort of a minimal requirement to get the cardiovascular benefit.

***

BTW, I'm not sure who "we" is. Are you a member of a research team?

Here's a description of a recent study on how short repetitive urban walks have a positive effect on BMI measures:

quote:

"A mixture of commercial and residential land uses puts commercial facilities that you need for everyday living within walking distance," Dr. Rundle said. "You're not going to get off the couch to walk to the corner store if there's no corner store to walk to."

Although previous studies have addressed the relationship between obesity and the urban built environment in smaller, newer cities, this study is the first to evaluate the relationship in older, larger New York.

The study appears in the March/April issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

Science Daily

[QUOTE]Originally posted by --Kate:
***

BTW, I'm not sure who "we" is. Are you a member of a research team?

[QUOTE]

"We" This area. No we are not a research team. We are "us" interested in promoting Healthier Habits.

Question - Occasional Extended Rapid Walking Motion vs. Frequent Short Rapid Walking Motion

Further to "Dr. William Antonioli's, 'Activity is key to staying sharp'". Montana Standard

We find that quick walking five minutes at a time, four to six times a day is much more doable, and easier to work into a routine than the thirty (30) to forty-five (45) minutes at one time. We can take a five-minute break, or five minutes of our coffee break to walk. If we have Healthy Habits - Five Minute - Walk Paths marked out in our buildings, parking lots, neighborhoods, rest stops and/or parks.

We are aware that 30 to 45 minutes of walking motion, about five times a week, is a Healthy Habit.

Our question is: Are there any studies on walking, that you have you found, comparing the benefits of, "extended walking motion vs. frequent walking motion"?

Is extended rapid walking once a day, or two or three times a week, more healthful then, frequent short rapid walking several times a day? Any experiences and/or opinions anyone wants to share?

I don't know of any studies on this. I think it's important to just move, and if doing it in 5 minute sessions is what works for somebody then that's better than not doing it at all. I think that there have been studies which show that someone who moves frequently, (can't remember the technical word for it) such as jiggling their foot, etc... generally has a higher resting metabolism than those who don't. Also, Covert Bailey says that aerobic benefit is opt imized when sustained for at least 12 minutes. Another thing to consider is what is the purpose of the walk. Is it for cardio health, is it to burn fat, etc... It's generally agreed that the best fat burning occurs when a moderate aerobic pace is sustained for longer periods of time, because that's when the body starts burning fatty acids for energy instead of just glucose. Personally, I think people need to do what works for them, what they can fit into a consistent routine, and what they find enjoyable (because then they'll keep doing it!). Fitness level is also important. Someone who has been very sedentary might benefit from frequent short walks until they can build up to longer periods of time.

Healthy Habits Walking - A Regiment Or A Routine

From The Albertsons Breakfast food box;

Exercise Can be a Regiment. Or an Easy Part of Your Daily Routine.

"You can spend 30 minutes a day in the gym. Or you can walk those three blocks instead of taking the car. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go bike riding with your kids. Spend 15 minutes working in the yard - or in the kitchen. It's up to you. But whatever you choose, some form of regular exercise should be a part of your life - for a better life."

One thing walking does, in addition to to burning fat and increasing blood circulation is the pumping action it provides for the lymphatic system, which is all-important for maintaining your immune system and ridding the body of toxins , bacteria and cancer cells. the heart pumps blood through your body, but the only was lymph is circulated is by muscle movement throughout the body.

So in a sense, when you move you counter the aging process in many ways. my favorite way to give my lymph system peak performance is through swimming 40 laps a day (slightly over a mile). Since I have been swimming regularly, my health has improved as never before. Plus the action of swimming not only works out every part of the body, it has zero impact, making it the perfect exercise for older people.

I consider it a fountain of youth, which you immerse yourself in. I also run for cardio and lift weights for tone. However I see swimming as the most enjoyable and something I will continue to do after I reach 100.

quote:

Originally posted by bill king:
the most enjoyable

Is that to say there are probably three reasons for walking:
+ Physical - build/maintain muscle strength/tone
+ Physiological - blow the plaque and other toxins/excesses out of the tubes/systems
+ Psychological - clear the cobwebs out of the brain, and keep the mind mentally alert

Should a good walking program have set goals?

Should a good walking program, besides being enjoyable, be a balanced approach?