While more and more people are learning the importance of leading a safe and healthy life, the fact is that it is not always easy for them to do so. In many cases, people are actually confused about the right exercise regimen for them. Add to this the complication of a hectic lifestyle and most people are unable to make any significant improvements to their fitness level.
The hectic nature of day-to-day life has greatly contributed to the popularity of certain fitness plans such as 30 minutes of exercise and walking 10,000 steps every day. Due to their relative ease, people actively pursue these fitness plans to lose weight.
However, there is always the question as to whether they are really effective. In order to get a better understanding of the effects of each, you need to look into them in detail. Here is a guide to both.
10,000 Steps a Day
One of the first things that you need to understand is that walking itself can be massively beneficial for your health. Moreover, it is an activity that nearly everyone can take irrespective of how fit they actually are. By walking more in a day, you can actually enjoy several important benefits in the long term as well as the short term.
10,000 is Not Everything
You should also understand that 10,000 steps is just a number. For this reason, many people believe that 10,000 steps is just a myth. You need to understand that simply walking 10,000 steps in a day is not going to bring about a drastic improvement in your fitness level. As such, you should not make it your sole fitness goal. If you want to be really fit, you should consider walking as much as possible and not stop once you cross the 10,000 steps threshold.
This fitness regimen alone is incapable of helping you lose weight as well. For effective weight loss, you need to increase your physical activity while decreasing your calorie consumption.
The Benefits of Walking
The fact remains that activities like walking can actually have several health benefits even if they do not actually result in weight loss.
Weight Loss Potential: While walking itself may not reduce your weight by much, it can still make a contribution. This is especially the case if you are on a diet and supplement the weight loss program with exercise.
Stress Reduction: A walk can greatly reduce your stress levels and improve mood.
Reduce Depression: Like stress, depression can also be reduced with a walk.
Meditative: A long walk is often recommended as a way to clear up your mind and gives you the time to think.
30 Minutes of Exercise
Everyone knows that regular exercise can be immensely beneficial for your fitness levels. The right exercise regimen can also help you lose weight effectively. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult for many to incorporate a full hour of exercise into their daily schedule. However, research suggests that exercising for 30 minutes is just as beneficial at the very least.
Why is 30 Minutes Better?
According to some research, it has been discovered that exercising for 30 minutes may actually be a better option than exercising for an hour or more. The results of those studies show that, people can burn more calories and fat if they worked out for only half an hour. Of course, this results in faster weight loss for you.
There are several other reasons why this is an excellent choice. For example, it has been noticed that people are more likely to be excited about their workouts due to the lower time frame. Moreover, they felt more energetic for the rest of the day. Exercising for just half an hour also ensures that the metabolic rate remains high for a longer period of time. Of course, the biggest reason for choosing this plan is that it is easier to incorporate into your schedule.
The Benefits of 30-Minute Exercise Regimen
Take a look at some of the many benefits offered by this kind of regimen.
Heart Health: Working out is known to have a positive effect on your heart. It can reduce your risk for various cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Weight Loss: With the right exercise plan in place, even 30 minutes is enough to lose weight effectively. A high intensity session can burn off a lot of calories and fat, helping to lose weight faster.
Self Confidence Booster: A good workout can actually release endorphins which give you a more positive outlook.
Which One to Choose?
There are benefits to each method. However, if you want to get the maximum health benefits, you should consider adding both to your daily routine. It is actually quite easy to do so. After all, you will have already run a few thousand steps on the treadmill. The rest of the 10,000 steps can be easily taken the rest of the day.