No one needs to be reminded that the fitness craze has arrived in full bloom and hints to us that it's not going away anytime soon.

For the more, shall we say, “leisurely” type of person, this can cause a lot of guilt. “I'm going to start walking–next week.” “How hard can it be to just walk for 30 minutes? I can do that. I just haven't had time.” We've all heard–and often used–one of these excuses.
The one reason people don't do what they don’t absolutely have to do is simple: they don't want to, and they don't have to! We grow up learning that death and taxes are the only two inevitables. Now they want us to exercise?

Exercise is thought of by many as a forced kind of event, and walking hovers near the top of the list in the “boring” category. “I don't want to just WALK! What’s the point, where’s the destination?”

Well, just like everything else, there are loopholes here aplenty. It's up to the individual to make something so intolerably boring pretty interesting. It's also imperative to your health that you reconsider that statement and re-prioritize your life.

Let’s face it, we just don’t get the exercise our ancestors did. We tend to eat more refined foods. For some of us, most of steps we take are from a chair in front of the TV to the fridge. For others, like me, we sit at a computer all day as part of our jobs.
Just think of it this way: Do you place a high enough priority on yourself and your well-being? It never hurts to remind yourself of the health benefits you'd gain by walking regularly. It's true. You won’t notice long-term benefits right away, you will notice these things: You'll have more energy. You'll sleep better. You'll be fitter. And you'll be happier.

Still not enough? OK. On those days you really can't seem to set aside a half hour for a walk, find shorter segments of time where walking naturally fits into your schedule. If you're used to driving everywhere, this may take a little rethinking. But consider this: If you have to make a coffee run, have a local meeting to attend, or a child to pick up, walk. If you’re headed to see a movie, to church, to a game, walk. It may take a few minutes longer, but remind yourself of your efficient use of time: you’re actually accomplishing several things at once.

Look, if our ancestors survived the Ice Age, it won't kill you to walk in the rain. In our age of climate control and central air, we like our environment comfortable. But, come on, how boring is that?
Your goal is going to be increasing your heart rate and maintaining the accelerated rate for at least thirty minutes. Getting your rate up is simply a matter of walking faster and letting your arms swing as you walk. Do a quick bit of math to determine your maximum heart rate. Reduce the number 220 by your current age. The result is your maximum heart rate.

Walking is a low intensity exercise, so your aim should be to get your heart rate up to around 60 percent of your maximum heart rate. So, for instance, if you’re currently 40 years old, then taking 40 away from 220 gives you 180. Sixty percent of 180 is 108 beats per minute, which becomes your approximate target. The easiest measure of your heart rate is to check your pulse for 10 seconds and multiply that number by 6.
Alright already, enough math. Let’s get back to walking.

Experts have discovered that walking 10,000 steps a day can help you drop pounds faster than just about any other method of weight loss. Walking will also help you keep the weight off for a longer period of time because it builds muscles while keeping your heart at a fat-burning rate. As a general rule, a person will burn about 100 calories walking a mile, depending on age, size, and fitness level. The heavier you are, the more calories you will burn.

Think of walking as a basic human need, like sleep, shelter, and food. Then, after you complete your 30 minutes, reward yourself with any of the other three needs.

The key is to never demand too much from yourself. So what if the dishes aren't done? Do them later. And no doctor ever prescribe doing the laundry a certain amount of times per week. These are the blocks you put in front of yourself that keep you from that important exercise regimen.

It certainly isn't easy to change our priorities in today’s hectic world, but it’s harder to begin getting healthy when it's too late. And believe me, it will be no consolation when people will say, “Yes, she’s gone, but her house...always spotless.”