Dog Walking is a great weight loss work out due to it giving regular non impact exercise and helping from a motivational / pleasurestand point. Nothing is betterthan spending time outdoors with man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Whilst out with the dog you can also meet many new people and have something to talk to them about.
Dog Walking is an exercise that everybody can do. What’s superb about it is that you can do it single-handily or with somebody. If you do not have somebody, the dog supplies great company. It’s simple to do, and needs no special equipment, apart from a dog, a leash and comfy shoes. It is also free, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done just about anywhere, even in London dog walking is popular.
Dog walking has multiple benefits. Since it burns calories, it is a weight loss aid. Sixty minutes of dog walking ( that is you with the dog!) will use between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your mass. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. Walking does not strain your legs and ankles, unlike running, which can damage your joints and bones.
In fact it actually helps the knees. The act of dog walking encourages cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid within the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that shield the knee.
Because dog walking is weight-bearing it also helps strengthens the muscles that protect the hips. At the same time it strengthens bones therefore reducing the possibility of bone splintering due to osteoporosis. By building the core muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the possibility of getting low back pain.
The increased exertion required for dog walking helps the heart to pump more efficiently. This helps reduce blood pressure with the resultant reduced risk for stroke and heart attack.
Dog walking increases the respiratory rate (breathing rate), promotes increased flow of oxygen to the rest of the body and also helps eliminate the build up of carbon dioxide. A major plus for you and the dog is improved energy.
There is some evidence that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin production which helps reduce pain, decreases serum cortisol levels which helps relieve anxiety (as does having animals around, so a double benefit), and may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I {kick off with} start dog walking.
Pretty simple. The first thing is to make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. If you have a history of flat feet, you should use orthotics.
Do not overdo it at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing the amount you walk. A great objective is 10,000 steps per day, which is approximately 5 miles. Don’t worry it is not that far, note, most individuals already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a normal day. Please note that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same characteristics, need to walk over 5 miles a day. Many have the strength for ten or more miles a day.
Depending on your health, you can build up from low levels. Only one issue, No dog. Not a problem, ask around, there are many people who are time starved and don’t have ~sufficient time for walking their dog. Increasingly, during these economical times, dogs are being handed into dog charities, so either volunteer for dog walking or why not re-house a dog.
Strapped for cash, why not help out people who do not have time for dog walking and looking after their pets such as London Pet Sitting and London Cat Sitting.
What speed for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start cautiously. A medium pace, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. You should be breathing more rapidly and feel your heart rate increasing but still be able talk comfortably. You need to ensure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for him and it is more exhausting for you.
Please note, it's important to keep up your dog walking routine, for both your weight loss and the dog(s)! Enjoy it and lose some weight!